Data Import & Export

How to Fix Excel Sorting Dates Incorrectly or Out of Order

John Wilson Oct 16, 2026 870 views

Question details

Users need to troubleshoot and resolve issues where spreadsheet software fails to sort dates in the correct chronological order.

How to Fix Excel Sorting Dates Incorrectly or Out of Order

Product: Excel
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to sort a column of dates from oldest to newest (or vice versa), but the resulting order is mixed up or incorrect.
Observed behavior: Dates appear out of order after applying the sort function, often caused by dates being stored as text, inconsistent cell formatting, or empty cells interrupting the sort range.

Before you start

Ensure your dataset does not contain hidden blank rows or merged cells, as these can disrupt the data range selection during the sorting process.

Solution 1Recommended

Identify and Convert Text-Formatted Dates

Check if your dates are secretly formatted as text and convert them into true date values so the sorting function works correctly.

Spreadsheet software cannot chronologically sort dates if they are stored as text strings. When stored as text, the system sorts them alphabetically by the first digit instead of by the actual calendar date.

Widen the date column

Click and drag the boundary of your date column header to make it wider so you can clearly see the alignment of the data inside.

Check the cell alignment

Select the entire date column and set the horizontal alignment to 'General' in the Home tab. Real dates will automatically align to the right, while text-formatted dates will align to the left.

Convert text to true dates

If the dates are left-aligned, select them and navigate to Data > Text to Columns. Choose 'Delimited', click 'Next' twice, select 'Date' in the column data format section, and click 'Finish'.

Re-apply the sort function

Select your entire data range (including adjacent columns to keep rows intact) and sort again from a cell within the newly formatted date column.

Identify and Convert Text-Formatted Dates

Quick Tip: You can also quickly convert text to numbers or dates by typing the number 1 in an empty cell, copying it, and using 'Paste Special > Multiply' over your target dates.

Solution 2

Fix Blank Cells and Select the Complete Data Range

Prevent sorting errors by removing empty cells and manually selecting your entire data block before sorting.

Sort Data Accurately with WPS Spreadsheet

Easily Manage and Sort Dates with WPS Office

WPS Spreadsheet offers powerful, intuitive data management tools that automatically recognize date formats, making it easy to sort chronological data without errors. It is fully compatible with Microsoft Excel files and provides a seamless editing experience.

1. Open your dataset: Launch WPS Spreadsheet and open the workbook containing the dates you want to sort.
2. Check date formats: Highlight your date column. Use the 'Text to Columns' feature under the Data tab if you need to convert text strings to real dates.
3. Select your data range: Highlight your entire data table to ensure all corresponding rows stay together during the sort.
4. Apply sorting: Navigate to the Data tab, click 'Sort', and choose to sort your date column from Oldest to Newest or Newest to Oldest.

Automatically identifies and helps convert text-formatted datesIntuitive sorting and advanced filtering toolsFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) and CSV formatsFree, lightweight, and user-friendly interface

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Excel sort my dates by month instead of year?

This happens when your dates are formatted as text rather than numerical date values. The software sorts text character-by-character from left to right, meaning it will group all dates starting with '01' (January) together regardless of the year.

How can I quickly tell if a date is stored as text?

Widen your column and remove any custom alignment by setting it to 'General'. By default, spreadsheet programs align text to the left and numerical values (including true dates) to the right.

Does a blank cell ruin the sorting function?

Yes, if you rely on the software to automatically detect your data range by clicking just one cell, a blank row will cause it to stop highlighting. As a result, only the data above the blank cell gets sorted. Always select your entire table manually if there are gaps.

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