How do I cycle through the numbered delete registers using the dot command?

Explanation

When you paste from a numbered register with "1p, Vim's dot command (.) automatically advances to the next numbered register on each repeat. This means "1p.. pastes from registers 1, 2, and 3 in sequence — without specifying each register manually. This behavior, described in :help redo-register, is designed for recovering and reusing a series of recent deletions.

How it works

• "1p — paste the contents of numbered register 1 (the most recent deletion)
• . — repeat the put command, but Vim automatically uses register "2 instead of "1
• . again — uses "3, and so on up through "9

Vim maintains a delete history in registers "1 through "9. Each new deletion larger than one character shifts older deletions down: "1 gets the latest, "2 the one before it, etc.

Example

You deleted three lines at different points in your editing session. Now you want to paste them all back:

Line from register 1 (most recent delete)
Line from register 2
Line from register 3

Using "1p.. pastes all three in sequence.

To cycle through and find the right deletion (rather than paste all), use the undo-based pattern:

"1pu.u.u.

Each u. undoes the wrong paste and retries with the next register.

Tips

• Only deletions of one character or more are stored; x and dl on a single character go to the small-delete register "-
• Use :reg to inspect all numbered register contents before pasting
• "0p pastes the most recent yank (unaffected by deletions)