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How to Create a Filter and Sort A to Z in Google Sheets

Create a filter in Google Sheets, sort records A to Z without breaking rows apart, and choose between a shared filter and an independent filter view.
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To filter or alphabetize data in Google Sheets on a computer, select the data range, choose Data > Create a filter, then use the controls in the header row. To sort records safely, select the whole related range—not just the column—and sort it ascending with the header-row option set correctly.

Create and use a filter on a computer

  1. Select the cells containing the data you want to filter. If you do not select a range first, Google Sheets applies filter controls to all data in the sheet.

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  2. Choose Data > Create a filter. You can also right-click a cell or selected range and choose Create a filter.

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  3. Open the filter control at the top of the column you want to use. Choose a condition, select or clear values, or search for a value. Clearing a value hides matching rows; it does not delete them.

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To show all rows again, choose Data > Remove filter, or right-click and choose Remove filter. See Google’s instructions for sorting and filtering data.

Sort a range A to Z without separating records

  1. Select the complete range of related cells, including all columns in each record. Selecting only the names column can sort those cells apart from the rest of their rows.

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  2. Choose Data > Sort range > Advanced range sorting options.

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  3. If the selected range includes column titles, check Data has header row. Choose the column to sort by, select ascending order, and click Sort. Google recommends freezing the first row when the sheet has a header.

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Sort an entire sheet A to Z

To sort the full sheet by one column, right-click that column’s letter at the top of the sheet and choose Sort sheet A to Z. This sorts the sheet, unlike Sort range, which applies only to the selected range. Check that the sheet contains the data you intend to sort before choosing the whole-sheet command. Google documents both sorting options in its sort and filter help.

Filter and sort together

Use a filter to display only rows that meet your criteria, then sort the displayed data using the filter controls at the top of the range. Filtering changes which rows are visible, not which rows are stored in the sheet.

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Choose a standard filter or a filter view

Option What it does Best for
Standard filter Applies a filter to the shared spreadsheet view. People with access can see it, and editors can change it. When collaborators should use the same filter.
Filter view Creates a separate view that can be saved and named. When collaborators need independent filter criteria.

Create a filter view from Data > Create filter view. People with view-only access can create a temporary filter view, but it is not saved. Filter views are available on desktop, not in the Google Sheets mobile apps. Details are in Google’s filter and sort help and its iOS and Android guidance.

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Use a formula for a separate filtered or sorted result

Menu filters and sorts change how the sheet range is displayed. Use a formula when you want results generated elsewhere from source data.

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Return matching rows with FILTER

FILTER(range, condition1, ...) returns rows or columns that meet the supplied conditions. Each condition range must have the same length as the corresponding dimension of the filtered range. If no rows match, the function returns #N/A. See Google’s FILTER function documentation.

Sort formula results with SORT

SORT(range, sort_column, TRUE) sorts ascending; use FALSE for descending order. You can provide additional sort columns. See Google’s SORT function documentation.

Filter and sort in the mobile app

iPhone and iPad

To sort, select a column, open its menu, and tap SORT A-Z. To create a filter, tap More > Create a filter. See Google’s iOS instructions.

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Android

To sort, select a column, open its menu, and tap SORT A-Z. To create a filter, tap More > Create a filter. Filter views are not available in the mobile app. See Google’s Android instructions.

If Create a filter is unavailable

Google lists merged cells, hidden rows or columns, conditional formatting, and data validation as possible reasons the command may not be available. If those do not explain it, access to the sheet may be a factor. Trying the operation in a copy can help determine whether the issue is specific to that sheet. See Google’s troubleshooting guidance.

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