How to☝️ Alphabetize in Google Sheets

Do you like having everything in its place and in the proper order? Writing out a long list of items with no organization can leave your data looking messy and unprofessional. Google Sheets provides a quick and easy solution by allowing you to sort your data alphabetically.
In this guide, you will learn how to alphabetize your lists in Google Sheets both through the Web app and through the Mobile app—as well as how to do this with multiple columns at the same time.

How to Alphabetize in Google Sheets (Web App)

If you are using Google Sheets on the web, follow these steps to alphabetize your information for ease of access. 1. Open the spreadsheet. For our example, we will use a list of street names found in a Californian city. For better visualization, we need to alphabetize it.
example the list of streets
2. Highlight the list of items (A2:A15)—but take care not to highlight the column’s title (A1) as you want to leave that at the top of the list. 3. Go to the Data tool. 4. Select Sort range. 5. From the menu, choose Sort range from column A (A to Z).
sort range by column a
Easy peasy! That’s all there is to it. The list is now sorted alphabetically. 
the sorted list alphabetically

How to Alphabetize in Google Sheets (Mobile App)

Are you using Google Sheets in the mobile app? No problem. This app also provides the means to sort your information alphabetically. Let’s take a look at how to do it. Again, we have a list of street names that we want to alphabetize.
how to sort in mobile app
1. To freeze a row so it will always stay at the top of your sheet, highlight it.  2. Bring up the menu by tapping twice on the row identifier (1). 3. Select Freeze row.
how to freeze row
With the header frozen in place, we can proceed with the process of alphabetizing.  4. Highlight the data (A2:A15).
highlight the dataset
5. Double-click on the column identifier (A).  6. From the options that appear, select Sort A–Z.
sort A to Z
Congrats! The list is now sorted alphabetically.
the sorted list in mobile app

How to Alphabetize Multiple Columns at Once

Do you have more than one column of data that you would like to alphabetize?
how to alphabetize multiple columns
If you are using the web app, you have the opportunity to alphabetize multiple columns at once. Let’s see what we need to do to accomplish this:  The important first step is to freeze the first row so the column’s heading won’t be mixed in with the main list.   1. Highlight the header row (A1:C1).
freeze row
2. Go to the View tab.  3. Select Freeze. 4. In the options that appear, select 1 row.
select one row to freeze
Now that the headers are frozen, let’s continue. 5. Highlight the data in all the columns (A2:C15). 
highlight the dataset multiple columns
6. Select Data > Sort range.  7. Choose Advanced range sorting options
advanced range sorting options
A pop-up window for Advanced range sorting options will appear.  8. Select the Add another sort column option.  Add as many columns as you need. 
add another sort columns
9. Submit the change by clicking on the Sort button. 
click sort
And with that, your data is sorted. Now you’re ready to go!
the sorted data
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Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith
Daniel Smith is automation consultant with a passion for technology, data, AI, and machine learning.

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