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Microsoft documents a way to increase or decrease Excel’s undo-history limit on Windows by changing a Windows Registry value. The documented path is for Excel 2016, so Microsoft’s instructions do not establish that the same key applies to every current Windows desktop release. Microsoft lists the default undo/redo maximum as 100 actions; increasing the limit uses more RAM and can affect Excel’s performance.

How many actions can you undo in Excel?

Microsoft says Excel and other Office programs have a default maximum of 100 undo/redo actions. Some actions are not undoable: Microsoft gives selecting commands on the File tab and saving a file as examples. Running an Excel macro clears the undo stack, so actions made before the macro are no longer available through Undo.

Change the undo limit in Windows desktop Excel

The procedure below follows Microsoft’s documented instructions. The registry key shown is specifically identified for Excel 2016; Microsoft’s support page does not list keys for every currently supported Windows desktop version. Editing the registry incorrectly can cause problems, so enter the key and value carefully.

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  1. Close Office programs. Close Excel and other open Office applications.
  2. Open Registry Editor. Use Windows search to find and open Registry Editor.
  3. Go to the Excel Options key. In Registry Editor, navigate to HKEY_CURRENT_USERSoftwareMicrosoftOffice16.0ExcelOptions. This is the path Microsoft supplies for Excel 2016.
  4. Create the value. In the right pane, create a DWORD Value named UndoHistory.
  5. Set the desired number. Modify UndoHistory, choose Decimal under Base, and enter the number of actions you want Excel to retain.
  6. Restart Excel. Close Registry Editor, then start Excel. Microsoft says Excel will store an undo history for the number of actions entered.

Choose a limit carefully

A larger history can help when you need to reverse more steps, but it is not free: Microsoft warns that more undo levels require more RAM and can affect Excel’s performance. Increase the limit only as much as you need, especially on a computer with limited memory.

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Mac and Excel for the web

The registry method uses Windows Registry Editor and is not documented as a setting for Mac or Excel for the web. Microsoft lists Ctrl+Z for Windows and the web, and Command+Z for Mac. Microsoft describes undo and redo in Excel for the web as basic, with more advanced options available in desktop Office.

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If Undo cannot recover a change

If an action cannot be undone or a macro has cleared the undo stack, Microsoft says you may be able to restore a previous file version from OneDrive or OneDrive for Business. Availability depends on whether a suitable earlier version of the workbook exists.

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Source: Microsoft Support: Undo, redo, or repeat an action.

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