Applied steps and undo in Power BI - Step-by-Step Guide

Introduction

Applied steps track every change you make to your data in Power Query. Undo lets you reverse recent changes if you make a mistake or want to try a different approach.

When you want to clean or transform data step-by-step and see each change recorded.

When you accidentally remove a column and want to restore it quickly.

When you want to test different filters or transformations without losing your previous work.

When you want to understand the sequence of changes applied to your data.

When you want to remove or edit a specific transformation step without starting over.

Steps

Step 1: Open

- Power Query Editor

The query and its applied steps appear on the right side in the Applied Steps pane

Step 2: Click

- Any step in the Applied Steps pane

The data preview updates to show the data state at that step

Step 3: Click the X icon

- Next to any step in the Applied Steps pane

That step and all steps after it are removed, and the data preview updates accordingly

💡 Removing a step deletes all later steps, so be careful to remove only the intended step

Step 4: Press Ctrl + Z or click Undo

- Power Query Editor toolbar

The last change you made is reversed, and the data preview updates to the previous state

Step 5: Right-click

- Any step in the Applied Steps pane

A menu appears allowing you to rename or delete the step

Before vs After

Before

Applied Steps pane shows: Source, Changed Type, Removed Columns; data preview shows all columns

After

After deleting 'Removed Columns' step, Applied Steps pane shows: Source, Changed Type; data preview shows all original columns including those previously removed

Settings Reference

Applied Steps pane

📍 Right side of Power Query Editor window

Shows the sequence of transformations applied to the data

Default: Visible when Power Query Editor is open

Undo button

📍 Home tab in Power Query Editor toolbar

Reverses the most recent change made in Power Query

Default: Enabled

Common Mistakes

Deleting a step in the middle without realizing it removes all later steps

Power Query removes the selected step and all steps after it, which can cause loss of multiple transformations

Only delete the last step or be prepared to redo later steps after deleting a middle step

Trying to undo changes after closing Power Query Editor

Undo history is lost when the editor is closed, so you cannot reverse changes made in a previous session

Use Undo immediately after a change or save versions of your queries before big edits

Summary

Applied Steps show each change made to your data in order.

You can delete or edit steps to adjust your data transformations.

Undo reverses recent changes but only while Power Query Editor is open.