How to Move Entire Rows in Excel

If you’re looking to move entire rows in Excel, you’ve come to the right place. Moving rows in Excel may seem like a simple task, but it can be tricky if you’re not familiar with the program. Luckily, there are a few simple ways to move entire rows around in Excel, whether you’re rearranging data or sorting a spreadsheet. In this blog post, we’ll give you a step-by-step guide on how to move entire rows in Excel, so you can quickly and efficiently organize data in your spreadsheet.

Method 1: Drag and drop

The easiest way to move an entire row in Excel is by using the drag and drop method. Here’s how:

1. Click on the row number of the row you want to move. This will highlight the entire row.
2. Put your cursor on the edge of the highlighted row, your cursor should change to a 4-pointed arrow.
3. Hold down on the left mouse button and drag the row to the desired location within the worksheet.
4. Release the mouse button when the arrow points to the correct row number.

Tips:

• If there is data in the row, it will be moved with the row.
• If you want to copy the row instead of moving it, hold down the CTRL key while dragging and dropping the row.
• If you want to move multiple contiguous rows, select the first row and drag the selection to include the desired rows.

Method 2: Cut and Paste

The cut and paste method is another way to move an entire row in Excel. Here’s how:

1. Click on the row number of the row you want to move. This will highlight the entire row.
2. Click on the “Cut” option either in the Home tab or by pressing “Ctrl+X.”
3. Select the row where you want to move the cut row to. This will highlight the entire row.
4. Click on “Paste” either in the Home tab or by pressing “Ctrl+V.”

Tips:

• The cut command will remove the row from its original location and move it to the new location.
• If you don’t want to remove the original row, use the copy and paste command instead of cut and paste.
• You can also use the key combos: “Ctrl+X” to cut, “Ctrl+C” to copy, and “Ctrl+V” to paste.

Method 3: Insert and Delete

You can also move an entire row in Excel by inserting a new row, cutting the row you want to move and pasting it in the new row. Here’s how:

1. Click on the row number of the row you want to move. This will highlight the entire row.
2. Right-click on the row and select “Cut.” This will remove the row from its original location.
3. Right-click on the row where you want to move the cut row to and select “Insert Cut Cells.” This will insert a new row in the desired location.
4. The row you cut will be inserted in the new row that was just created.

Tips:

• Deleting rows using this method will also work, but it’s important to remember that this will remove data that is below the deleted row.
• You can also use the key combos: “Ctrl+X” to cut, “Ctrl+”+”–” to delete, and “Ctrl++” to insert.
• Using this method may affect formulas or references that are linked to the original row. Always check your formulas after inserting or deleting rows.

Additional Tips for Moving Rows in Excel

Now that you know the main methods for moving entire rows in Excel, here are some additional tips to help you work more efficiently with rows in your spreadsheets:

Hide and Unhide Rows

If you have too much data in your spreadsheet, hiding rows can be a good way to declutter your view. Here’s how:

1. Select the rows you want to hide. You can do this by clicking on the row numbers of the rows or using the Shift key to select a range of rows.
2. Right-click on one of the selected row numbers and choose “Hide” or click on “Hide” in the Home tab.

To unhide rows, you can either select the rows above and below the hidden rows and then right-click and choose “Unhide” or use the “Unhide” option from the “Format” menu.

Freeze and Unfreeze Rows

If the headers of your data are in row 1, you can freeze them in place while you scroll through the rest of your data. Here’s how:

1. Select row 2 by clicking on the row number.
2. Go to the “View” tab and click on “Freeze Panes.”
3. Choose “Freeze Panes” from the dropdown menu.

To unfreeze rows, you can select the “Unfreeze Panes” option from the “View” tab.

Use the Sort Function

If you want to sort your rows in a specific order, you can use the “Sort” function. Here’s how:

1. Select the range of rows you want to sort.
2. Click “Sort” in the “Data” tab.
3. Select how you want to sort the rows (alphabetically, numerically, etc.) and click “OK.”

You can also sort by multiple criteria – just click “Add Level” after each level of sorting.

Moving entire rows in Excel can seem daunting at first, but as you’ve learned, there are multiple ways to do it. By using the drag and drop, cut and paste, or insert and delete methods, you can easily rearrange your data to work more efficiently. Additionally, hiding, freezing, and sorting rows can also improve your workflow when working with large data sets. With these new skills, you’ll be able to move, organize, and sort your data with ease.

FAQs about Moving Entire Rows in Excel

Here are the answers to some common questions about moving entire rows in Excel:

Can I move multiple non-contiguous rows at once?

No, you cannot move multiple non-contiguous rows at once using the same method. You will need to use alternate methods to move non-contiguous rows, such as the Cut and Paste method or the Insert and Delete method.

What happens to the formulas in my worksheet when I move an entire row?

If you have formulas in your worksheet that refer to the row you’re moving, the formulas will adjust to the new row location.

Can I move rows to another worksheet within the same workbook?

Yes, you can move rows to another worksheet within the same workbook using the same method outlined in Method 1 and Method 2. Simply select the row(s) you want to move, and drag and drop or cut and paste to the new worksheet within the same workbook.

Can I move rows in a protected Excel worksheet?

It depends on the type of protection that is turned on for the worksheet. Some protection settings may allow row movement, while others may not. If you attempt to move a row in a protected worksheet and receive an error message, you may need to turn off worksheet protection to move the row(s) and then reapply the protection.

What should I do if the row I want to move contains merged cells?

If a row contains merged cells, it may not move as expected when using the Cut and Paste method or the Insert and Delete method. Instead, try using the drag and drop method to move the row. Alternatively, you can unmerge the cells in the row before moving the row, and then remerge the cells after the row is in its new location.