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Fix Message Trace Columns Not Sorting in Microsoft 365

Adam Davis Sep 28, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user is unable to sort Message Trace results by mailbox name within the Microsoft 365 admin interface.

Fix Message Trace Columns Not Sorting in Microsoft 365

Product: Microsoft 365 Admin Center
Device & OS: Windows 11
Scenario: Reviewing email logs in the Microsoft Defender portal and attempting to sort the output data by the mailbox name column using Google Chrome.
Observed behavior: The mailbox name column sorting functionality fails to respond or organize the data properly, restricting administrative data review.

Before you start

Verify that your Exchange Administrator or Security Administrator permissions are active, and ensure your Google Chrome browser is updated to the latest version to rule out standard browser incompatibility.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Incognito Mode or Clear Browser Cache

Browser extensions or corrupted cache data can interfere with JavaScript sorting functions in the Microsoft 365 admin portals.

Often, backend updates to Microsoft's interface can clash with cached data in your browser, breaking interactive elements like column sorting.

Open an Incognito Window

Launch Google Chrome on your Windows 11 computer, click the three-dot menu in the top right, and select 'New Incognito window'.

Test Sorting Functionality

Log into the Microsoft 365 Admin Center, navigate to Message Trace, and try clicking the mailbox name column header to sort the results.

Clear Browser Cache

If sorting works in Incognito mode, return to your normal window, press Ctrl + Shift + Delete, select 'Cached images and files', and click 'Clear data'.

Alternative Browser: If clearing the cache does not resolve the issue, try using Microsoft Edge, which often receives optimization for Microsoft 365 portals earlier than Chrome.

Solution 2

Run Message Trace via Exchange Admin Center (EAC)

Bypass the Microsoft Defender interface glitches by using the dedicated Exchange Admin Center to run your message trace.

Solution 3

Report the Issue to Microsoft Support

If the sorting failure persists across multiple browsers and interfaces, it may be a known service-side bug requiring backend correction.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why did column sorting stop working in the Microsoft 365 portal?

Sorting issues are frequently caused by temporary backend updates deployed by Microsoft that clash with cached browser data, or specific browser extensions blocking scripts on the admin page.

Does Message Trace work better on Microsoft Edge than Chrome?

While Message Trace is fully supported on all modern browsers, Microsoft Edge often handles Microsoft 365 admin portal scripts natively with fewer glitches during service updates compared to Chrome.

How do I gain permission to use Message Trace?

Message Trace is an administrative feature. You must be assigned an admin role such as Global Administrator, Exchange Administrator, or Security Administrator by your organization's IT department to access it.

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