How to sort by date in Numbers app

The column of dates I want to change shows the most recent date to oldest downwards. I need to reverse this, but when I use 'Sort' with the 'Date' option, I get a jumble that is neither 'ascending' nor 'descending' order...

MacBook Pro 14″, macOS 15.3

Posted on Mar 31, 2025 4:52 AM

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Posted on Mar 31, 2025 6:52 AM

If the cells are formatted as date&time, they will sort as date & time. If they are formatted as text, they will sort as text. Given that they are getting "jumbled", I am thinking they are text.

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Mar 31, 2025 6:52 AM in response to Dicktum

If the cells are formatted as date&time, they will sort as date & time. If they are formatted as text, they will sort as text. Given that they are getting "jumbled", I am thinking they are text.

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Mar 31, 2025 8:40 AM in response to Dicktum

Additional guidance for how to use Badunit's advice =

A csv. file containing a table such as a downloaded bank statement will open up automatically in Numbers on this computer. 

The dates appear in this format - 23 Mar 2025  

The rows are in ‘descending’ order = going from most recent to oldest.


In order to use the ORGANISE > SORT OPTIONS effectively to change the date order of the rows it is first necessary to change the formatting of the dates:

  • select the entire date column - click on the top cell with the heading ‘Date’ and the table column letters A,B,C etc and the row numbers !,2,3 etc will appear.
  • Click A to select the entire ‘Date’ column
  • Hold down the COMMAND key and click the cell with the ‘Date’ heading to deselect it
  • Now go to the Format Sidebar > Cell > Date Format (the top entry under ‘Cell’) > click on ‘Automatic’ to reveal drop down list > Date & Time > click on ‘Multiple’ to reveal list >select format which shows 05/01/2025 

= all the selected cells will immediately change

Keep them selected

  • Now go to Organise > Show sort options > Choose Sort Entire Table (not ‘Sort Selected Rows’). 
  • Now go to the Table column header above the date cells (A). Click the arrow to reveal list and select ‘Sort Ascending’

SUCCESS?


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How to sort by date in Numbers app

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