You can move a row to a different position in Excel 2016 by using the Shift key combined with dragging the row border.
Reordering rows in your spreadsheet is a common task, whether you're organizing data alphabetically, chronologically, or by some other criteria. While there are several methods, one effective way to move a row to a new location is by using the drag-and-drop functionality with a modifier key. This method inserts the row into its new position without overwriting existing data.
Here's how to move a row using the Shift + Drag method, based on moving row 70 down one position as an example:
Steps to Move a Row Using Shift + Drag
Follow these simple steps to relocate a row in your Excel worksheet:
- Select the entire row: Click on the row header (the number on the left side of the sheet) for the row you want to move. This action selects the entire row.
- Example: Click on the row header of row 70 to select the entire row.
- Prepare to drag: Hold down the Shift key on your keyboard.
- Initiate the move: Position your mouse cursor over the border of the selected row. The cursor should change shape (often to a four-headed arrow). Click and drag the bottom border of the selected row downwards or upwards, depending on where you want to move it.
- Example: Drag the bottom border of row 70 down one row.
- Find the insertion point: As you drag, a thick green line will appear between rows, indicating where the selected row will be inserted. Continue dragging until the thick green line is in the desired location.
- Example: Drag until you see a thick line between row 71 and 72. This means row 70 will be inserted between the original rows 71 and 72 (making it the new row 71).
- Complete the move: Release the mouse button first, and then release the Shift key. The selected row will be inserted at the location indicated by the green line, and the surrounding rows will shift accordingly.
This technique is particularly useful for quickly moving rows short distances or when you know exactly where you want to insert the selected row among existing rows.
