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How to Sort Incomplete Tasks Above Completed Tasks in Microsoft Loop

Maira Mehtab Sep 27, 2026 869 views

Question details

Users want to sort or filter their task lists so that incomplete tasks appear above completed ones.

Product: Microsoft Loop
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Tracking project progress and organizing task lists within a Microsoft Loop workspace.
Observed behavior: Microsoft Loop currently lacks a native way to sort or filter tasks by completed/incomplete status for many users, as the feature is still rolling out across different versions and tenants.

Before you start

Verify that your Microsoft 365 tenant is fully updated, as Microsoft is gradually rolling out improved task list components and filtering features to targeted release channels.

Solution 1Recommended

Use a Custom Status Column for Manual Sorting

If native completion status sorting is unavailable in your tenant, manually adding a label column allows you to sort and group tasks effectively.

Because native task-status filtering is still rolling out, using a custom label column provides an immediate workaround to keep your active tasks at the top of the list.

Add a new column

Open your Microsoft Loop workspace, navigate to your task list component, and click the '+' icon at the end of the column headers.

Configure a Label column

Select 'Label' from the column type options and rename the header to 'Custom Status'.

Define status options

Create label options such as 'Pending' and 'Completed', and assign them to your respective tasks.

Sort the task list

Click on your new 'Custom Status' column header and select the option to sort ascending or descending to group incomplete tasks above the completed ones.

Solution 2

Manage Synced Tasks in Microsoft Planner or To Do

Leverage the seamless synchronization between Loop, Planner, and To Do to access advanced sorting and filtering capabilities.

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Manage Tasks efficiently with WPS Office

If missing features in Microsoft Loop disrupt your workflow, consider using WPS Spreadsheet to create powerful, customizable task trackers. WPS Office provides an intuitive, lightweight platform with full filtering and sorting capabilities out of the box.

1. Create a new tracker: Open WPS Office and create a new Spreadsheet, or search for 'Task List' in the template library.
2. Enter your task data: Input your task details, ensuring you have a dedicated 'Status' column for tracking progress.
3. Apply a filter: Highlight your headers, go to the 'Data' tab, and click 'Filter'.
4. Sort your tasks: Click the filter dropdown on the 'Status' column to sort your incomplete tasks to the top or hide completed items entirely.

Advanced filtering and custom sorting for pending and completed tasksFully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx) formats for easy migrationRich library of free project management and to-do list templatesLightweight, fast, and completely free to download and use

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Frequently Asked Questions

When will filtering by task status be officially available in Microsoft Loop?

Microsoft announced improvements to task list components in April 2024, which include status filtering. However, this feature is rolling out gradually. If you do not see it, it is not yet available in your specific tenant or current release version.

Can I permanently hide completed tasks in Microsoft Loop?

Currently, if the native filter option has not rolled out to your workspace, you cannot hide completed tasks directly within Loop. You will need to use a custom label column to sort them to the bottom, or manage the list in a synced app like Microsoft Planner.

Do Microsoft Loop task lists sync automatically with other apps?

Yes, task list components created in Microsoft Loop automatically sync with Microsoft Planner and Microsoft To Do. You can use these applications to apply more advanced filters and sorting rules to your tasks.

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