Undo, redo and repeat
Ctrl+Z undoes, Ctrl+Y redoes. The underrated one is repeat: after formatting or inserting once, select another cell and press F4 (or Ctrl+Y) to do the same thing again.
Try it: press the keys on this sheet
Windows and Mac keys
| Action | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Undo | Ctrl+Z | ⌘Z |
| Redo / repeat last action | Ctrl+Y or F4 | ⌘Y |
| Save | Ctrl+S | ⌘S |
| Save As | F12 | ⌘⇧S |
Shortcut not working?
Undo is greyed out
Running a macro or saving in some file types clears the undo history. It can't be recovered.
F4 changes the volume
On laptops F-keys control media. Hold Fn with F4, or switch Fn Lock on.
Ctrl+Y does nothing
There's nothing to redo or repeat yet. It only works after an undo or an action.
Practise these and 30 more: play the shortcut trainer → or see the full cheat sheet.
Frequently asked questions
What is the undo shortcut in Excel?
Ctrl+Z on Windows and Cmd+Z on Mac. Press it repeatedly to step back further.
How do I repeat the last action in Excel?
Press F4 or Ctrl+Y on Windows, or Cmd+Y on Mac, after selecting the new cells.
How many times can I undo in Excel?
Up to 100 actions by default, but saving some file types or running a macro clears the history.