Data, filters, tables and pivots shortcuts
Sort shortcuts in Excel
The keys
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Sort smallest to largest, or A to ZData tab KeyTips. Not in Microsoft's Mac list. | Alt+A, S, A or Alt+Down arrow, S | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Sort largest to smallest, or Z to AData tab KeyTips. Not in Microsoft's Mac list. | Alt+A, S, D or Alt+Down arrow, O | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
| Open the Sort dialog | Alt+A, S, S or Alt+H, S, U | Command+Shift+R |
| Reapply the filter and sort after the data changes How to: Excel filter shortcut Not in Microsoft's Mac list. It does not reapply a sort by rows. | Ctrl+Alt+L | —No Mac shortcut in Microsoft's list |
Checked against Microsoft's official lists on . Where Microsoft lists a key for one platform only, the other column says so instead of guessing.
Sort by several columns
Open the Sort dialog and add a level for each column: region first, then date, for example. Microsoft's alternative Windows route is Alt+H, S, U. The guide on sorting by multiple columns has the full steps and a formula version with SORTBY.
From the filter menu
With filters on, select a header, press Alt+Down arrow to open its menu, then S for ascending or O for descending. After the data changes, Ctrl+Alt+L reapplies the sort and filter (it does not reapply a sort by rows).
When sorting goes wrong
- Only one column moved and the rows no longer match: Excel asked to expand the selection and the answer was No. Undo with Ctrl+Z, click one cell (not the whole column) and sort again.
- Dates sort in the wrong order: some are text. See dates not sorting.
- The header row sorted into the data: tick My data has headers in the Sort dialog.
- "All the merged cells need to be the same size": unmerge first.
Why a shortcut sometimes does nothing
KeyTips change with the language
Alt sequences such as Alt+H, O, I are ribbon KeyTips: press Alt and the letters appear on screen. They come from the English ribbon. In another language, or when an add-in adds a tab, the letters can differ, so read them off the screen rather than memorizing them.
Related shortcuts
| Shortcut | Windows | Mac |
|---|---|---|
| Open the drop-down list or filter menu of the cell How to: Excel filter shortcut Works on filter buttons, PivotTable fields and data validation lists. | Alt+Down arrow | Option+Down arrow |
| Turn filters on or off How to: Excel filter shortcut Turning filters off also clears every filter, so all rows show again. | Ctrl+Shift+L | Command+Shift+F or Control+Shift+L |
| Create a table How to: Create table shortcut in Excel On a Mac, Cmd+T switches $ signs instead while you are editing a formula. | Ctrl+T or Ctrl+L | Command+T or Control+T |
FAQ
What is the shortcut to sort A to Z in Excel?
Alt, A, S, A on Windows. With filters on, Alt+Down then S from the header also works.
What is the sort shortcut on a Mac?
Cmd+Shift+R opens the Sort dialog. Microsoft lists no one-press A to Z key for the Mac.
Can I sort with a formula?
Yes, in Excel 365 and 2021: SORT and SORTBY return a sorted copy that updates when the data changes.
Related guides
- How to sort by multiple columns in ExcelClick any cell in the data, go to Data > Sort, choose the first column under Sort by, then click Add Level and choose the second column under Then by.
- How to sort data with a formula in ExcelUse =SORT(A2:D9,4,-1) to return a copy of the data sorted by its 4th column, largest first.
- Excel dates not sorting correctly: how to fix itIf Excel sorts 10/07/2025 after 03/04/2026, your dates are text, not real dates, so Excel sorts them alphabetically, character by character.
Related functions
In the glossary: SortHeader row
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