How to undo and redo actions in Windows 11

Have you ever regretted doing something on your computer right afterward and wondered if there was a magic undo button? Calm down, because Windows 11 offers several powerful and easy ways to undo and redo actions, both at the system level and within the most popular apps we use every day. In this article, you'll learn how these shortcuts work, where you can take full advantage of them, and those little tricks that can save you from a catastrophic mistake.

Reversing an action in Windows is not just a thing for programs like Become or Photoshop, but you can also revert changes in the operating system itself, File Explorer, and even in browsers and email platforms. Today I will explain all the options to you, keyboard shortcuts, limits, and benefits for keeping it under control. I'll also provide you with up-to-date, integrated information from various official and expert sources... so that, by the time you finish reading, you'll have no doubts.

What does it mean to undo or redo an action in Windows 11?

Undo is the ability to reverse the most recent action you just performed. Redo It's just the opposite: reapplying an action that you had previously undone. The essential is to know what the universal shortcut is, which is usually Ctrl + Z to undo and Ctrl + Y o Ctrl+Shift+Z to redo, although in some contexts it may change.

With the arrival of Windows 11These commands have become even more ubiquitous and useful.

Undo and Redo in Windows 11 File Explorer

File Explorer integrates one of the most practical uses of undo: recovering deleted files, reversing accidental moves, and unintended renaming.

Have you accidentally deleted a photo? Have you moved a folder and can't find it anymore? press Ctrl + Z in the Explorer immediately afterward, and the action will be reversed. This feature is very fast, although it has some important limitations that you should be aware of:

• The undo history only stores recent actions. If you close the process explorer.exe or you reboot the system, the history is lost.
• Not all actions can be undone. Operations requiring administrator privileges are usually beyond the scope of this command.
• Some actions may not display warnings. There are cases where undoing a deletion could result in permanent loss.

For ease of use, you can add buttons Undo y Redo to the Quick Access Toolbar in Explorer. This way, you'll always have a clear view of whether these actions are available and can act more confidently before making important changes.

Remember: Act quickly after a mistake, as each new action you take can overwrite your undo history.

Universal keyboard shortcuts for undo and redo in Windows 11

Keyboard shortcuts are the fastest way to undo and redo actions in Windows 11. Here are the main ones:

• Ctrl+Z: Undo the last action.
• Ctrl+Y: Redo the action you just undone.
• F4: In some Microsoft applications (such as Office), it also allows you to repeat the last action.
• Ctrl + Shift + Z: In some programs, it is the shortcut for redo (especially in Adobe suites).

If F4 doesn't work, you may need to enable the F-Lock key or the Fn key depending on your keyboard manufacturer.

Additionally, Windows 11 brings with it a large collection of useful shortcuts for navigating, managing windows, opening settings, and much more. However, for undo and redo actions, the commands above are the most commonly used and recognizable.

What limits exist for undoing and redoing?

Each program and system component has its own way of managing undo history. For example:

• En Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint): can be undone up to 100 default shares. It is possible to increase this number by editing the Windows registry, although doing so requires some technical knowledge. To expand the undo and redo functions, you can also consult the list of keyboard shortcuts in Word.
• En Adobe Photoshop, the default number of undo states is usually 20, but you can increase it from the program preferences (the maximum depends on your computer's RAM).
• En browsers, undo actions are usually more limited: for example, you can reopen closed tabs (Ctrl+Shift+T), but the limit on how many tabs you can restore varies by browser.
• On own File Browser In Windows, the history is cleared if you restart the process or the computer, and you can only undo actions performed in the current session.
• En messaging and email applications, undo time windows are usually limited (for example, in Gmail up to 30 seconds after sending an email).

Remember that some operations, such as saving a file, changing global preferences, or managing administrator permissions, cannot be reversed with conventional undo commands.

How to undo and redo in popular apps

Let's review how these options work in the programs we use every day:

Microsoft Office suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Ctrl + Z y Ctrl + Y These are the basics. You can undo errors in formulas Excel, text modifications in Become and design changes in Power point with these shortcuts.

Excel and the rest of Office support up to 100 undo steps. If that's not enough, you can change the number from the Windows Registry, although it requires some technical knowledge: more information here.

Eye: Increasing history consumes RAM and can affect performance on very large files.

Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator

In creative programs, Ctrl + Z allows you to rewind changes you've made, from filters to color adjustments and brush touch-ups. Photoshop also has a History Panel which allows you to visually navigate through the actions.

In Illustrator, the process is similar, although saving the file clears the undo history, so if you don't have a copy or haven't saved multiple versions, you won't be able to undo it once you close the file. Review this behavior before making large or irreversible changes.

Important: Some complex or specific actions (such as certain layer changes) may not be reversible; use the History Panel for more control.

Web browsers

Did you close a tab by mistake? Don't worry: press Ctrl + Shift + T in Chrome, Edge, or Firefox, and you'll reopen the last closed tab. If you continue pressing, you'll recover additional tabs in reverse order of closing.

Each browser has different limits:

• Microsoft Edge: stores up to 25 closed tabs.
• Firefox: By default, it allows you to restore 10 tabs and 3 windows, but you can modify it from the settings about: config.
• brave: treats each window as an element and has a limit of 25 elements.

Caution: In incognito mode or if you choose “do not save history,” these features will not be active.

Email and messaging platforms

Some platforms offer their own undo option:

• Gmail: After sending an email, the "Undo" option appears for a few seconds. You can configure this in Settings > General > Undo Send up to 30 seconds.
• Outlook: allows you to "recall" sent messages if both use Microsoft Exchange or Office 365 and they haven't been opened yet. The message can be deleted or replaced.
• Slack and Teams: You can edit, delete, or undo submissions within certain time frames after submission.

It's important to note that not all platforms offer this feature. For example, on Yahoo Mail's website, there's no option to undo after sending an email.

Tips and tricks to get the most out of undo and redo in Windows 11

Learning to use these commands efficiently can prevent problems and increase your productivity:

• Practice with shortcuts: develops muscle memory for Ctrl + Z, Ctrl + Y y Ctrl + Shift + TThe more you use them, the more natural they will become when faced with any mistakes.
• Know the limitations: Some changes, such as saving files or modifying global settings, cannot be reversed with these commands. It's a good idea to save copies or create restore points before making major changes.
• Customize the toolbar: In Explorer and many applications, you can add Undo and Redo icons to quickly access and check if actions are available.
• Cautiously increase history in Office or Photoshop: only if you have resources to spare and really need a broader track record.
• Take advantage of versions and file history: Turn on Windows File History so you can recover previous versions of files and folders if the conventional method doesn't work.

Specific limitations and common mistakes

Not all actions or applications allow undo, and in some cases, shortcuts may not respond for several reasons:

• In private mode in browsers (like Firefox), the feature to reopen closed tabs is disabled.
• In chromeIf you don't have the session restore option enabled, you won't be able to use Ctrl+Shift+T after closing the browser.
• Saving files deletes the undo history for that session.
• Add-on conflicts or custom settings may disable undo commands.

To resolve these issues, check the program settings, shortcuts, or consult the official help. In some cases, restarting the application or restoring preferences may restore the undo functions.

What to do if undo doesn't recover your file or change?

If the conventional method doesn't work, try:

• Restore previous versions: Right-click the folder and select “Restore previous versions” if you have File History enabled.
• Recovery software: There are tools that attempt to recover permanently deleted files, although their success is not always guaranteed.

The best strategy is to prevent this by enabling and keeping File History up to date and making regular backups.

Comparison table of undo and redo options

Do you want to know the main differences between programs? Here's a summary:

Related article:

Command Keyboard Guide: How to Undo or Redo Actions in Word Text

Isaac

Passionate writer about the world of bytes and technology in general. I love sharing my knowledge through writing, and that's what I'll do on this blog, show you all the most interesting things about gadgets, software, hardware, tech trends, and more. My goal is to help you navigate the digital world in a simple and entertaining way.