Systems and methods for undo mechanism are provided. Computer systems can have many different software elements, including application elements and file management elements. System elements can be used for user input, providing output, and manipulating data or files. In the course of using a computer system, the user may wish to return to a previous system state by undoing one or more events. In one aspect, an undo operation can be performed across multiple elements in the system (e.g., cross-application undo functionality). In another aspect, past information displayed on a display can be “recorded” so that it can later be rewound as part of a media player metaphor, and events associated with the rewound/displayed information can be undone. The media player and rewind metaphors assist users in recalling past events and/or finding actions to undo.