Here's how to sort dates in Excel (newest to oldest or oldest to newest):

1. Select the data range: Click and drag to highlight the column or table containing the dates you want to sort.
2. Go to Sort: Navigate to the "Data" tab on the Excel ribbon.
3. Sort by Date: In the "Sort & Filter" group, click the sort arrow under "Sort." Alternatively, you can click the "Sort" button within the group.
4. Choose Sort Order: In the "Sort Warning" window, ensure the "Sort by" box displays the date column. Under "Order," choose "Newest to Oldest" to sort from most recent to least recent dates, or "Oldest to Newest" for the reverse order.
5. Expand Selection (Optional): By default, Excel will only sort the data within the selected range. If you have headers in your table, make sure "My data has headers" is checked. Otherwise, check the "Expand the selection" box to ensure the entire table sorts according to the dates.
6. Click Sort: Confirm your selections and click "Sort" to apply the sorting.

Your data will now be sorted based on your chosen order (newest to oldest or oldest to newest).