Adjusting the Order of Rows and Columns in Excel (the Best and Fastest Way)

Data manipulation in Excel often necessitates shifting rows and columns around. In the dataset shown below, for instance, I wish to prioritize the highlighted row.

Will you be duplicating this row, pasting it where you need it, and then erasing the original? If you answered yes, then it is one possible approach. The process of rearranging Excel’s rows and columns, however, can be sped up significantly.

Here I will teach you a fantastic keyboard shortcut for quickly rearranging rows and columns in Excel.

Move Rows in Excel

Let’s pretend I have the following dataset, and I want to insert the highlighted row into the second row (just below the headers):

Here are the steps to do this:

1. Select the row that you want to move.
2. Hold the Shift Key from your keyboard.
3. Move your cursor to the edge of the selection. It would display the move icon (a four-directional arrow icon).
4. Click on the edge (with the left mouse button) while still holding the shift key.
5. Move it to the row where you want this row to be shifted
6. Leave the mouse button when you see a bold line right below the row where you want to move this row.
7. Leave the Shift key (remember to keep the Shift key pressed till the end)

Below is a video that shows how to move a row using this method. Please take note that I have simply shifted the selected cells in this example. It’s the same procedure if you want to shift an entire row, which you may do by selecting the row you want to move.

Some key points concerning this approach are as follows

• Linked rows can be relocated (or some cells from the contiguous rows). The procedure cannot be used to transfer rows that do not overlap. To give just one example, you can’t shift Row 4 and Row 6 simultaneously. Alternately, you can shift both positions 5 and 6 in a single operation by choosing that row.
• This approach of moving cells in a row or column preserves the integrity of the rest of the information in the worksheet. Above, below, and to the right and left of this table have no bearing on the example data shown here.

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Move Columns in Excel

The same technique can also be used to move columns in Excel.

Here are the steps:

1. Pick the column (or columns) you wish to shift.
2. While reading this, keep the Shift key depressed.
3. Click and drag the selection’s border. The option to reposition the icon would be shown (a four-directional arrow icon).
4. Hold down the shift key and click the edge (with the left mouse button).
5. To change the location of this row, drag it to the column you wish to alter.
6. Stop dragging when a bold line appears at the column’s edge.
7. Don’t touch that Shift key (remember to keep the Shift key pressed till the end).

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