How to sort rows in excel

Answer

To sort rows in Excel, follow these instructions depending on whether you are using Windows or Mac.

Sorting Rows in Excel on Windows

1. Select the range of cells that you want to sort. Make sure the first row contains headers if your data has them.

2. Go to the Data tab on the Ribbon.

3. Click Sort in the Sort & Filter group.

4. In the Sort dialog box:

   • Choose the column you want to sort by under Column.

   • Select the sort order under Order: A to Z for ascending, Z to A for descending, or Custom List for a predefined order.

5. Click OK. Excel rearranges the rows according to the specified column while keeping the data in other columns aligned.

Sorting Rows in Excel on Mac

1. Select the cells you want to sort. Ensure the first row contains headers if present.

2. Click the Data menu at the top.

3. Select Sort.

4. In the Sort dialog box:

   • Choose the column to sort by under Sort by.

   • Choose the order: Ascending or Descending.

5. Click OK to sort the rows.

Sorting by Multiple Columns

1. Select your data range.

2. Click Sort in Windows or Mac.

3. Click Add Level to include multiple columns.

4. Choose the first column for primary sorting, then the second column for secondary sorting, and so on.

5. Select the order for each column.

6. Click OK to apply the multi-level sort.

Tips for Sorting in Excel

• Ensure all rows are part of the selected range; otherwise, Excel may move only part of your data.

• Use Freeze Panes to keep headers visible while sorting large data sets.

• For custom sorting, create a Custom List (e.g., High, Medium, Low) under the Sort dialog.

• Sorting by numbers or dates works the same way as text, with Excel recognizing chronological and numerical order automatically.

Example

Suppose you have the following table:

• Sorting by Score descending will rearrange the rows as: Alice, John, Michael.

• Sorting by Date ascending will rearrange the rows as: Alice, John, Michael.

This ensures the integrity of each row while arranging the data according to the desired column.

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