# How to undo a step in Photoshop on Mac: shortcuts, History panel and fixes

> How to undo a step in Photoshop on Mac with Command Z, Command Option Z and the History panel, plus fixes for common undo problems.

URL: https://www.lazur.app/how-to/undo-a-step-in-photoshop
Updated: 2026-11-08

To undo a step in Photoshop on Mac, press Command Z or choose Edit > Undo. To go back further, press Command Option Z to step through the History panel, and press Command Shift Z to move forward again.

## Quick answer

- Press Command Z to undo the last step in Photoshop on Mac.
- Press Command Option Z to step back through earlier states, and Command Shift Z to step forward.
- Open Window > History to see every state, then click one to jump to it.
- If Command Option Z selects layers, turn off Auto-Select in the Move tool's Options bar.
- The default history count is 50 states, and some users report undo stops at 5.

Applies to: Photoshop desktop app on macOS, including version 27.6.0. Time: 5 min. Difficulty: Easy.

## What you need

- Photoshop desktop app on macOS
- A document open with at least one change
- A keyboard with Command and Option keys
- Access to the Move tool for the Auto-Select fix

## How to Undo a step in Photoshop on Mac in Photoshop on a Mac

1. **Undo the last change.** (Edit > Undo) Shortcut: ⌘Z. Make sure the document window is active. Press Command Z to reverse the most recent step. If you prefer the menu, choose Edit > Undo, which names the step it will reverse. Tip: Check the Edit menu label before you commit. It names the step you are about to reverse.
2. **Step back through earlier changes.** (Edit > Step Backward) Shortcut: ⌥⌘Z. Press Command Option Z to move backward through the History states. Press it again to go further. Watch the canvas after each press so you stop at the right point. Tip: If a layer moves when you press the keys, turn off Auto-Select as described in the troubleshooting section.
3. **Step forward again.** (Edit > Step Forward) Shortcut: ⇧⌘Z. Press Command Shift Z to move forward through states you have undone. Use it when you went back too far. It moves one state at a time. Tip: Your menu may say Redo instead. Match the shortcut next to the item.
4. **Open the History panel.** (Window > History) Choose Window > History to show the panel. It lists the states of the open document, with the newest at the bottom. Tip: Dock the panel near your layers so it stays visible while you work.
5. **Jump to an earlier state.** (Window > History) Click any earlier state in the History panel to return the document to that point. Click a later state to redo up to it. Tip: Making a new change while an old state is selected usually removes the states after it.
6. **Check how many states Photoshop keeps.** (Photoshop > Settings > Performance) Choose Photoshop > Settings > Performance and find the History States setting. The default is 50, according to one Adobe Community expert. Higher values use more memory. Tip: Some guides and older builds show Preferences > Performance. Look for the Performance page in your menu.
7. **Turn on legacy undo shortcuts (optional).** (Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts) Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts and check Use Legacy Undo Shortcuts. Click OK, then quit and reopen Photoshop, because the change applies at the next start. Tip: In legacy mode, Command Z toggles between the last two states.
8. **Turn off Auto-Select if Command Option Z selects layers.** Shortcut: V. Press V to choose the Move tool. In the Options bar across the top, uncheck Auto-Select. Then test Command Option Z on a copy of your file. Tip: The Command click behavior itself cannot be disabled, according to the Adobe Community thread.

Most of the time you need one key combination: Command Z. It reverses the last thing you did, such as a brush stroke, a layer move or a filter. Photoshop also keeps a list of earlier states, so you can go back further when one step is not enough.

## Undo the last step with Command Z

Click into the document window first so Photoshop knows which file to change. Then press Command Z. If you prefer the menu, choose Edit > Undo. The Edit menu names the step it will reverse, so you can check before you commit.

If Undo is greyed out, Photoshop has no recorded change to reverse in that document. Open the History panel to confirm before you assume something is broken.

| Action | Mac shortcut | Menu path |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Undo the last step | ⌘Z | Edit > Undo |
| Step back through earlier states | ⌥⌘Z | Edit > Step Backward |
| Step forward or redo | ⇧⌘Z | Edit > Step Forward |
| Show the History panel | None listed | Window > History |

_Shortcuts from HowTo Geek and an Adobe Community expert. Confirm menu labels in your build._

## Undo several steps with Command Option Z

Command Option Z steps backward through the History panel, one state at a time. An Adobe Community expert describes it as Step Backward. HowTo Geek says it works less well than Command Z, so test it on a practice file before a deadline.

Use it when you have made a string of changes and want to see earlier results. Press it, look at the canvas, and press again. Each press moves you back one state, which is slower than clicking a state in the panel.

1. Press Command Option Z once and look at the canvas.
2. Keep pressing until the image matches the state you want.
3. Press Command Shift Z to move forward if you went too far.
4. If a layer moves when you press the keys, read the Auto-Select section below.

## Redo a step with Command Shift Z

Command Shift Z moves forward through states you have already undone. It works one step at a time, the same way you moved back. Use it right after you stepped back too far, before you make a new change.

The Edit menu label can differ by build. Some versions say Redo, others say Step Forward. Match the shortcut next to the item, not the wording, so you know which command you are running.

- **50** Default history states in Photoshop, according to an Adobe Community Expert ([source](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/bug-when-i-use-the-undo-shortcut-cmd-opt-z-activating-toggle-auto-select-cmd-click-1184531))
- **5** Undo steps some users reported before undo stopped, which replies could not reproduce ([source](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/photoshop-2026-undo-history-limited-to-5-1546809))
- **27.6.0** Photoshop version after which some users saw File and Quit greyed out ([source](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/quit-and-other-menu-items-greyed-out-1560302))

## A worked example: undo a mistake in a real edit

Say you retouched a portrait. You blurred the background, then moved a text layer by accident. You want the text back where it was, and you want to keep the blur.

Press Command Z once. That reverses the text move, and the blur stays because it came before the move. If you went further than you meant, press Command Shift Z to step forward again.

Now suppose the mistake is a stray highlight painted earlier in the session. Open the History panel and click the state just before that highlight. Every change after that state goes away, so scan the list first.

## Jump back with the History panel

The History panel lists the states of the open document, with the newest at the bottom. Open it from Window > History. Click any earlier state to return to that point. Click a later state to redo up to it.

- Open the panel with Window > History.
- Click a state above the current one to go back.
- Click a state below the current one to move forward.
- Make a new change while an old state is selected, and the states after it usually disappear.

![Designer at a Mac reviewing photo edits before deciding how to undo a step in Photoshop](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/undo-a-step-in-photoshop/how-to-undo-a-step-in-photoshop-1-f5ff55.jpg)

The panel is the fastest way to back out of a bad brush session. Scan the list, find the last good state, and click it. Each state carries a name that tells you what it did, such as a filter or a layer move.

## How many undo steps does Photoshop keep?

The default history count is 50 states, according to a Community Expert named jane-e in an Adobe Community thread. Change it under Photoshop > Settings > Performance. Some guides and older builds show Preferences > Performance instead, so look for the Performance page.

More states need more memory, according to PSDVault. A higher number helps in long sessions. Raise it only when you need the extra steps, because it also uses more of your Mac's memory.

Some users say undo stops at 5 steps even with History States set to 50. Replies on Photoshop 27.2 and 27.3 could not reproduce it, and one user undid 20 steps. No confirmed fix has been posted.

One suspected cause is low free disk space. If undo stops early for you, check your startup disk before you change any settings. Free space is a quick test.

## Turn on legacy undo shortcuts

Some people learned Photoshop on older shortcuts and want them back. Choose Edit > Keyboard Shortcuts, check Use Legacy Undo Shortcuts, and click OK. HowTo Geek says the change takes effect the next time Photoshop starts.

> **Legacy mode changes Command Z:** In legacy mode, Command Z toggles between the last two states. It does not walk back through the whole history. Check which mode you are in before you rely on the key.

Legacy mode is a preference, not a fix. If your undo problem comes from greyed out menus or the Auto-Select clash, switching modes will not help. The troubleshooting section covers those cases.

## Fix Command Option Z when it selects layers

Some Mac users see Command Option Z also trigger Command click. Command click turns on Auto-Select in the Move tool, and that can drag or select several layers. An Adobe Community thread reports this on macOS Sierra with Photoshop CC from around 2017.

The workaround in that thread is to turn Auto-Select off in the Move tool's Options bar. The Command click behavior itself cannot be disabled, the thread says. This is a volunteer answer, not an Adobe staff fix, so test it on a copy first.

- Press V to choose the Move tool.
- Look at the Options bar across the top of the window.
- Uncheck Auto-Select, then try Command Option Z again.

## When undo stops working or menus are greyed out

Two problems show up often in Adobe Community threads. The first is File and Quit greyed out after an update to Photoshop 27.6.0. Users said they had to force-quit the app. The accepted fix is to turn off Modern UI under Settings > Technology Preview.

Several users said that worked. Others saw the problem return after reinstalling or resetting preferences. If the menus stay greyed out, read [how to reset preferences in Photoshop on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/reset-preferences-in-photoshop) and try again.

| Problem | What to try |
| --- | --- |
| Command Option Z selects or drags layers | Turn off Auto-Select in the Move tool Options bar |
| Undo seems to stop at about 5 steps | Check History States, then free disk space. No confirmed fix exists. |
| File and Quit greyed out after 27.6.0 | Turn off Modern UI under Settings > Technology Preview, or reset preferences |
| Legacy shortcuts did not change | Quit Photoshop fully and reopen it, since the change applies at the next start |

_Fixes come from Adobe Community threads and are not official Adobe fixes._

![Photo retouching on a laptop, the kind of work where how to undo a step in Photoshop on Mac matters](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/undo-a-step-in-photoshop/how-to-undo-a-step-in-photoshop-2-00f278.jpg)

## Mistakes people make with undo

- Pressing Command Z expecting a redo. Use Command Shift Z to move forward.
- Ignoring the History panel. It shows each state, so you can jump instead of guessing.
- Forgetting that Command Option Z can select layers when Auto-Select is on.
- Raising the History States count without a reason. More states use more memory.
- Assuming Photoshop on the web matches the desktop app. Check its own help first.

Another mistake is treating undo as a backup. Undo covers the last few mistakes in one session. Save a version before a large change, such as a color pass or a retouch, so you have a clean point to return to.

## Photoshop on the web and other versions

> **Source check:** Adobe's own help pages were not reachable when this page was written. Menu labels come from third-party guides and Adobe Community threads, so check them against your build.

This page covers the desktop app on macOS. The undo shortcuts and history limits in Photoshop on the web were not verified, so do not assume they match. The newest desktop build confirmed for this page is 27.6.0, and newer builds may move menu items.

![Creative desk with a computer and tablet used for Photoshop work on a Mac](https://images.lazur.app/content-images/howto/undo-a-step-in-photoshop/how-to-undo-a-step-in-photoshop-3-8b8d3f.jpg)

## What to do next

Start with Command Z for the last mistake. Use the History panel when you need to jump several steps. If Command Option Z moves your layers, fix Auto-Select first, since every other shortcut depends on it working as expected.

When you finish a cleanup, the next step depends on the file. For a common follow-up, see [how to crop an image in Photoshop on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/crop-an-image-in-photoshop) or [how to add text in Photoshop on Mac](https://www.lazur.app/how-to/add-text-in-photoshop).

## Shortcuts

- Undo the last step: ⌘Z
- Step backward through history: ⌥⌘Z
- Step forward or redo: ⇧⌘Z
- Select the Move tool: V

## If it does not work

- **Command Option Z selects or drags layers** Turn off Auto-Select in the Move tool's Options bar. This is a volunteer workaround from an Adobe Community thread, not an official Adobe fix.
- **Undo seems to stop at about 5 steps** Check History States under Photoshop > Settings > Performance. Free disk space is one suspected cause. No confirmed fix exists, and some users could not reproduce it.
- **File and Quit are greyed out after updating to 27.6.0** Turn off Modern UI under Settings > Technology Preview. Some users said it worked. Others saw the problem return after reinstalling or resetting preferences.
- **Legacy shortcuts did not change** Quit Photoshop fully and reopen it. The change takes effect at the next start, not while the app is running.
- **Edit > Undo is greyed out** The open document has no recorded change to reverse. Open Window > History to see whether any states exist.

## With Lazur

Lazur is a voice assistant for the Mac that lives in the notch. Hold ⌥ ⌘ and ask; it sees your screen, answers out loud, points at buttons and walks you through apps. Hold fn to dictate. Free for 3 days, then $18/month: https://www.lazur.app/download

- “Where is the History panel in Photoshop?”: Lazur draws a circle and a label around the History panel on your screen and says where it is. You still click it yourself. Lazur does not click for you. (Points at it)

## FAQ

### Does Command Z undo more than one step in Photoshop?

It can. HowTo Geek says Command Z undoes multiple steps by default and only toggles the last two states in legacy mode. Press it a few times on a practice file to see how your build behaves.

### What is the undo shortcut in Photoshop on Mac?

Command Z is the undo shortcut. Command Option Z steps backward through the History panel, and Command Shift Z moves forward again.

### How do I redo in Photoshop on Mac?

Use Command Shift Z to move forward one state at a time. In legacy mode, Command Z also toggles between the last two states, so check the mode you are in.

### How many undo steps does Photoshop keep by default?

The default is 50 history states, according to an Adobe Community Expert. You can change it under Photoshop > Settings > Performance. More states use more memory.

### Why does Command Option Z select my layer?

It can trigger Command click, which turns on Auto-Select in the Move tool. Turn Auto-Select off in the Move tool's Options bar. The thread says the Command click behavior itself cannot be disabled.

### Why does undo stop after five steps?

A January 2026 Adobe Community thread reports this. Replies on Photoshop 27.2 and 27.3 could not reproduce it, and no confirmed fix has been posted. Low free disk space is one suspected cause.

### Can I undo in Photoshop on the web the same way?

This page did not verify it. Check Adobe's Photoshop on the web help for its undo shortcuts, because the desktop shortcuts may differ.

### Why are File and Quit greyed out on my Mac?

Some users saw this after updating to Photoshop 27.6.0. The accepted fix is to turn off Modern UI under Settings > Technology Preview. Results were mixed, and some users saw the problem return.

## Sources

1. [How to Enable Photoshop's Old Undo Keyboard Shortcuts](https://www.howtogeek.com/701115/how-to-enable-photoshops-old-undo-keyboard-shortcuts/), How-To Geek, checked 2026-11-09
2. [Undo, Redo, and Beyond: A Beginner's Guide to the History Panel in Photoshop](https://www.psdvault.com/basics/beginners-guide-history-panel-photoshop/), PSDVault, checked 2026-11-09
3. [Bug when I use the undo shortcut Cmd+Opt+Z activating toggle auto select (Cmd+click)](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/bug-when-i-use-the-undo-shortcut-cmd-opt-z-activating-toggle-auto-select-cmd-click-1184531), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09
4. [Quit and other Menu items greyed out](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/quit-and-other-menu-items-greyed-out-1560302), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09
5. [Photoshop 2026 undo history limited to 5](https://community.adobe.com/questions-712/photoshop-2026-undo-history-limited-to-5-1546809), Adobe Community, checked 2026-11-09