How to Clear Sort in Excel

If you’re looking for a simple and straightforward guide on how to clear sort in Excel, then you’ve come to the right place. In Microsoft Excel, sorting data is a highly useful tool for organizing information. However, there may be times when you need to start from scratch and remove all sorting options. This is where the clear sort function comes in handy. In this blog post, we’ll cover the steps you need to take to clear sort in Excel with ease.

Introduction

Sorting data in Excel is an incredibly useful tool when you need to organize large amounts of information. But what happens when you accidentally sort your data incorrectly or you need to start fresh? Fortunately, Excel provides a feature that allows you to remove all sorting options called clear sort. In this blog post, we’ll be giving you a step-by-step guide on how to clear sort in Excel and giving you some tips on what you can do if you’re having trouble.

What is Sorting in Excel?

Before we dive into how to clear sort, let’s first quickly go over what sorting in Excel means. Sorting in Excel arranges data in a specific order based on one or more specified columns. This can be done in ascending or descending order depending on your preference or the nature of your data. Excel sorts data based on a particular value in one column, with the option to have it sort multiple columns at once.

Step-by-Step Guide to Clear Sort in Excel

Step 1: Select the Table or Range You Want to Clear Sort

The first step in clearing the sort in Excel is to select the table or range of cells that you wish to clear sort from. Click on any cell within the table or range and Excel will automatically select the entire block of data for you.

Step 2: Go to the Data Tab

Once you’ve selected the cells, go to the data tab on the Excel ribbon. The data tab is where you will find all the sorting and filtering features in Excel.

Step 3: Click on the ‘Sort & Filter’ Group

After you’ve landed on the data tab, look for the ‘Sort & Filter’ group. It should be located on the right side of the ribbon, about halfway down the tab.

Step 4: Click on the ‘Clear’ Button

Once you’ve found the ‘Sort & Filter’ group, click on the ‘Clear’ button. This will clear the sort from the selected range of cells and return everything to an unsorted state.

Alternative Method: Using the ‘Sort Warning’ Dialog Box

If you’re having trouble selecting the cells you want to clear sort or you’re just looking for an alternative method to clear sort, you can use the ‘Sort Warning’ dialog box instead. Here’s how:

Step 1: Click on a Cell in the Table

Click on any cell in the table you wish to clear the sort from.

Step 2: Click on the ‘Sort’ Button

From the Excel ribbon, click on the ‘Sort’ button located in the ‘Sort & Filter’ group on the data tab. This will bring up the ‘Sort Warning’ dialog box.

Step 3: Click ‘OK’

Finally, click the ‘OK’ button in the ‘Sort Warning’ dialog box. Once you’ve clicked this button, Excel will clear the sort from the data range.

Now that you know the easy steps on how to clear sort in Excel, you can easily reset your data to its default unsorted order. Sorting is an excellent way to keep your data organized and quickly find what you need. But at the same time, what’s the use of sorting when you can’t clear sort when you need to start over? As a bonus tip, you can also use the undo function (Ctrl+Z) in Excel to reverse any mistake you’ve made without starting all over again. We hope this guide has been helpful to you and you can now use these tricks to efficiently sort and clear sort data in Excel.

Clear Sort vs. Clearing All Data in Excel

It’s important to note that clearing the sort in Excel is not the same as removing all data from a table or range of cells. Clearing sort removes the sorting hierarchy you’ve created, but the data in the cells will remain unaltered. Removing all data from a table, on the other hand, will permanently delete all the information contained within the range. So be careful when deciding what action to take.

Sorting Tips

Sorting can sometimes be a tedious task. Here are a few useful tips to make the process faster and more efficient:

Sort Shortcut Keys

You can save time by using the sort shortcut keys in Excel. Pressing Alt + A + S will bring up the sort options, allowing you to quickly sort your data.

Use Table Format for Rows

By converting your data into a table, Excel will automatically add headers and formatting, making sorting much easier. Tables also make it much easier to add or remove new data to the table, so if you’re working with data that is regularly updated, tables can save a lot of time and hassle.

Be Careful with Merged Cells

Excel won’t let you sort any columns that contain merged cells. Ensuring that there are no merged cells in the columns you’re sorting before you start can save you a lot of headache down the road.

Sorting data is an invaluable tool for organizing information in Excel. But just as important as sorting is the ability to clear sort when you need to start over. Whether you’re accidentally sorted your data incorrectly or you just want to rearrange the sorting hierarchy, clear sort can get the job done quickly and easily. By following the simple steps outlined in this guide, you’ll be clearing sort in Excel like a pro in no time.

FAQ

Here are a few frequently asked questions about clearing sort in Excel:

Why would I want to clear sort in Excel?

You may want to clear sort in Excel if you’ve accidentally sorted your data incorrectly, want to start over and organize the data differently, or want to remove the sorting hierarchy completely.

Does clearing sort in Excel delete any data?

No, clearing sort only removes the sorting hierarchy you’ve created on a table or range of cells. The data within the cells will remain unchanged.

Is there a keyboard shortcut to clear sort in Excel?

There is no dedicated keyboard shortcut for clearing sort, but you can use the undo function (Ctrl+Z) to reverse any mistaken sort actions or follow the steps outlined in this blog post.

Why can’t I sort columns with merged cells in Excel?

Excel won’t allow you to sort columns that contain merged cells. It’s best to ensure that there are no merged cells in the columns you want to sort before you start sorting.

Can I clear sort in Excel without selecting cells first?

No, you must select the table or range of cells first before you can clear sort in Excel. This action tells Excel which data range to affect.