How to Fix Microsoft Lists Priority Sorting Alphabetically
Question details
The user needs to sort Microsoft Lists items by priority sequence rather than alphabetical order.
- Product
- Microsoft Lists / SharePoint
- Device & OS
- not provided
- Scenario
- Grouping or sorting items by the Priority field using the Work Progress Tracker template.
- Observed behavior
- Items are sorted alphabetically (Critical, High, Low, Medium) instead of logically (Critical, High, Medium, Low).
Ensure you have edit permissions for the Microsoft List or SharePoint site so you can modify the column settings.
Add Numeric Prefixes to Priority Values
Modify the default text choices in the Priority column to force a sequential numerical sort.
Because the Priority field is inherently text-based, Microsoft Lists defaults to alphabetical sorting. Appending numbers forces the system to order them sequentially instead of alphabetically.
Open your Microsoft List or SharePoint site, click the downward arrow next to the 'Priority' column header, and select 'Column settings' > 'Edit'.
In the Choices section, edit the text for each priority level by adding a number before the word. For example, change the options to '1. Critical', '2. High', '3. Medium', and '4. Low'.
Click 'Save' at the bottom of the settings pane to apply the changes. The list will now group and sort items in your newly defined logical order.
Use the 'Edit in grid view' feature to quickly update any existing list items that may have become unassigned due to the choice values changing.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Why does Microsoft Lists sort priority levels alphabetically?
The default Priority field in Microsoft Lists is a standard text choice field without built-in logic for urgency. Therefore, the system falls back to standard alphabetical ordering (C, H, L, M) when sorting or grouping.
Can I hide the numbers while keeping the custom sort order in Microsoft Lists?
Natively, Microsoft Lists does not allow you to hide the prefix while sorting by it. The text displayed in the choice field is exactly what is used for both display and sorting purposes.
Does this workaround apply to standard SharePoint lists too?
Yes, this alphabetical sorting behavior applies to any SharePoint list using standard Choice columns. Adding numerical prefixes will resolve the sorting issue across all SharePoint and Microsoft Lists environments.
