Please Note: This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: Clearing the Undo Stack in a Macro.
Normally, as you are making edits in your documents, Word keeps track of what you do. Word does this so you can later use the Undo and Redo commands on the toolbar. What if you are developing a macro, however, and you don't want the user to be able to undo changes? In this case, you can use the UndoClear method in your macro, as follows:
ActiveDocument.UndoClear
In this usage, UndoClear wipes out the Undo stack (the list of actions that is remembered by Word) for the active document. Note that this affects only those actions that have been recorded so far; any new actions will be duly recorded and available on the stack.
Note:
WordTips is your source for cost-effective Microsoft Word training. (Microsoft Word is the most popular word processing software in the world.) This tip (13275) applies to Microsoft Word 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. You can find a version of this tip for the older menu interface of Word here: Clearing the Undo Stack in a Macro.
Discover the Power of Microsoft Office This beginner-friendly guide reveals the expert tips and strategies you need to skyrocket your productivity and use Office 365 like a pro. Mastering software like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint is essential to be more efficient and advance your career. Simple lessons guide you through every step, providing the knowledge you need to get started. Check out Microsoft Office 365 For Beginners today!
When creating a macro that extensively processes a document, you may need to periodically force Word to repaginate the ...
Discover MoreWhen writing macros, you may need to know which day of the month a particular date represents. Here's how to use the Day ...
Discover MoreWhen processing text with a macro, you often need to remove extraneous spaces from the text. VBA provides three handy ...
Discover MoreFREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
There are currently no comments for this tip. (Be the first to leave your comment—just use the simple form above!)
Got a version of Word that uses the ribbon interface (Word 2007 or later)? This site is for you! If you use an earlier version of Word, visit our WordTips site focusing on the menu interface.
Visit the WordTips channel on YouTube
FREE SERVICE: Get tips like this every week in WordTips, a free productivity newsletter. Enter your address and click "Subscribe."
Copyright © 2026 Sharon Parq Associates, Inc.
Please Note:
This article is written for users of the following Microsoft Word versions: 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021, and Word in Microsoft 365. If you are using an earlier version (Word 2003 or earlier), this tip may not work for you. For a version of this tip written specifically for earlier versions of Word, click here: 
Comments