To undo a recent change in Word, press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac. You can also choose Undo in the toolbar. Repeat the command to step backward through earlier edits, checking the page after each one. If you reverse too much, use Redo to put the last change back.
Undo one or more edits
- Keep the document open after the mistake, such as deleting a paragraph or changing its formatting.
- Press Ctrl+Z on Windows or Command+Z on Mac once.
- Check the document. If the unwanted change remains, repeat the shortcut one step at a time.
- Stop as soon as the document is correct, then save or let AutoSave capture the corrected version.
In desktop Word, the arrow beside Undo can show several recent actions. Choosing an earlier point in that list also undoes the later actions above it, so inspect the list before reversing a group of changes. The toolbar’s Undo button may be dimmed when there is no undoable action left.
Redo a change you undid by mistake
- Press Ctrl+Y on Windows or Command+Y on Mac after undoing an action.
- Check that the expected change returned. You can also select Redo in the toolbar.
Redo applies to an action you just undid. Word can also use the same shortcut to Repeat some simple actions when there is nothing to redo, so look at the toolbar label and result before pressing it multiple times.
Our guide on repeating an action in Word explains which edits F4 and Ctrl+Y can repeat.
The button’s location depends on your version of Word. It is a curved arrow pointing left, with Redo beside it.
- Microsoft 365 Word for Windows and Word for the web: Look at the far left of the Home tab. Older versions of desktop Word put Undo in the Quick Access Toolbar above the ribbon instead.
- Word for Mac: Use the Undo arrow near the top of the window, or choose Edit > Undo in the menu bar.
- Word on a phone or tablet: Tap the Undo arrow at the top of the screen.
If you can’t find the button, the keyboard shortcut still works on desktop Word and Word for the web.
Can you undo after saving?
Often, yes: saving itself is not an undoable edit, but Word can retain recent undoable changes while the current editing session and its history remain available. Closing the file or exhausting that history can remove this path. Do not rely on Undo as your only backup for a document you are about to change extensively.
Some actions, including certain commands on the File tab and saving itself, cannot be reversed with Undo. If Undo says Can’t Undo or is dimmed, continuing to press the shortcut will not bring the older content back.
If Undo no longer reaches the change
For a file stored in OneDrive or SharePoint, check Version History for an earlier copy. Review the version before restoring it, since a full restore can replace later edits you still need. You may instead copy just the missing passage from an older version into the current document. For a local file without version history, check your available backup or file-recovery options.
Word for the web supports basic Undo and Redo too, but the actions available can differ from desktop Word. If a whole-document formatting change caused the problem, undo it before applying new formatting; using Select All again can affect more text than intended. Our selection guide explains that scope.
Source: Microsoft Support: undo, redo, or repeat an action.
Matt has been writing about Microsoft Windows and other Microsoft products since the days of Windows XP. He spends much of his time writing for sites like WindowBrain.com