Excel column not filtering

Facing problem just because your filter not working in Excel? No need to suffer from this problem anymore….!

As today I have chosen this specific topic of “Excel filter not working” to answer. All in all this post will help you to explore the reasons behind why Filter Function Not Working In Excel and ways to fix Excel filter not working issue.

Why Is Your Filter Not Working In Excel And Ways To Fix It?

Reason 1# Excel Filter Not Working With Blank Rows

One very common problem with the Excel filter function is that it won’t work with the blank rows. Excel Filter doesn’t count the cells with the first blank spaces.

To fix this, you need to choose the range right before using the filter function. For a clearer idea of how to perform this task, check out the following example.

• Before using the Excel filter function on the column C. either you can choose the column “C” completely or just select the data which you want to filter out.

• From the “data” tab select the “Filter” option. Now all the items become visible in the filter checkbox list or filtered list.

• Similarly, you have to choose the cell ranges or multiple columns before the application of the filter function.

Reason 2# Make Proper Selection Of The Data

If your spreadsheet contains empty rows or columns. Or if you only want to filter out only the specific range then choose the section which you want to filter prior to turning on the Filter.

If you don’t choose the area then Excel applies the filter on the complete one. This can also result in selection up to the first empty column or rows excluding the data present after the blanks.

So it will be better if you manually select the data in which you want to apply the Excel filter function.

• In order to remove the blank rows from the selected filter area. First of all turn on the filter and then click on the drop-down arrow present in any columns to show the filter list.
• Now remove the check sign across the ‘(Select All)’ after then shift right on the bottom of the filter list. Choose the ‘(Blanks)’ option and tap to the OK.

• After this only, the blank rows will clearly appear on your screen.
• For easy identification, the row number of each blank row appears in blue color.
• For deleting up these blank rows. You need to select these rows first and then make a right-click over the anyone of the blue color row number. Choose the Delete option from the listed option to delete the select blank rows.

• By turning off the filter you can see the rows that are now been removed.

Reason 3# Check The Column Headings

• Check the data which has only one row of column headings.
• In order to get multiple lines for the heading, into the cell you just need to type the first line. After that press “ALT + ENTER” option for typing in the new line of the cell.
• In such cases, the Wrap Text function also works great in formatting the cells correctly.

Reason 4# Check For Merged Cells

Another reason for your Excel filter not working is because of the merged cells.

So unmerge if you have any merged cells in the spreadsheet.

If the column headings are being merged, then the Excel filter becomes unable to choose the items present from the merged columns.

The same thing happens with the merged rows. Excel filter won’t count the merged rows data.

For unmerging the cells:

• Go to the Home tab and to the Alignment group.

• Now hit the down arrow present across Merge & Center and choose the Unmerge Cells option.

Reason 5# Check For Errors

Check carefully that your data doesn’t include any errors.

Suppose, if you are filtering the ‘Top 10’, ‘Above Average’ or ‘Below Average’ values within your list then using the Number Filters gets compulsory. Otherwise, the error may hinder your Excel application to apply the filter.

• For removing up the errors use the filters to fetch them. Usually, they get listed at the list’s bottom so scroll down.
• Choose the error and tap to the OK option. After locating up the error, fix or delete it and then only clear up the filter.

Reason 6# Check For The Hidden Rows

On the Excel filter, list hidden rows won’t appear as the filter option.

• For unhiding the rows firstly you need to choose the area having the hidden rows. This means you have to choose the rows to present below or above of the hidden data.
• After that either you can make a right-click over the rows header area. Or you can choose the Unhide option. OR just go to the Home tab > cells group> Format> Hide & Unhide> Unhide Rows option.

Reason 7# Check For The Other Filters

Check that your filter is not been left on any other column.

The best option for clearing up all the Excel filters is by tapping to the Clear button present on the ribbon (which is on the right section of the filter button).

This will leave the filter turned on, but it will clear all the filter settings. So now you can make a fresh start with your complete data.

Reason 8# The Filter Button Is Greyed Out

If your Filter function button is appearing gray in color then it means that the filter not working in Excel. The reason behind this can be that your grouped worksheets.

So check out whether your worksheets are grouped or not.

• You can easily identify it by watching out the title bar where generally the filename appears at the screen top.
• If the ‘Your file name’ – Group is appearing then it means that your worksheet is grouped.

• In this case, ungrouping the worksheet can fix filter function not working in Excel issue.
• So come down to your worksheet and make a right-click on the sheet tab. After that choose the Ungroup Sheets option.

• You will see, after making these changes again the filter option starts appearing.

Reason 9# The ‘Equals’ Filter Isn’t Working

While using the Equals filter, Number Filter, or Date Filter, if your Excel is not showing the right data then check whether the format of your data is the same or not.

Suppose, if you are having 2 cells and in each cell, you have entered 1000 as data. One cell is formatted in “currency” format and another one is formatted in “number” format. So when you make use of the “Number Filters, Equals” option, then Excel will only fetch the matches in which you have typed the number format also.

Only typing the text 1000 will search the match for the cells only in the number format. Whereas typing the text $1,000.00 will look for the cells which are formatted as ‘Currency’.

The same rule is also applicable in the case of dates. 16-Jan-19 and 16/01/2019 both are different. Thus make sure that the complete data column is formatted in the same format to avoid filter function not working in Excel issue.

Wrap Up:

The very first thing that Excel filters always check is whether your data matches well with its basic layout standards or not. If you are following all the Excel filters rules then you won’t get Excel filter not working issue.

So, take a close check whether you are following all the above mentioned Excel Filter rules correctly or not.

If none of the above fixes works to resolve your Excel Filter Not Working issue then ask about your queries on our Facebook and Twitter page.

Selecting the whole column when applying the filter seems to work

by Matthew Adams

Matthew is a freelancer who has produced a variety of articles on various topics related to technology. His main focus is the Windows OS and all the things… read more

Updated on January 19, 2023

Reviewed by
Vlad Turiceanu

Passionate about technology, Windows, and everything that has a power button, he spent most of his time developing new skills and learning more about the tech world. Coming… read more

Most Excel users probably set up data tables within that application. Users can filter data in their tables with Excel’s filtering tool. However, sometimes Excel spreadsheet tables might not filter the data correctly.

If you need to fix Excel’s table filtering, check out some of the potential resolutions below.

How can I fix Excel table filtering?

1. Select the whole column to apply the filter to

If Excel is not filtering the whole column in a spreadsheet, you can manually configure it to do this. What you need to do is select the column and tweak its filter settings.

1. Launch Microsoft Excel.

2. Open the file where the filter is not working.

3. Select the table’s whole spreadsheet column by clicking the column’s letter.

4. Navigate to the Data tab.

5. Then click the Filter button to apply the filter to the whole column.

6. Click the cell filter arrow button to open the filtering options shown directly below.

7. Uncheck the Blanks checkbox. This setting will ensure that blank cells will not be filtered.

8. Click on OK to apply the changes.

2. Delete blank cells from the table’s column

Alternatively, you can erase blank rows from a table’s column to include values below the empty cells within the filter.

Select all the empty cells’ rows by holding the Ctrl key. Then right-click and select the Delete option.

3. Ungroup sheets

The Filter option will be greyed out when your sheets are grouped together. Thus, you can’t filter spreadsheet tables in grouped sheets. To fix that, right-click the grouped sheets at the bottom of Excel and select Ungroup sheets.

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4. Unprotect the worksheet

1. Select Excel’s Review tab.
2. Press the Unprotect sheet button.
3. If an Unprotect sheet window opens, enter the password for the worksheet in the text box.
4. Click the OK button.

5. Unmerge cells

1. Press the Ctrl + F hotkey.
   
2. Click the Format button on the Find and Replace window.
3. Click Merge cells on the Alignment tab shown directly below.
4. Press the OK button.
5. Press the Find All button.
   • Thereafter, the Find and Replace window will list all cell references with merged cells.
6. To unmerge merged cells, select a merged cell.
7. Click the Merge & Center option on the Home tab.
8. Select the Unmerge cells option.

6. Set up a new filter

1. If there are rows in your table that don’t get filtered, try setting up a new filter. To do so, select the Data tab.
2. Click the Clear button within the Sort & Filter group.
3. Then select the table’s full column range with the cursor.
4. Click the Filter button on Excel’s Data tab.

Those are some of the resolutions that might get your Excel table filters fixed. In most cases, reapplying filters or clearing them to set up new filters will often resolve Excel filtering issues.

Which of the solutions solved the pro-Excel filtering issue for you? Let us know by leaving a message in the comments section below.

RELATED ARTICLES TO CHECK OUT: 

• How to fix Excel’s sharing violation error
• How to fix Microsoft Excel’s File not loaded completely error
• Microsoft Excel cannot add new cells? Check out these tips

Содержание

	Введение
	Excel не фильтрует столбец

Из этой статьи Вы узнаете как фильтровать столбцы в Excel.

Проблема

Вы хотите отфильтровать столбец, но не видите вообще никаких данных

Проверьте стоят ли фильтры на всех столбцах, как на картинке ниже или только на одном.

Заново выделите верхнюю строку → Нажмите Sort & Filter → Filter

Увеличил картинку на случай, если плохо видно

Убеждаемся в том, что выделение снятно

Выделяем нужный столбец и ставим фильтр снова через Sort & Filter → Filter

Убеждаемся в том, что фильтр работает.

Похожие статьи

	MS Excel
	VBA
	Чередование цвета в строках
	Режим разработчика
	Цветной выпадающий список
	Сортировка чисел
	Всё пропало
	Перенос строки внутри ячейки Excel
	Excel не фильтрует столбец

Are you are having a few hassles when filtering?

Is the filter not working properly or as you would like it to?

Here are some reasons why your Excel filter may not be working.

Excel has an expectation that you have prepared your data to meet some basic layout standards before you use filter. Get these right and you will minimize filtering hassles.

Check that you are following these Filtering rules…

Now only blank rows will be displayed.

You can easily identify the rows as the row number will now be coloured blue.

To delete the blank rows just select them and then right-click over the top of one of the row blue numbers. Select Delete to delete the rows.

Turn filtering off and you will see that the rows have now been removed.

2. Check your column headings

Check your data has just one row of column headings.

If you need multiple lines for a heading, just type the first line into a cell and then press Alt + Enter to type on a new line within the cell.

Formatting the cell using Wrap Text also works.

3. Check for merged cells

Another reason why your Excel filter may not be working may be due to merged cells.

Unmerge any merged cells or so that each row and column has it’s own individual content.

If your column headings are merged, when you filter you may not be able to select items from one of the merged columns.

If you have merged rows, filtering will not pick up all of the merged rows.

4. Check for errors

Check your data doesn’t include errors. For example, if you were trying to filter on the ‘Top 10’, ‘Above Average’ or ‘Below Average’ values in your list (use Number Filters to do this), and error may stop Excel from applying the filter.

To remove errors first use Filter to find them. They are always listed at the bottom of the list so scroll right to the bottom.

If you see one (or many) remove the check mark from Select All at the top of the list first and then scroll back to the bottom of the list.

Select the error and click OK. Once you have located the error, fix it or delete it and then clear the filter. No go ahead and use Top 10, Above or Below Average and you’ll be back in business!

5. Check for hidden rows

Hidden rows aren’t even shown as a filter option on the filter list.

To unhide rows first select the area containing the hidden rows. This may mean you need to select the row above and below the hidden data.

Then either right-click in the row header area (over the row numbers) and select Unhide or from the Home tab select Format, Hide & Unhide, Unhide Rows.

Extra checks and info…

Check for other filters

Check that a filter hasn’t been left on another column.

The best way to clear all of the filters is to click the Clear button on the Ribbon (to the right of the Filter button).

This then leaves Filter turned on, but removes all filter settings allowing you to start again with the full set of your data.

The Filter button is greyed out

If the Filter button is greyed out check that you don’t have your worksheets grouped.

You can tell if they are simply by looking at the title bar where the filename is shown at the top of the screen.

If you can see ‘Your file name’ — Group you currently have worksheets that are grouped.

Just make your way down to one of your worksheets, right-click the sheet tab and then select Ungroup Sheets. The Filter button will now be available.

The ‘Equals’ filter isn’t working

If you’re using the Number Filter or Date Filter, Equals filter and Excel isn’t returning the correct data, check the formats on your data are the same.

For example, if you have 2 cells with 1,000 entered into each and one cell is formatted with the Currency format and one with the Number, when you use the Number Filters, Equals option, Excel will only find matches where you type the format for the number as well.

Just typing 1000 will find a match for the cell formatted with a Number format only. Typing $1,000.00 will find the cell formatted as Currency.

This is the same for dates. 16-Jan-19 will not match 16/01/2019. Therefore, make sure the entire column of data is formatted with the same format to avoid this problem.

My file is really slow to refresh

If you are finding that your file is starting to become very slow at responding, i.e. the ‘whirly-wheel’ is displayed for more than a few seconds every time you update your file, check that you only selected the table area before you applied Filter, not entire rows, entire columns or the entire worksheet.

Also, if you have applied Filter to multiple tables within the file you might like to remove Filter from any tables you aren’t working with. This may also help eliminate ‘whirly-wheel’ moments.

I hope one of these tips has seen you back on track again. There are so many reasons why your Excel filter may not be working. However, these are typically the ones I come across the most.

Was this blog helpful? Let us know in the Comments below.

If you’re dealing with a rather large database, then the filter function on Excel can come in handy. This function allows you to sort the dataset according to your set conditions. As a result, it makes analyzing and summarising data much easier. 

However, there might be instances where the filter function might not be working properly. Usually, such an error pops up when there are blank cells within the dataset. So, a quick fix to the issue is to delete these cells. 

But, what if the issue persists? In this article, let’s learn more about the potential causes and the fixes for the filter function not working on Excel. 

Why is My Excel Filter Not Working?

Here is a list of the potential causes of why the filter function might not be working in your Excel application. 

How to Fix Excel Filter Not Working?

Now that we know have listed out the causes, let’s jump right in with applying the troubleshooting methods for this issue.

Select All Data From Sheet 

If your dataset has blank rows or columns, it might not select the area (row or column) below or past these cells. As a result, Excel will fail to filter out all the data in your dataset. 

To be on the safe end, we suggest that you manually select the data. Now, click on the Filter ribbon and choose how you would like to arrange it. This method should be able to include all the datasets.

Remove Blank Rows/Columns 

Alternatively, you can also remove the blank rows by configuring the data on your Filter area. Here is how you can do so. 

1. Head over to the column that showcases the filter list. 
2. Click on the drop-down arrow and uncheck the box for Select All.
3. Scroll further down, and check the option for Blanks.
4. Hit the OK button to save filter changes.  

You can also manually delete these cells. To do so, right-click on the row adjacent to the blank cell. Select the Delete option to remove these blank rows/columns. 

Unhide Rows or Columns 

If you have hidden rows or columns on your dataset, then Excel won’t apply the Filter function on these data cells. You will have to unhide any hidden rows or columns from your sheet. 

Here is how you can do it.

1. Spot the hidden row/column.
2. It should represent a double line inside the row headings. Skipped order of number or alphabets is another sign of how to recognize hidden rows/columns.  
3. Select both the adjacent row/columns.
4. Navigate to the Home tab and click on Format. 
5. From the drop-down menu, select Hide & Unhide.
6. Finally, click on Unhide Rows or Unhide Columns.    

Unmerge Cells 

Merged cells in your dataset can also create problems while you’re trying to filter your table. Excel tends to disregard the data on merged rows/columns. So, we suggest that you first unmerge all data cells before using the filter option.

 Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can do it. 

1. Click on the Merged Cell on your sheet. 
2. Under the Home tab, navigate to the Alignment section. 
3. Click on Merge and Center, and from the drop-down menu, select the Unmerge cells option. 

Remove Data Errors 

If there are data errors in your table, then the filter function might not work on your data set. So, It is best to remove these data errors from the table.

 Here is a step-by-step guide on how you can do it. 

1. Head over to the column that showcases the filter list. 
2. Click on the drop-down arrow and uncheck the box for Select All.
3. Scroll further down, and check the option for #Value!
4. Hit the OK button to save filter changes.  

Clear and Add Filter

In some rare cases, the current filter you’re setting up might not work on your data set. So, a quick troubleshooting method you can apply is to clear the previous filter and set up a new one. 

Here is how you can do it.  

1. Head over to the Data menu. 
2. Click on the Clear icon right next to the Filter button. 
3. Select the column heading or the dataset.
4. Now, click on the Filter button. 

How to Fix Filter Grayed Out in Excel?

Here are a few effective methods you can apply when the filter option is grayed out on your Excel Application.  

Ungroup Sheets 

If you have selected more than one sheet, then Excel will not give you access to the Filter function. First and foremost, you will have to ungroup the sheets. To do so, right-click on a sheet from the bottom bar, and click on the Ungroup Sheets option.

Unprotect the Sheet 

Another factor you should look out for is to check whether your sheet is protected or not. When you’re sheet is protected, Excel automatically greys out the Filter option. So, to unprotect the sheet, 

1. Open up the Excel document.
2. Head over to the Review tab on Excel.
3. Click on the Unprotect Sheet option. 
4. Now, a pop window will appear, type in your password for the sheet. 
5. Finally, click on the OK button to confirm your action.

Related Questions 

Why is my Filter by color not Working?

If your filtering by color is not working on your spreadsheet, then there are two reasons why it might occur. The first is if there is only one specific color in all your cells or if you have shared the workbook. To unshare, head over to Review > Unshare Workbook.  

How to fix Excel Not Grouping Dates in Filters?

In some instances, the grouping dates in filters might get disabled. So, here is a step-by-step guide on how you can enable it. 

1. Head over to the File menu.
2. Select Options.
   
3. From the left panel, head over to the Advanced tab. 
4. Under the Display Option for this Workbook section, check the option for Group Dates in the AutoFilter menu.