SharePoint Excel Online Filter Not Working

Question

Hello,

I have encountered an issue with the excel online (on SharePoint) where the filter button isn't showing up.

This issue most likely has to do with merged columns in the online version, because the filter works properly in the desktop version.

For example, here I have the report open in both versions, online on the left, and desktop on the right.

When I click the filter button online for the 'Carrier' column, it appears correctly in the desktop version, but it never shows up online.

This shouldn't be a data issue as the report only has 125 rows. Any help would be greatly appreciated!!

Thanks,

Matthew White

Answer 1

Hi Matt,

Thank you for posting your question in this community. based on your description and screenshot, you found that the Filter feature is not working correctly in Excel for the web app, but the same file works fine in Excel desktop app.

I also did a test from my side, which I open an Excel file in Excel for the web app in browser from a SharePoint document library. The filter can be applied correctly in workbook.

To further narrow down this problem, may I confirm the following information at your convenience?

1: Does this scenario occur in all your Excel workbook in SharePoint site or this Excel workbook only?

2: How about the Excel file in different SharePoint site? Does the filter work?

3: How about the other colleagues in your organization? When they open this workbook in Excel for the web, is the filter working correctly?

At meantime, try to switch to a different web browser and InPrivate Window, such as Microsoft New Edge and see whether the same scenario occurs.

Best regards,

Dihao

Answer 2

1. It occurs in any workbook with merged rows at the top. If the workbook doesn't have merged rows at the top, the filter works fine.
2. I've tried using reports from multiple site pages within the overall SharePoint site and the same issue arises.
3. The users originally reported this issue and it hasn't worked for the 5+ people who have tried it.

It also didn't work when I switched to using Microsoft edge.

I'm curious when you say it was working for you, did your report have merged rows at the top?

The reporting service we use has 3 merged rows at the top that span the length of the dataset. One for report title, subtitle1 and subtitle2.

Thanks,

Matthew White

Answer 3

Hi Matthew,

Thank you for your reply and sharing information.

I further did a test from my side since you mentioned “merged rows at the top”, which I merged the top two rows in my Excel workbook. Then I selected the data range I would like to apply Filter and go to Data tab > Filter to apply. The Filter can be applied correctly.

If my reproduce steps are different from yours, please point out and let me know. Thank you.

 

More importantly, if it is convenient, would you mind share a simple file without any confidential data via an anonymous sharing link, such as OneDrive sharing link, so that I can also try to upload it to my SharePoint document library and open in Excel for the web to check the results from my end.

Best regards,

Dihao

Answer 4

Here is a link to a report that has no confidential data, but still has an issue:

https://drive.google.com/file/d/1mT4U59JfbVm2S9fWFN\_U1xraBpLt9MM2/view?usp=sharing

Exact steps to reproduce:

1. Open from the excel web version (in this case, from a SharePoint document library)
2. Click any column header for example 'D' to filter team description.
3. Click the filter button in the data tab.

In the online version, no filter appears. In the desktop version pointing to the same report (with both opened at the same time) the filter appears exactly as shown in my screenshot when clicking the online filter button.

What does work online:

-Selecting cells A4:A33 e.g the 'Team Description' dataset and then clicking filter

->While a useful workaround for small reports, this would be a hassle with the larger 1k+ row reports that require filtering

Thanks,

Matthew White

Answer 5

Hi Matthew,

Thank you for your further clarification and sharing the sample file above. After I uploaded  your file to my SharePoint document library and opened in Excel for the web app, the File won’t apply when I selected the header column,

I also tried to modify my own sample workbook based on your file’s structure, the same scenario occurs when comes to Filter, unless I selected a range of the cells that I need apply filter, which the Filter can be applied successfully. However, Excel desktop app has no issue to apply Filter in this scenario.

Because this community, we have limited resources and channels to report this issue. In this scenario, I kindly suggest you can let the admin to raise a service request in Microsoft 365 admin center, which the support team there can involve more internal resources to report this scenario to the related team. Sorry for the inconvenience caused. Appreciate your understanding.

Best regards,

Dihao