Word: Add a Back button to the toolbar

If you have a long Word document and need to regularly go back to where you made your last edit (e.g. where you were after scrolling), you can add a ‘Back’ button to the toolbar (Word 2003) or to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT) in Word 2007. Here’s how:

Word 2003

1. From the menu, select Tools > Customize to open the Customize window.
2. Select the Commands tab.
3. In the Categories list on the left, select All Commands.
4. In the Commands list on the right, select GoBack.
   
5. Click and drag the GoBack command where you want it to go on the toolbar. The button is named Previous Edit by default. Don’t close the Customize window yet…
6. To change the name of the button and/or add an icon to it, click Modify Selection on the Customize window:
   • You can change the name by altering the text in the Name field (the & indicates the letter for the shortcut access key).
   • If you just want an icon (and no text on the button), select Change Button Image and choose the ‘back’ arrow (or any other), then select Default Style from the Modify Selection list of options.
     
7. Click Close.

Word 2007 and later

1. Click the drop-down arrow next to the Quick Access Toolbar (QAT).
   
2. Select More commands.
3. In the Choose commands from drop-down list, select Commands Not in the Ribbon.
4. Scroll down the list and select Back.
   
5. Click Add.
6. Click OK.

Your new Back button is now on the QAT ready for you to use from any place in your document.