Sort is not working

Question

Hi!

I've been trying to sort data in a table with hundreds of rows, but when I click on any sorting function it's just staying as it was.

I decided to test it on a new sheet, even on a new document, by creating a small table of 4-5 rows and only one column and when I sort them, they're just staying in the same order as I inserted them.

Everything else works perfectly, I can filter the content, but can't sort it. Even when I try to create custom sort it seems that it's not working at all.

It used to work before 1-2 weeks, so my guess is that I clicked on something and broke the program. xD

I'm using the latest version of Excel.

Answer 1

Hi Gery_T,

As per your description, please don’t worry I help you to fix your sort of issue in Excel.

It seems issue related with only sort function in Excel. However you can use filter the content. May I know my understanding is correct? if so, based on my test result in Excel and it seem I cannot meet same behavior as like you described above. I can sort Excel data add even use custom sort function to sort data. See test image below for your reference:

Since you mentioned, even new created Excel file with small data and you meet same behavior, Please go to File > Options > Formulas and be sure the Calculation Options setting is Automatic. Then go to Sort&Filter button on the Home tab of the Ribbon and check the outcomes.

Also, please try to open your Excel insafe mode to check whether it related to add-ins:

to confirm whether this is a bug in a specific version, please provide us the version information. To check version: Open Excel>File>Account>Product Information and capture a full screenshot and share here (Please mask your private message for protecting your private message) and we will be tested on that version and verify the result with you.

Meanwhile, if you don’t mind and if it is convenient for you, could you please send me a copy of the document file to me so that I can look from my side, and I will check this behavior and help you to fix it or sort data from you and send a file back to you.

If there is confidential information, then you can send it to me in Private Message

I appreciate your understanding and stay safe!!

Best Regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 2

Hi Gery_T,

Thanks for your valuable feedback and thanks for sharing updates with us via PM and I really appreciate your effort and your precious time doing those tests. 

Please don’t worry I help you to fix this issue. Based on my test in your sample file I can use sort function without any issue. Please see attachment image via PM.

Since, you mentioned, this issue disappeared in Safe Mode, that mean this issue could be caused by the incompatible add-ins, you can disable add-ins one-by one by this way: Open Excel>add-ins>Disable add-ins. For reference: disable application add-ins and COM add-ins.

I appreciate your understanding and stay safe!!

Best Regards

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 3

Hi Gery_T,

May I know have any updates regarding to this issue? Feel free to post back if you need further assistance.

Best Regards,

Waqas Muhammad

Answer 4

Definitely do try starting in safe mode.

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If nothing works, upload a SMALL example file

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Describe the exact steps and commands you are taking to try to sort. We need to be able to try to recreate your process to try to identify what is going wrong.

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Upload Example - Share OneDrive File

There is no way to upload example files directly to this forum.

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Trouble shooting problems using this text only forum can be like a visit to the dentist without anesthetics: a long, slow painful process of us trying to “extract” the clues needed to recognize the problem in a back and forth flow of questions and answers so that we hopefully can eventually come up with a / “the” solution.

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Often it is faster and easier for everyone if we have a “sample file” get "hands on", to look at, and to “play with”.

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This next link provides some tips on setting up a sample file and specific instructions for uploading and "sharing" it for us to access:

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https://answers.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/forum/windows_other-winapps/trouble-shooting-share-onedrive-file/a231a097-bcbf-4e34-ad6c-a33118baf471?tm=1523189328156

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Includes a link to a macro to randomize text in Word. And another macro to randomize data in Excel

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Note: make sure to upload to your Personal (consumer) OneDrive rather than your work OneDrive or SharePoint. Files in the Work cloud can be hard to share due to security restrictions placed by the work admins. Or use any other free storage service (anything other than business OneDrive or SharePoint).

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2021 05 25- 15 Best Free Cloud Storage in 2021 – Up to 200 GB Free Storage
https://www.whizlabs.com/blog/best-free-cloud-storage/

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