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How to Fix Microsoft To Do Lists Reverting to Sorted by Position

Maira Mehtab Sep 20, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to stop their Microsoft To Do lists from automatically reverting to the "sorted by position" ordering preference instead of retaining the "due date" sort, and requires access to support communities for a permanent fix.

Product: Microsoft To Do
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Viewing and organizing task lists in the web browser and the Outlook To Do pane, specifically in the "All" view.
Observed behavior: The selected sorting preference (such as sorting by due date) fails to save and automatically resets to "sorted by position."

Before you start

Before reaching out to support, try clearing your browser cache and cookies, and ensure your Outlook application is updated to the latest version to rule out temporary sync glitches.

Solution 1Recommended

Seek Help in the Microsoft To Do Community Hub

Use the dedicated Microsoft To Do Community Hub to report the sorting bug directly to specialized product engineers and experienced users.

Microsoft maintains a dedicated community space specifically for To Do users. Posting your specific issue here is often the fastest way to get a bug acknowledged by the product team or to find a known workaround.

Visit the Tech Community

Navigate to the Microsoft Tech Community website using your preferred web browser.

Locate the To Do Hub

Use the site's search bar or navigation menu to find the "Microsoft To Do Community Hub" section.

Post your issue

Create a new discussion thread. Detail that your lists in the "All" view are reverting to "sorted by position" in both the browser and the Outlook pane.

Sign-in required: You will need to sign in with your Microsoft account to create a new post or reply to existing threads.

Solution 2

Contact Your IT Administrator for Forum Access

If you are using a work or school account and find that access to Microsoft forums is blocked, you must request permission from your organization's IT department.

Solution 3

Post the Question in Microsoft Q&A

If the dedicated Community Hub is unavailable or unresponsive, Microsoft Q&A is an excellent alternative for technical troubleshooting.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Microsoft To Do keep reverting to sorted by position?

This is often caused by a syncing glitch between the web version of To Do, the Outlook application, and the cloud servers. Sometimes, clearing your cache or resetting the app can temporarily fix it, but it frequently requires a bug fix from Microsoft engineers.

How do I change the default sorting order in Microsoft To Do?

You can change the sorting order by opening a specific list, clicking the 'Sort' icon (usually represented by two arrows) in the top right corner, and selecting your preferred criteria, such as 'Importance', 'Due date', or 'Creation date'.

What should I do if I get an 'administrator approval required' error on Microsoft forums?

This error means your organization's IT policy blocks access to certain Microsoft apps or community hubs. You must contact your IT department or network administrator to request that they grant your account access to these specific Microsoft support resources.

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