SORT BUTTON WILL NOT WORK

Question

Why doesn't the Sort button work on my Excel spreadsheet anymore? Have used this for years and depend on the data I already have. Also, I am now unable to add notes to the data I have entered. I have followed all recommendations on your site but it still will not work. What changed? What happened?

Answer 1

Hello Lizette Valarino,

You're right, Excel changed “comments” and “notes”, and add-ins/custom menus + file compatibility can also make Notes and Sort appear to “stop working.” So, I suggest you try this:

A) Fix: “I can’t add Notes anymore”

1. Use the new entry points for Notes (Excel for Microsoft 365)

• Right‑click the cell > New Note
• Or Review tab > Notes >New Note

Why it feels different: In Microsoft 365, Comments are threaded discussions, while Notes are the old-style “legacy comments.”

2. If “New Note” is missing from right‑click menu (very common after an update)

If your right‑click menu was customized (often by an add‑in), Microsoft’s workaround is to reset the context menus using a small VBA macro:

1. Press Alt+F11 (opens VBA editor)
2. Insert > Module
3. Paste this and run it (F5): For Each bar In Application.CommandBars: bar.Reset: Next
4. Return to Excel (Alt+Q) and confirm New Note is back

3. Quick add‑in test (to confirm it’s not an add‑in breaking Notes UI)

Open Excel in Safe Mode and check if New Note returns / works.

B) Fix: “Sort button doesn’t work anymore”

1. Check if this is a file format / compatibility problem

If the workbook is being saved to an older format (ex: Excel 97–2003) you can lose/limit sort “state,” especially if you sort by more than 3 conditions, custom lists, or format (cell color/font/icon). The Compatibility Checker flags these and tells you what to change.

2. Rule out add-ins (very common cause when Sort suddenly stops working)

The troubleshooting path for Excel “not working correctly” includes disabling Excel add-ins and re‑enabling them one by one to find the culprit; one documented approach is to rename “OPEN” registry entries for Excel add-ins and then restart Excel.

3. Quick add‑in test (fastest)

Start Excel in Safe Mode and try Sort again. If Sort works in Safe Mode, an add‑in/customization is the likely cause.

For reference: https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/office/sorting-and-filtering-compatibility-issues-0cfb0653-3c62-4178-a40a-e6834a64bdd4

https://support.microsoft.com/en-us/topic/missing-new-comment-and-new-note-from-excel-s-context-menu-d92fac0d-1d14-4fa2-a597-a880e776d177

I hope this will help with your situation. Please feel free to reach back if you have further update or more questions.

Best Regards,

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