How to Sort a SharePoint Lookup Column in Chronological Order
Question details
The user needs to display SharePoint lookup column values (such as month names) in chronological or custom order rather than the default alphabetical order.
- Product
- SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Selecting items from a lookup column drop-down list where alphabetical sorting makes data entry confusing (e.g., April appearing before January).
- Observed behavior
- SharePoint lookup columns automatically display source values alphabetically. There is no built-in list setting to natively change the lookup column sort order to chronological.
Ensure you have 'Edit' or 'Full Control' permissions on both the source list and the target list in SharePoint to add helper columns or modify views.
Use a Numeric Helper Column in the Source List
Since native sorting relies on text, the most reliable workaround is adding a numeric column to your source list to establish a strict chronological order.
By assigning a numerical value to each text item in the source list, you can force SharePoint to sort records sequentially. While the default lookup dropdown might still default to alphabetical, you can use this helper column in calculated fields or modified list views to display data chronologically.
Navigate to the SharePoint list that stores the original values (e.g., your list of Month names).
Click on 'Add column' at the end of the headers, select 'Number', and name it something like 'MonthOrder' or 'SortOrder'.
Edit the list items and assign a number to each record (e.g., 1 for January, 2 for February) to establish the desired chronological sequence.
Click the view selector in the upper right, go to 'Edit current view', scroll down to the 'Sort' section, and choose to sort items by your new 'SortOrder' column instead of the Title.
Customize the Entry Form using Power Apps
If you need the actual lookup dropdown menu in the entry form to appear chronologically, you can override the default sorting behavior using Power Apps.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does a SharePoint lookup column sort alphabetically by default?
SharePoint lookup columns are designed to pull the text value from a source list's display column. By default, SharePoint's native form architecture processes and displays these retrieved text items in alphabetical order, lacking a built-in property to change this behavior on the column level.
Can I use a calculated column as the source for a lookup column to fix the sorting?
Yes, you can create a calculated column in your source list (for example, combining a number and a month name like '01-January') and select that calculated column as the display field for your lookup column. This will force an alphabetical sort that mimics chronological order.
Will Microsoft add native custom sorting for lookup columns?
Currently, native custom sorting for lookup dropdowns is not available out-of-the-box. Users are encouraged to submit this requirement through the official SharePoint Feedback portal. In the meantime, Power Apps or custom SPFx form extensions remain the standard workarounds.
