Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here: Undoing an Edit.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated September 5, 2022)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
It happens to the best of us. You may delete the wrong value, replace the wrong formula, or run the wrong macro. In short, you make a mistake. Excel allows you to undo almost any of your editing actions. To undo an edit or formatting change, either press Ctrl+Z or choose Undo from the Edit menu. The exact wording of the menu option will vary, depending on the last action you performed. The Undo option is always the first item in the Edit menu, however.
If it is not possible to undo an action, the Undo option will not be available. Instead, it will be in lighter type than the rest of the options on the Edit menu.
Excel also provides an Undo tool on the toolbar. This tool looks like a curved arrow pointing backward—to the left. If you click on the tool, it is the same as choosing Undo from the Edit menu. If you click on the tool and you hear a "ding," it means there are no actions to undo. If there are more than one actions that can be undone, click on the down-arrow to the right of the Undo tool and you can see the various actions that you can undo.
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2030) applies to Microsoft Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. You can find a version of this tip for the ribbon interface of Excel (Excel 2007 and later) here: Undoing an Edit.
Solve Real Business Problems Master business modeling and analysis techniques with Excel and transform data into bottom-line results. This hands-on, scenario-focused guide shows you how to use the latest Excel tools to integrate data from multiple tables. Check out Microsoft Excel 2013 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
Need to quickly select a range of cells? Perhaps the easiest way is to use both the mouse and the keyboard together, as ...
Discover MoreCombining workbooks that have cross-links to each other can offer some special challenges. This tip examines how you can ...
Discover MoreExcel has a great (and little known) shortcut for filling a column with information. It comes in very handy when you need ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Excel that uses the menu interface (Excel 97, Excel 2000, Excel 2002, or Excel 2003)? This site is for you! If you use a later version of Excel, visit our ExcelTips site focusing on the ribbon interface.
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in ExcelTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2025 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Excel versions: 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003. If you are using a later version (Excel 2007 or later), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for later versions of Excel, click here:
Comments