How to sort a database in Notion on Mac: step by step, multiple sorts and saving

Notion sorts at the view level, not the page level. One database can show the same rows in several views, and each view keeps its own sort. That is why the first thing to check is which view you are looking at. The steps here work in the Notion desktop app on a Mac. The web version follows the same help page, and I found no documented difference between the two for sorting.

Sort a Notion database on Mac, step by step

Open the database, then open the settings menu at the top right of the database. Notion's help page describes it that way and does not show a screenshot, so the exact label on your Mac may differ a little. Under View settings, select Sort. You pick a property, and the rows reorder in that view. The result stays with that view until you change it.

Save the sort for everyone or keep it to yourself

The Save for everyone option is the one that trips people up. When you leave it unselected, the sort applies only to you. When you select it, the order becomes the one everyone sees when they open that view. Think about who will open the database before you decide. A personal task list can stay private. A team roadmap usually needs one agreed order.

Sort by more than one property

A single sort often is not enough. Suppose you track projects with a Status property and a Due date property. Sort by Status first, then add Due date as a second sort. The rows then sit in Status order, and within each status they follow the due dates. Open the settings menu again, add the second sort, and drag the ⋮⋮ handle to put the sorts in the order you want. Drag order sets which sort applies first, so put the main sort on top.

How Notion orders text, numbers, and select options

The property type decides how the order works. Text properties, such as Name, sort alphabetically. Number properties sort by their numeric value, not by how the digits look as text. Select and Multi-select properties follow the options you set. You define that order by dragging options up or down. If you want a Priority column to run High, Medium, Low, drag the options into that sequence, then sort by Priority.

Remove a sort without changing the rest of the view

Removing a sort takes less time than adding one. Open the same settings menu, select Sort under View settings, and click X next to the sort you no longer want. Sorts belong to a view, so removing one changes only the view you are in. Other views keep their order. If you added several sorts, remove only the one you do not need.

Keyboard shortcuts around sorting

Notion's official keyboard shortcuts page lists no shortcut for sorting, filtering, or views. Some third-party posts list one, but I could not confirm it on Notion's own page, so this guide leaves it out. The shortcuts that do appear on the page still help around a sorted database. Use ⌘F to search within the page when the rows are long. Use ⌘/ to edit several selected database rows together. On Mac, ⌃⇧K and ⌃⇧J move to the previous and next database page in peek view.

Does sorting work the same on the web?

I found no documented difference between the Mac app and the web version for sorting. Notion's help page on views, filters, and sorts covers the feature without splitting it by platform. The menu labels on the web may still read a little differently, so check there before you assume a step is missing. If you need the desktop app, check the requirements first, since it needs macOS 13 or later.

Versions, macOS requirements, and what to check

The desktop app requires macOS 13 or later, according to Notion's system requirements page. Notion's release index lists Notion 3.8 on October 13, 2026, and Notion 3.7 on September 15, 2026. Neither entry mentions sorting. A third-party release tracker uses a different numbering, with a desktop build listed as 7.42.1 on November 4, 2026. That conflicts with the 3.x names, and I could not confirm the second scheme on a Notion page. If you need to tell support which build you run, check the About screen in the Mac app.

Common mistakes when a sort looks wrong

Most sorts that look wrong have a simple cause. The first is the view. You sorted one view, then opened another. The second is the shared setting. You left Save for everyone off, so teammates see a different order. The third is the property type. A Select property follows its option order, which may not be the order you expected. Check these before you suspect the app. If none of them explain it, reapply the sort in the view you are using and look again.

Where to go next with your database

Once the sort works, you may want a second view for another audience instead of changing this one. Each view keeps its own sort, so that is safe. If your rows start in a spreadsheet, import a CSV into Notion on Mac first, then sort the imported database. If you are still building the database, create a database in Notion on Mac covers the setup. The same help page covers filters, so you can narrow the rows before you sort them.

• Create a second view for a different audience instead of changing the first one.
• Add filters to narrow the rows, then sort what remains.
• Check the version in the Mac app's About screen before you report a problem.