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Can You Reorder Microsoft Lists Rows by Dragging?

Tauseeq Magsi Oct 7, 2026 870 views

Question details

The user wants to know if there is a way to manually reorder list rows in Microsoft Lists or SharePoint using a drag-and-drop interface.

Can You Reorder Microsoft Lists Rows by Dragging?

Product: Microsoft Lists
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing data and manually sorting list items for better workflow visibility.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Lists and SharePoint currently lack a universal drag-and-drop feature for manually reordering list rows.

Before you start

Verify that you have Edit or Owner permissions for the Microsoft List or SharePoint site to modify list views and add sorting columns.

Solution 1Recommended

Workaround: Use a Custom Number Column for Sorting

Since native drag-and-drop is unavailable, creating a dedicated number column allows you to manually control the exact order of your rows.

While Microsoft continues to develop the drag-and-drop functionality, the most reliable way to manually reorder rows is by sorting them through a custom column.

Add a new column

Open your Microsoft List, scroll to the right side of your columns, click 'Add column', and select 'Number' from the dropdown menu.

Name the column

Name the column something recognizable, such as 'Row Order' or 'Priority', and click 'Save'.

Assign row numbers

Edit your list items and assign a number to each row representing the order in which you want them to appear (e.g., 1, 2, 3).

Sort by the new column

Click the header of your new 'Row Order' column, select 'Column settings', and choose 'Sort ascending'. Your rows will now display in your desired custom order.

Workaround: Use a Custom Number Column for Sorting

Save the View: Don't forget to click the view dropdown menu at the top right and select 'Save view as' to ensure your custom sorting remains applied for all users.

Solution 2

Monitor the Microsoft 365 Roadmap and Submit Feedback

Check for upcoming feature releases regarding drag-and-drop functionality and submit a feature request to Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Easily Reorder Rows with WPS Spreadsheet

If Microsoft Lists lacks the flexibility you need for manual data sorting, consider moving your dataset to WPS Spreadsheet. WPS Office offers a free, lightweight, and highly compatible alternative to Microsoft Office, allowing you to drag and drop rows effortlessly without complex workarounds.

1. Open your data in WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Office and open your list data or Excel file in the Spreadsheet application.
2. Select the row: Click the row number on the left side of the screen to highlight the entire row you want to move.
3. Drag and drop to reorder: Hold down the Shift key, hover your cursor over the edge of the selected row until the move icon appears, then drag it to your desired position.

Native drag-and-drop row reordering for quick data managementFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) filesLightweight application with a familiar, easy-to-use interfaceFree alternative to expensive Microsoft 365 subscriptions

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Is drag and drop row reordering available in SharePoint?

Currently, SharePoint and Microsoft Lists do not offer a native universal drag-and-drop feature for rows. Users must rely on sorting by specific columns as a workaround while Microsoft develops the capability.

How can I change the default order of items in Microsoft Lists?

You can change the default order by editing the current view. Click the 'All Items' dropdown, select 'Edit current view', scroll down to the 'Sort' section, and choose which column to sort by (e.g., ID or Date).

Where can I request new features for Microsoft Lists?

You can submit feature requests directly through the Microsoft Feedback portal or by clicking the Feedback button located in the top navigation bar within the Microsoft Lists interface.

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