Undo, redo, and repeat your last action effortlessly in Excel.

In this comprehensive guide, I will walk you through the seamless utilization of Excel's Undo, Redo, and Repeat features. With these powerful tools at your disposal, you'll be able to expertly manage your data and tasks, displaying a mastery that even seasoned Excel users would admire.

We all know that even the most adept Excel users occasionally encounter slip-ups. Whether you've been seamlessly maneuvering through spreadsheets for years or are just embarking on your Excel journey, the art of rectifying errors and effortlessly executing repetitive tasks is a skill of utmost importance. Think of Excel's Undo, Redo, and Repeat functions as your safety net, empowering you to retrace your steps and fine-tune your work without any apprehension about losing crucial information or squandering valuable time. So, let's delve into the realm of unraveling the mysteries behind undoing, redoing, and effortlessly replicating your latest actions in Excel. 

Undo in Excel

The Undo feature in Excel lets you revert the last action you performed, whether it was data entry, formatting, or any other modification. It's an invaluable feature, especially when you make unintentional changes or need to backtrack. Here are some cases that can be quickly resolved with the help of Undo:

  • Get an accidentally deleted cell value back
  • Revert formatting changes
  • Recover deleted rows or columns
  • Restore a mistakenly edited formula
  • Reverse wrong sorting or filtering

Redo in Excel

Excel's Redo function is the counterpart to Undo that allows you to reapply the action that was previously undone. It is useful when you've inadvertently reverted an action or changed your mind about the undo decision.

How to redo in Excel

Just like with the Undo function, there are two ways to redo an action in Excel: via the Quick Access Toolbar and using a keyboard shortcut.

To redo an action, the steps are:

  1. In the Quick Access Toolbar, look for the Redo button represented by a curved arrow pointing to the right.
  2. Hover over the button to view a description of the action that will be redone.
  3. Click on the Redo button to reapply the last undone action.

    1. Excel Redo shortcut

To redo an action, press the Ctrl + Y shortcut on your keyboard.

In Excel for Mac, the shortcut for redo is Command + Y.

On most keyboards, you can also use the F4 key for redo. If it doesn't work for you, try pressing F-Lock or Fn, and then the F4 key.

Similar to Undo, this Redo shortcut works in various applications, not just Excel.

If needed, you can use the Redo function more than once to reapply multiple actions that were undone in succession.

Repeat last action in Excel

The Repeat action function in Excel allows you to apply the most recent action to a different cell or cells without the need to perform it manually each time.

For example, if you've formatted a cell with specific attributes such as font style or fill color, and you wish to apply the same formatting to other cells, you can do it instantly with the Repeat function.

Redo vs. Repeat in Excel

The Repeat and Redo functions are never available in Excel at the same time. In essence:

  • Redo is only available after some action is undone.
  • Repeat is available after a change has been made to the worksheet.

That's how to efficiently use the Undo, Redo, and Repeat functions in Excel. Keeping these tips in mind will help you maintain data accuracy and manage your spreadsheets with confidence.

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