Redo Shortcut in Excel

Last Updated :

21 Aug, 2024

Edited by :

Ashish Kumar Srivastav

Reviewed by :

Dheeraj Vaidya, CFA, FRM

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Shortcut for Redo in Excel

Mistakes are quite common in Excel. So to rectify this, we have an option called "Undo" by using Ctrl + Z. In many cases, we may undo an action, but later we may recognize that that was not a mistake. So, we must go back to the original point before undoing the action. Therefore, canceling the undo action is called "Redo" in Excel.

To redo the undone action in Excel, we have a shortcut key, "Ctrl + Y."

Excel Redo Shortcut

We all know that to correct the mistakes in software, there is a shortcut key, "Ctrl + Z," which undoes our error.

Mistakes are common while working but having to undo them is possible in Excel. Recently, we have seen a slogan on auto-rickshaws saying, "Do not make mistakes in life because life does not have "Ctrl + Z." This is what we need to keep in mind in our practical life.

Let us return to the article topic, "Excel Shortcut Redo." This article will show you the opposite of "Ctrl + Z" to redo the action in Excel.

We do not know whether you have noticed it or not in the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT), we have icons for both “UNDO” & “REDO.”

Undo & Redo Option

We can use this QAT to perform actions, or we can also use shortcut keys to perform these tasks.

If you do not have the above icons on your QAT, follow the below steps to activate them by customizing the toolbar.

Step 1: Go to the "FILE tab" in the ribbon.

Step 2: Click "Options" under "File."

Excel Option

Step 3: The "Excel Options" window will open up. From this, choose "Quick Access Toolbar."

Redo Shortcut - Choose QAT

Step 4: Now, choose "Commands Not in the Ribbon" from the dropdown list of "Choose commands from:"

Redo Shortcut - Commands not in Ribbon

Step 5: Now, we can see commands which are not in the ribbon. Since these things are organized alphabetically, first find the "Redo" option. After selecting the command, click on "Add >>."

Redo Shortcut - Choose Redo Option

Step 6: Also, do the same for "Undo." After adding the commands, click on "OK."

Redo Shortcut - Choose Undo Option

Step 7: We will have selected commands in the QAT.

QAT

Like this, we can customize the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).

How to Use the Redo Shortcut in Excel?

The UNDO and REDO options are brothers in Excel. We recognize UNDO as the big brother and REDO as the younger brother because, without REDO, we can perform the UNDO option. But without UNDO, we cannot execute the REDO option.

If nothing is UNDONE in Excel, then there is no need for REDO, so that is why we can perform REDO after UNDO has been implemented.

Below are the shortcut keys for UNDO and REDO in Excel.

Shortcuts

Ok, let’s see how we can perform REDO action in excel.

Example

First, we will perform some actions in Excel. Then, using the RANDBETWEEN function, we will insert some numbers in cell A1.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.1

We will copy-paste the above formula to the range of cells from A1 to C10.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.2

So far, two actions have been performed. Now, we will change the font name to "Verdana" and the font size to “10.”

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.3

Now, we will change the background color of these cells.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.4

The final action will be, copy, and do paste special as values.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.5

Excel has recorded all the actions we have performed. So, now the data range is without formulas.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.6

Upon pressing the UNDO key "Ctrl + Z," it will return the previous action, which means we will get back formulas.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.7

Since one action is undone now, we can perform the REDO action of going forward to the paste special values action using the shortcut key "CTRL + Y" or pressing the icon on QAT.

Redo Shortcut - Example 1.8

As you can see above, we have only values in place.

We have performed 7 activities. To return to the first step, we may need to type 'Ctrl + Z' 7 times. Instead, we can use the UNDO icon in QAT and see all the actions we have performed here.

List of Activities Performed

Now, we can go back to the basic first step by clicking on the last action in the UNDO button.

First Step

If you press the Ctrl + Y shortcut for a redo, it will return the action of the next step performed after entering the formula.

Like this, we can UNDO or REDO the actions in Excel using simple shortcut keys.

Things to Remember

  • To perform REDO, one must have performed UNDO action, so we cannot conduct the REDO option without undoing an activity.
  • Using QAT icons, we can return or forward to a specific set of actions.

This article is a guide to Redo Shortcut in Excel. Here, we discuss how to use the undo and redo commands, along with step-by-step examples and explanations. You can learn more about Excel from the following articles: -