Table of contents

1. Using the WordPress editor’s undo and redo buttons2. Restoring a previous version with the revisions feature3. Undoing theme, plugin, or WordPress updates4. Undoing design or layout changes made with page builders5. Undoing changes with a backup pluginPreventing irreversible mistakesNext stepsAdditional resources

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WordPress Guide → Build → How To Undo Changes

How to undo changes in WordPress

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Everyone makes mistakes. Maybe you deleted the wrong paragraph, changed a layout you liked, or updated a plugin that broke your site. Fortunately, WordPress gives you multiple ways to undo those changes—whether you’re editing a post or fixing a full-site disaster.

Let’s walk through every method, from basic editor tools to plugin rollbacks and full site restores.

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1. Using the WordPress editor’s undo and redo buttons

This is the fastest way to undo changes, and it’s ideal when you’re actively working inside a post or page.

Undo changes with the toolbar or shortcuts

When you’re in the Block Editor (also known as Gutenberg), you’ll see an undo icon in the top-left corner of the screen. Clicking this icon will reverse your most recent action, like deleting a block, moving an image, or editing text.

You can also use keyboard shortcuts:

Windows: Press Ctrl + Z to undo, and Ctrl + Y to redo.
Mac: Press Cmd + Z to undo, and Cmd + Shift + Z to redo.

These shortcuts work just like in a word processor. You can tap multiple times to go back through your edit history.

Limitations of the undo feature

The editor’s undo feature only works during your current editing session. If you refresh the page, navigate away, or close the browser, your undo history is erased. That means you can’t use this to undo changes made in previous sessions or after you’ve clicked “Update” or “Publish.”

2. Restoring a previous version with the revisions feature

If you’ve saved or published a post but want to go back, the Revisions feature in WordPress lets you browse and restore earlier versions of your content.

How to access revisions

Open the post or page you want to restore.
Look in the right-hand sidebar under the Post or Page tab.
Find the section labeled Revisions. It might say something like “5 Revisions.”
Click that link to open the Revisions screen.

If you’re using the Classic Editor, you’ll see revisions in the “Publish” box in the top right of the editor screen.

Browsing and comparing revisions

On the Revisions screen, you’ll see a slider at the top that lets you move between different saved versions. WordPress automatically highlights the changes between each version so you can see what was added or removed.

You can also check the box labeled Compare any two revisions to manually select two versions and see a side-by-side comparison.

Restore or selectively copy content

When you find the version you want to go back to, click the Restore This Revision button. WordPress will replace your current content with that older version, but won’t delete the newer version entirely—it just becomes the latest revision.

If you don’t want to fully revert, you can also highlight and copy specific sections of text or blocks from an earlier revision and paste them back into your current editor view.

3. Undoing theme, plugin, or WordPress updates

The revisions tool only works for content. If something went wrong after a plugin, theme, or core update, you’ll need to take a different approach.

Use a backup to revert

If you use a backup plugin or your host provides backups, you can restore your site to a previous state.

Steps vary by provider, but generally look like this:

Log into your backup tool or hosting control panel.
Choose a backup created before the problematic change.
Select whether to restore the entire site, just the database, or specific files.
Start the restore process.

(Many premium hosts offer automatic daily backups and 1-click restores right from your hosting dashboard.)

Roll back specific updates

You don’t always need to restore the full site. Sometimes you just want to revert a plugin or theme update.

Here’s how:

Install and activate the WP Rollback plugin.
Go to your Plugins or Themes screen.
Click the Rollback link under the plugin or theme you want to revert.
Choose a previous version and confirm the rollback.

If you prefer manual methods, you can also download older plugin or theme versions from the WordPress.org repository and upload them using the ZIP installer in your dashboard.

4. Undoing design or layout changes made with page builders

If you’re using a page builder like Elementor or Beaver Builder, you may have additional built-in tools to undo changes.

Elementor

Undo with keyboard shortcuts: Just like the regular editor, use Ctrl + Z or Cmd + Z to undo your last action.
Use the History panel: Click the History icon (a clock) in the bottom panel. You’ll see two tabs: Actions and Revisions.
- Actions shows a step-by-step list of recent changes in the current session.
- Revisions shows saved versions from earlier editing sessions.
Click any item to revert to that state instantly.

Beaver Builder

Click the Clock icon in the toolbar to open the Revisions list.
Select a previously saved version to restore.
You can also save layouts manually, which lets you roll back to clean versions later.

Each page builder is a little different, so check the documentation for your specific tool.

5. Undoing changes with a backup plugin

If your hosting plan doesn’t include backups, you can add your own with a backup plugin.

Recommended backup plugins

UpdraftPlus: Free and powerful, with options for cloud storage and scheduled backups.
Jetpack VaultPress Backup: Real-time backups with 1-click restores.
BlogVault: Staging, backup, and migration tools bundled into one.

What you can undo

Most backup plugins let you:

Restore your site to a previous point in time.
Choose between restoring the entire site, just the database, or just the files.
Download backup copies locally as an extra safety net.

Before making major changes to your site, run a backup so you can roll things back if needed.

Preventing irreversible mistakes

Not all changes are easy to undo—especially if you haven’t planned ahead. These best practices help keep you safe from accidents and update mishaps.

Enable autosaves and manage revisions

WordPress automatically saves drafts as you work, usually every 60 seconds. These autosaves show up in the Revisions panel and can rescue your work if your browser crashes or your internet drops out.

To manage how many revisions WordPress stores:

Install WP Revisions Control.
Set limits on how many revisions are stored per post type.
Reduce database bloat while still keeping backups of your work.

Take backups before major changes

Before updating plugins, themes, or WordPress core, always run a backup. If something breaks, you can restore quickly instead of starting over.

You can use your hosting provider’s backup system or a plugin like UpdraftPlus to make manual backups on demand.

Use a staging site

A staging site is a clone of your live site where you can safely test updates, design changes, and new features.

Most managed WordPress hosts offer 1-click staging. You make changes on the staging site, test them thoroughly, and only push them live when you’re confident everything works.

Next steps for undoing changes in WordPress

Undoing changes in WordPress is easier than it sounds—whether you made a typo or installed something that crashed your site. The key is knowing which tool to use for each type of mistake.

Start with the editor’s undo and revisions tools for content. For bigger problems, make sure you’ve got backups, rollback plugins, or a staging site ready.

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