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: Clearing the Undo Stack in a Macro.
Written by Allen Wyatt (last updated July 19, 2025)
This tip applies to Excel 97, 2000, 2002, and 2003
In Word, you can use the UndoClear method with the ActiveDocument object in order to clear the Undo stack. If you are programming macros in Excel's flavor of VBA, you may wonder if there is a similar method for use in Excel.
Excel VBA doesn't provide a method like UndoClear. The reason is because the undo stack is automatically cleared by Excel whenever your macro makes a change (any change) to the workbook. If your macro doesn't make any changes, and you still want it to clear the undo stack, then all you need to do is make an innocuous change to the worksheet. For instance, the following macro copies the contents of cell A1 back into A1 and, in the process, clears the undo stack:
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:
Sub ClearUndo()
Range("A1").Copy Range("A1")
End Sub
Note:
ExcelTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Excel training. This tip (2463) 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: Clearing the Undo Stack in a Macro.
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 Data Analysis and Business Modeling today!
When creating macros, you often need to process numbers in various ways. VBA allows you to convert a numeric value to an ...
Discover MoreMacros are often used to process information in a worksheet. You may need your macro to change the values stored in ...
Discover MoreYou can create macros that are automatically executed whenever certain events occur within a worksheet. This tip details ...
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.
Comments