How to Undo in PowerPoint
We’ve all been there… You’ve spent hours working on a PowerPoint presentation, and with just the click of a button, you accidentally delete the wrong slide or paste over the wrong text. If you didn’t save your PowerPoint file, this can cause you to panic. Of course, then you remember the Undo button. Just as quickly, your mistake has been reversed.
Now, if you are unfamiliar with how to undo in PowerPoint, then we must be about to blow your mind. We’ll show you how to do it, the keyboard shortcuts you can use, how far back you can undo and more. Let’s break down exactly how it works.
Using the Undo Button
There are essentially two ways to use the undo function. If you’re more of a clicker than a keyboard-shortcut wizard, this is the method for you. There’s a big, trusty Undo arrow at the top left of the PowerPoint window in the toolbar.
- Click once to undo your most recent action.
- Click multiple times to undo further.
- Use the dropdown arrow next to it to see a list of past actions and undo multiple steps at once. This action is not available in PowerPoint Online, however (pictured below).
The Undo Shortcut
There can be a faster way to do this, though, and that is through the keyboard shortcut. It’s simple…
On Windows: Ctrl + Z
On Mac: Cmd + Z
That’s it. Done. You can now undo your last action, whether it’s deleting a text box, moving an image or accidentally changing your entire text to Comic Sans (it happens).
[More from Twistly: How to Save a PowerPoint as a PDF]
How Far Back Can You Undo in PowerPoint?
By default, PowerPoint will save the last 100 actions. So in theory, you can undo up to 100 actions.
The only thing is, they have to be undoable actions. Not all actions are undoable. For example, commands under the File tab cannot be undone.
Now, 100 “undo’s” is a lot! That always leaves room for mistakenly going back too far, which can also be a frustration. So, you can always use the Undo function’s opposite but equally helpful function, Redo.
You’ve probably seen the Redo button right near the Undo button, but there is a keyboard shortcut for it too:
On Windows: Ctrl + Y or Ctrl + Shift + Z
On Mac: Cmd + Y
What Undo Can’t Save You From
Like we said above, there are some actions that cannot be undone. Here are some more that won’t work with the Undo button or will impact your ability to undo actions.
- Closing the file and reopening it wipes the undo history.
- Running macros or certain add-ins might lock out the undo stack.
- Reverting slide masters or applying some themes can make it harder to reverse changes.
So, if you’re about to make a major formatting overhaul, consider saving a copy first. Future you will thank you.
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Undo in PowerPoint is like a rewind button for your brain farts, slip-ups and sudden creative changes. Whether you’re a shortcut master or prefer clicking, knowing how to use undo (and redo) can save you from a ton of frustration. Just remember to save often, but don’t be afraid to experiment. Undo’s got your back.