Software basics · Beginner

Undo history

The list of recent steps a 3D app remembers, so you can undo, redo or jump back

What is the undo history in Blender?

The undo history is the list of recent steps a 3D app remembers, so you can go back to an earlier state of your work. In Blender, Ctrl+Z undoes, Ctrl+Shift+Z redoes, and Edit > Undo History shows the whole list so you can jump back several steps at once.

Think of it like this

It is like a trail of breadcrumbs: each step you take drops a crumb, and you can follow them back to any point you passed.

Where it fits in a 3D project

  1. Create
  2. Surface
  3. Rig
  4. Animate
  5. Render
  6. Export

Create: Building the shape: modeling, sculpting, scanning or generating it.

How the undo history works

  1. 01Each change, such as a move, an extrude or a new material, is saved as one step.
  2. 02Ctrl+Z steps back one change; Ctrl+Shift+Z steps forward again.
  3. 03Edit > Undo History lists recent steps; click one to jump straight to it.
  4. 04Making a new change after undoing drops the steps you undid.

Where the undo history is used

  • Recovering from a mistake in one keystroke
  • Comparing a model before and after a change
  • Jumping back past a run of bad edits in one click

Beginner tip

Undo has a limit and is wiped when you close the file, so it is no backup. Save numbered versions as you go, such as scene_01.blend and scene_02.blend.

Undo history in Morphic

In Morphic for Blender, each script Copilot runs after you click Apply is one undo step, so a single Ctrl+Z reverses the whole change.

See Morphic for Blender

Terms related to the undo history

Undo history FAQ

How do I undo in Blender?
Press Ctrl+Z, or Cmd+Z on a Mac, with the mouse over a Blender window. Each press steps back one change. Edit > Undo History lists every step you can go back to.
How do I redo in Blender?
Press Ctrl+Shift+Z, or Cmd+Shift+Z on a Mac, to step forward again after an undo. Redo only works until you make a new change, which clears the steps you undid.
How many undo steps does Blender have?
32 by default. Raise the number in Preferences > System, under Memory & Limits. More steps use more memory, and the history is cleared when you close or reopen the file.
Why can’t I undo in Blender?
Some actions are not undo steps, such as moving the viewport view or changing preferences. The history also starts fresh each time you open a file. If Ctrl+Z does nothing, check that the mouse is over a Blender editor.

Updated October 29, 2026 · Browse all 3D terms