One of the conveniences of using computers for our work is the ability to backtrack our steps and undo any mistakes that we have made. If you have ever fortuitously deleted an essential file or document, you know how annoying it can be. The same thing goes for if you made a change to a document that you later realized you should not have.
Luckily, most programs these days have an undo feature that allows us to revert our changes. If you are employing a Mac computer, the method for undoing is quite simple. In this write-up, we will instruct you on how to undo on Mac in easy ways.
What is Undo?
Undo is one of the most basic and essential functions in computing that allows users to cancel or reverse an action. In other words, it enables us to return to the form before the last modification was made. The feature can be used for reverting mistakes, such as deleting a file or overwriting text. The function is not only limited to text editors but can be found in almost all kinds of software, from image editing tools to video editors.
The Undo feature is not exclusive to Mac computers as it is available on Windows and Linux as well. However, the shortcut keys for these platforms are different. On a Mac, the shortcut key for Undo is Cmd+Z, while it is Ctrl+Z in Microsoft Windows.
The Undo feature was first introduced in the Xerox Alto computer, which was released in the 1970s. It was available in the Bravo text editor, which is considered to be the first WYSIWYG (what you see is what you get) text editor. The feature then became popular and was adopted by many other software programs. Currently, it is the universal option for taking back action and is available on all operating systems.
Undo on Mac with Keyboard Shortcut
The easiest way to undo on Mac is by using the keyboard shortcut. For most programs, the shortcut to undo is Command + Z. This shortcut works in a majority of programs such as TextEdit, Safari, Mail, and more.
If you accidentally deleted something or made a change that you do not like, simply press Command + Z on your keyboard, and it will undo the last action that you took. You can utilize this command several times to undo multiple changes. This is the most appropriate way to undo while working on a text document or related type of file.
Undo on Mac with Navigation Menus
Another way to undo it on Mac is by using the navigation menus located at the top of your screen. In most Mac programs, you will see an Edit menu. Click on this menu and then look for an Undo option. As an example, you will find it on the top of the Safari window as “Undo Close Tab”, in TextEdit’s “Edit” menu as “Undo”, and so on.
This method is helpful if you are working in a program where the keyboard shortcut does not work, or you cannot remember the shortcut. The process for undoing is still quite simple and only takes a few seconds.
Also Read: How To Keep Your Mac Awake in 2022
Redo: The Opposite of Undo
In addition to the undo feature, there is also a redo function that allows us to reverse our undone changes. The redo function is helpful if we accidentally undo something that we did not mean to. The shortcut key for a redo on Mac is Shift + Command + Z. It can be very useful while working on a text document, sorting files or editing something.
It is also available in the top navigation menus of most programs under the Edit menu. Simply click on Edit and then look for a Redo or Redo Typing option.
Conclusion
The undo function is an essential tool that all computer users should be acquainted with. It can save you a lot of time and frustration by allowing you to revert any changes that you have made quickly. If you are using a Mac, the process for undoing is quite simple, as we have shown above. Simply use the keyboard shortcut or navigation menus to take back your last action.
Utilizing the Undo and Redo features on your work can help to improve and faster your productivity as you can avoid having to start from scratch if you make a mistake. We hope that this write-up has been beneficial in guiding you on how to undo on Mac. If you have any questions or comments, please feel free to leave them below. Thanks for reading!
