Recent Files pane in Excel 2013 was pretty good, but Excel 2016 broke it (Pin pinning recent files no longer sorts alphabetically)
In Excel 2013, you could pin recently opened files to the top of the list, and they would be sorted alphabetically. This way, you could easily get the same file by using keyboard shortcuts. For example, Alt-F-R-1 opened the first one on the list, alphabetically. The order stayed constant until you pinned or unpinned a file.
In Excel 2016, the files are listed chronologically, so Alt-F-R-1 opened the most recently used one. If you wanted to get a certain one, you have to wait to see where it is in the list. This is a TERRIBLE change. I keep opening the wrong file.
(2016-07-11 Dan [MS]: If you're interested in pinning recently used folders, please go vote on this other UserVoice idea, so that we can keep the two seperate: https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/15148899-enable-user-to-pin-folders-to-the-recent-lists-for)
Jon Peltier
shared this idea
= 2016-12-09 =
Hi all,
The MRU should be sorting alphabetically again if you’re using build 16.0.7466.2038 or later. You can find your build number under File > Account.
Cheers,
Dan [MS]
= 2016-09-22 =
Hello,
I noticed a few reports of folks not seeing alphabetized MRUs anymore so I followed up with the Office team (it’s shared across Word, Excel, PowerPoint, etc.) that owns this.
Turns out that they rolled it out in July (and then we posted here that the work was completed) but then ran into some bugs and so disabled the feature on the MRU-service side.
That bug has been fixed, and they are planning to roll it out again in October.
Cheers,
Dan [MS]
= 2016-07-11 =
Greetings,
Good news on the recent files front – pinned files are now sorted alphabetically, as they were in previous versions of Office (and Excel).
To see this new behavior, you’ll need to be running build 16.0.7030 or later if you are an Insider (as of 11 July, all insiders should have the ability to run that build), or build 16.0.7070 or later if you’re not an insider (we’re in the rollout process now for non-Insiders). Note: these build numbers are for O365 subscribers.
Lastly – if you voted for this idea because of the ability to pin folders – we’ve separated that out (so that this just covers one idea). Please go vote for this idea if folder pinning is important to you: https://excel.uservoice.com/forums/304921-excel-for-windows-desktop-application/suggestions/15148899-enable-user-to-pin-folders-to-the-recent-lists-for
Cheers,
Dan [MS]
===older====
Thanks for calling this out Jon. We’ll be sure to keep an eye on this, and we’ll talk with the team that owns the recent files list across the Office apps. As always, we’ll spend more time on ones with more votes, so please keep voting for the things you care about most!
Best,
John [MS XL]
167 comments
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Rockhopper
commented
Looks like they only implemented this in 365. Office 2016 still sorts pinned files by date used.
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Anonymous
commented
I wonder how old this issue is and why it is marked as "completed"? .
It occurred to me a few weeks ago (April 2020) when I installed teams. The pinned list was deleted and now it's sorted by time. Before that, all was fine and it was sorted alphabetically.AFAIK we are still using Office 2019
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Anonymous
commented
Wäre super wenn man ab Excel 2013 wieder die angehefteten Dateien sortieren könnte. War eine sinnvolle Sache. Auch meine Kollegen vermissen dieses feature.
Mfg
Michael
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Kelly
commented
Most recently used files (not pinned) makes sense sorted by date. Pinned list should be alphabetical - I think there is a new post out there - search pinned items.
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Anonymous
commented
This is not complete.....we need alphabetically sorted, pinned files. I think you guys are dragging your feet because "oh, they'll get used to it". We'll get used to using something more user-focused.
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Neil Maclean
commented
"Completed" should be removed. The pinned list sorts by date with no option available to sort alphabetically.
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Anonymous
commented
what is the status of this?
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Steven Fernandez
commented
Why MS removed this is be on me. I have hundreds of workbooks in Dated folders. What was MS thinking??? I can pin folders in "Save As" why would they remove this feature from "Open". Please reinstate this feature, you already have the script from Office 2010... this cant be that hard...
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Anonymous
commented
Please provide option to sort ALPHABETICALLY again.
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Anonymous
commented
Still not working
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Anonymous
commented
Still not fixed. Excel 2016 went backwards, not forwards compared to Excel 2010
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Anonymous
commented
How about sorting the list alphabetically ignoring the case?
I see files starting with upper case first then the files starting with a lower case.
(Using 16.0.8625.2121 64-bit) -
Anonymous
commented
A MUST FIX.
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Anonymous
commented
Still not working
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Anonymous
commented
AGREED - why is this marked "completed"?
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Anonymous
commented
Yes, sorting alphabetically is HUGE for us, too. Our file names are appended with numerals before their letter names to keep them in a particular desired order.
Please bring that back!
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Anonymous
commented
Yeah, but it has screwed up the numbering in the lastest build.
ost Recently Used file list has changed with respect to shortcut keys. Instead of being able to use "Alt+F => R => [number 1 to 9]" you have to type "Y3" to get the first file in the list. This is completly useless and in no way an improvement.
Please bring back the ability to number them from "1" instead of "Y3"
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Dave
commented
Just installed Office 365 2016, version 1609 (Build 7369.2120), from 2010. Unfortunately, all my files that are pinned (like Favorites) are listed chronologically, not alphabetically. According to the above article, shouldn't this have been fixed by now?!?
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Patrik
commented
So this is still a problem. Plx fix so i can make my Boss happy!
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Anonymous
commented
What about version 1609 (Build 7369.2038) is there a fix for alphabetical display of pinned items.