Sort by the current column in Excel: Alt, A, S, D

Sort by the current column in Excel: Alt, A, S, D (Windows only)

Windows	`Alt, A, S, D`
Mac	No key sequence. Excel for Mac has no ribbon key tips; use the menu or the nearest shortcut noted below.
Group	grouping and structure

Practice this shortcut

Drill: Sort by this column. Pro drill. Twenty-five drills are free.

What it does and when to use it

From a cell in the column to sort by, Alt, A, S, D sorts the whole region largest first; Alt, A, S, A sorts smallest first. Rows stay together, the header stays on top.

The common mistake

Selecting the column first, which sorts that column alone and scrambles the rows. Start from a single cell.

On a Mac

Excel for Mac does not show key tips when you press Option, so this ribbon sequence has no direct equivalent. The same command is in the menu bar, and many of the menus accept the keyboard once open. If you work on a Mac but your team is on Windows, learn the sequence anyway: it is what you will need on a Windows machine, and the Shortcutdrill sheet accepts Option in place of Alt so you can practice it.

Related shortcuts

Insert a column Ctrl+Space, Ctrl+Shift+=
Delete a blank row Shift+Space, Ctrl+-
Group rows Alt+Shift+Right arrow
Ungroup rows Alt+Shift+Left arrow
Collapse the groups Alt, A, H
The printable cheat sheet

Questions

How do I sort on a Mac without the mouse?

Data, Sort from the menu. The sort dialog accepts keyboard input once open.

Learn it by pressing it

Shortcutdrill gives you a task on a live sheet and a limit on key presses, so the shortcut has to become a reflex. Twenty-five drills are free; Pro unlocks all 80 for $9 a month, $29 a year, or $49 once.

Start the drill