File explorer sort by name.
Nov 15, 2022 · You’ll see a menu appear.
File explorer sort by name. Mar 13, 2023 · The Windows File Explorer allows you to sort files and folders. Jan 14, 2009 · I'm looking for an algorithm that sorts strings similar to the way files (and folders) are sorted in Windows Explorer. in the search box), and it's sorted by name. Jan 13, 2023 · In Windows 11, you won’t even see the option to disable auto arrange in a folder when viewed in File Explorer. Now select Name In the search box type NOT the Click right arrow to search The NOT operator, to exclude a word, should be capitalized If you want to see file directory names sorted without "the", I can only think of Exporting to excel and use excel to strip words. background) to a get the Group by option. Oct 7, 2024 · If File Explorer's Sort by Date Modified is not working on your Windows 11 PC, reset File Explorer view, change folder optimization, etc. Dec 27, 2023 · When I change filenames in a Windows 11 Explorer window, it does not automatically sort. File Explorer in Windows 11 only allows you to sort files based on the options available, such as sort by date modified, name, type or size. Numerical sorting organizes files in a way that considers the numeric value of numbers within file names, rather than treating all file names as strings. Oct 20, 2025 · Numerical sorting in Windows File Explorer is the default method for organizing files and folder names that include numbers. Dec 5, 2022 · Hello there, Is the sorting worng only with this specific file formats or for all formats? I tried creating some sample files and the sorting seems to be working fine for me. Jan 25, 2020 · This policy setting allows you to have file names sorted literally (as in Windows 2000 and earlier) rather than in numerical order. Below: Sorting files in folders in Windows 11. Note the display goes from _PMB 5630. Numerical sorting sorts out file names per increasing number values (for example, 2 < 3 < 22 < 33). Let’s do another Nov 11, 2024 · The issue you're experiencing, where "0" in the file names is being ignored when sorting, is related to how Windows sorts files in File Explorer. Is there a solution for this, because I hate the 'sort by group' method of sorting. Jul 18, 2020 · Is there a way of sorting different types and folders alphabetically together in a folder? For example :- Folder Name A PDF Name A Folder Name B PDF Name B At the moment W10 would sort these as,even though I have only checked :- Folder Name A Folder Name Feb 20, 2017 · Is there any way to get Windows Explorer to sort (by whatever column) WITHOUT having it separate the folders and the regular files? I’m so used to OSX & Unix sorting, well, the whole directory. I have set my view options for the folder exactly how I want it, gone into Folder Options-View-Apply to Folders-OK. May 1, 2025 · I understand your frustration with the search behavior in Windows 11 Explorer. I did not find information about the treatment of the underscore character. Names are sorted based on the values of the numbers instead of treating the numbers as characters in a text string. How do I have Win11 File Explorer sort automatically when a new file is added? The behaviour described below occurs on Windows-7 systems and on Windows XP. I did a search for all files (using . The following table of ASCII characters allowed in filenames (showing the characters, their Unicode values and a description of the character) is arranged in the sort order used by Windows 10 File Explorer. Also try restarting the indexing service and see if that helps. Alternatively, right-click inside the folder, navigate to Sort by, and select your preferred sorting method. txt, 03-01-2022 File 2. e. Jan 17, 2025 · Wrong sorting order in Explorer - posted in Windows 11: I have a folder with files with version numbers, file (01), file (02) and so on over a hundred files. Oct 6, 2023 · To sort photos by name on Windows 10/11, you can use the Microsoft Photos app or Windows File Explorer and keep the pictures organized. Jul 15, 2023 · However, by default, File Explorer sorts files by filename from left to right, and cannot skip the date and sort them alphabetically on its own. For example, contents of a folder containing 7 files with numeric suffixes would ordinarily look as follows: Mar 22, 2024 · File explorer can be quite frustrating. These include the Name, Date Modifier, Type, and Size. Oct 17, 2024 · Discover expert tips to organize File Explorer in Windows 11 for efficient management, enhancing productivity with streamlined files and folders. It never clicked, it kept changing back to sort by date, then one day it just stopped doing it. Right-click an errant file and check it's properties, may show if there's something different from another's file properties. I somehow managed to get this result in my Documents folder by setting as follows: VIEW-Details Sort by -Name Ascending Group by -None I then went to folder and search options and 'set as default'. But whenever I close and reopen the folder again, it reverts back to the default setting of ' sort by date ' and ' sort by the group '. The process for both is similar. BRU support regular expression, or if necessary you can just do the renaming in several passes if the regex isn't too obvious. I kept setting my download folder to sort to NONE because it was sorting files by date. Aug 20, 2022 · Open File Explorer, select the folder you want to customize, on View tab choose Sort by: then Name for alphabetical sorting, then Ascending or Descending. My best suggestion is to use prefix (i. This pesky issue has been plaguing many users, leading to frustration and confusion. To ensure proper sorting, consider renaming the files using a YYYYMMDD format instead. Jan 1, 2025 · Sorting Folders by Size in Windows 11/10 Windows File Explorer does not natively support sorting folders by size directly. In contrast, Literal sorting sorts files based on each number in their name (for example, 2 < 222 < 3 < 356). Jun 18, 2022 · The sorting rules I'm looking for are for file names in the file name column. It may also help to refresh the view, maybe press F5 after clicking a file. , lineup can be changed to show as ascending or descending. The OS from the Redmond giant beholds a total of four sort by options. When the files stubbornly refuse to sort correctly, showing the latest files mixed with the older ones or reverting back to name sorting upon reopening a folder, it's time Use something like Bulk Rename Utility to rename the files into the format yymmdd_anyothertext. With the recent updates to Windows 11, many users have found themselves grappling with how to effectively sort and display files and folders together within File Mar 31, 2025 · Click on the "Sort by" option at the top of the File Explorer window (it shows as "Sort" with a dropdown arrow). Apr 14, 2023 · Negative answer : File Explorer has always sorted folders first in ascending sort of "Name". Sep 12, 2024 · Does the File Explorer keeps resetting sort order on your PC? Then turn off auto-sort, reset folder tpe view, or keep reading for more. Nov 29, 2023 · Within file explorer when files are sorted by name in ascending order, the folders appear at the top, followed by the individual files below them, each in ascending order. Embrace double-sorting—an easy-to-implement trick that can breathe new life into your file management routine. Apr 10, 2024 · Version 23H2 (OS Build 22631. To do this, click on the Downloads option under Quick Access. rar beta [ Dec 30, 2023 · In a Windows 11 Explorer window, Group by is in the Sort menu. However, this produces very strange results. Aug 12, 2021 · I updated to Windows 10, version 21H1 My files are sorting wrong. You can also right-click in the folder and get the sort menu, just like you did in Windows 10. This approach will work because so long as you never click on the sort by name or sort by file type, etc Windows will always be showing your files by date modified in My files are sorting numerically just fine, I have numerical sort turned on. Nov 14, 2024 · Wrapping Up So, the next time you feel the frustration of sifting through files, remember that Windows File Explorer is more than just a tool for opening documents; it's a powerful ally in your quest for organization. I want file explorer systemwide to sort with FOLDERS FIRST followed by files, all alphabetically. txt). , 01-01-2022 File 1. Jan 17, 2023 · Open File Explorer and navigate to the location where your files are stored. txt, 02-03-2022 File 3. Like a is before b but is A before a ? Also, is _ a good or universally valid file character to use in file naming ? with backup services such as One Drive ? or Western Digital backup software? The rules, if they are published, might also show * is after _ or whichever. Mar 20, 2017 · In windows explorer i don't know how can i sort files and folders by name one after the other. HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced Right-click in the right pane, select New > DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseAutoGrouping. Apr 2, 2025 · Quick Navigation : Why File Explorer Back to Default Order How to Fix File Explorer Keeps Resetting the Sort Order Bottom Line Why File Explorer Back to Default Order As stated above whenever I open a folder in File Explorer, it defaults back to sorting by name but before automatically resorting back to sorting by date, this happens every time I open the folder, and wastes 5 or more seconds Dec 9, 2020 · This tutorial will show you how to change the sort by order and details view of items in a folder in File Explorer for your account in Windows 10. Jan 9, 2023 · Find out how to Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in Explorer in Windows 11/10 using the Registry Editor or Group Policy Editor. Nov 15, 2022 · You’ll see a menu appear. To do that though, I have to open the 'sort by' menu, and select the 'more' option, which is situated below a list of default sort options such as by sorting by 'name, date, type, size, tags'. For example i have this list in a folder (order is false, only example): alfa [folder] anto. For example, click on the "Name" column to sort items alphabetically. Apr 7, 2025 · Other troublesome aspects of the Windows search index can also affect File Explorer’s interpretation and display of file properties. It used to be like this picture below: I need it the old way. However, there are several methods that you can use to achieve this goal, including using third-party applications and PowerShell commands. Is there anyway to list them all alphabetically? Figured would be easiest to just add 0 to the start of a file name I want to be displayed near the top but it doesn't. It seems that numeric values in strings are taken into account when sorted which Mar 15, 2022 · When sorting files by date, ascending order means the newest files are listed first and the oldest files are listed at the bottom. As an example, if you have files named as GUIDs and you sort them by Name I would expect the files to be ordered by the first character, starting… Apr 15, 2016 · In Windows 10 this is in File Explorer, whereas Windows 7 apparently called it Windows Explorer. To do so: Sep 11, 2018 · I sort all files by name, Yesterday, I found out that my file explorer or folders (on the main disk & other disk), whenever I save new edited photos, photos from Internet, the windows file explorer won't re-arrange or sorting automatically, or don't move automatically the file from bottom to top & other way around. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to achieve this. I have folders and documents named as dates Jan 4, 2025 · Before we dive into the mechanics of enabling or disabling numerical sorting, let’s take a moment to clarify what numerical sorting means in the context of Windows Explorer. Are there other file explorers that might be able to do this? Additionally, sorting text in such fashion is inefficient to compute. Read more about it here. We operate in a dual-language environment - English and Hebrew. Feb 16, 2010 · 6. Nov 15, 2022 · 0 I'm creating an archive of a web site and within each directory (folder) I have a file called !THE_PAGE_TEXT. Set the view of the list of files to Details: press Applications key (or Shift + F10), arrow down to View and press Enter, then arrow down to Details and press Enter. You can also change that by clicking on the Name label at top of column. Glad you sorted it out. Sort of like a dir /o:gdn but with the folders sorted by name and then preformed in windows explorer. Don't know if this helps Open File Explorer Click View then select Sort By. Oct 16, 2022 · In any version of Windows, when you sort items in a folder in descending order by Date Modified column, folders move to the bottom, and files go to the top. If you enable this policy setting, File Explorer will sort file names by each digit in a file name (for example, 111 < 22 < 3). Click the Date modified heading to sort by date (most recent first). Jun 4, 2021 · Paint uses the Windows Explorer default sort order to open Paint files. But when I sort by date modified, directories are always displayed after the files. html which is basically a readme file for that directory's contents. Tried to simply sort everything by "name" but the length of the name seems to matter the most and everything is still jumbled. Open Windows Explorer, open your main folder, sort it by Name, then View ribbon, Options, View in the Folder Options window and click on Apply to Folders. This behavior is designed to ensure that the most relevant results are displayed based on the sorting criteria. Sort First by Category: Click on your desired primary sorting category (e. This way, File Explorer will sort the files chronologically based on the year, then the month, and finally the day. Currently, if you want to sort files alphabetically, then you may need to rename the files so that the letters come first and the date comes second. If you google for sort order windows explorer you will find out that Windows Explorer (since Windows XP) obviously uses the function StrCmpLogicalW in the sort order "by name". File Explorer is not customizable and has no add-ons that can modify the sort. Can I automatically rename files in a folder? May 16, 2025 · File explorer. ” This policy changes sorting back to the way it was in versions of Windows prior to Windows XP—namely, character-by-character. 10. I always let recent files display first. See full list on digitalcitizen. Note that Windows 11’s File Explorer has a “Sort” icon at the top. There is no way to alphabetize the favorites as the right click menu has sort by grayed out. Set the value of UseAutoGrouping to 0. I want that to appear at the top of the listing in File Explorer (with, if necessary, clicking on the Name heading). Double-click Turn off numerical sorting in File Explorer and select Enabled, then click OK. Dec 17, 2018 · Do you want to sort files numerically than by name in file explorer on Windows 10? Or, maybe sort folders by size? Here are 4 ways to sort them accordingly. Dec 14, 2020 · Here's what I want but cannot accomplish. In Windows 11, when you try to sort search results, the system reorganizes the results instead of simply sorting them. He wants the folders sorted name, but the files in each folder sorted by date. Question: Which character can I add to the filename to have a file always in last position, after all other files? Sep 6, 2022 · There are many sets each just of Latin-derived letters and Arabic-based numerals, in addition to many times more of various more specialized characters. Sep 8, 2021 · In Windows 11, you can change the group by view of a folder in File Explorer to have all items in the folder grouped by the name, date, date modified, size, type, total size (build 22494), and more file detail you want, and have all items in the folder arranged in ascending (alphabetical ) or descending order. What I want is a file named 000009 for example to always come before another named 1. Apply the desired sorting options: Click on the column header to sort the files and folders in ascending or descending order. Aug 27, 2016 · Usually when I do this it will sort folders and shortcuts separately. From the View menu, select Details (if it's not already in that view). If I want an alphabetical listing of a folder/directory contents, I want them all alphabetical. Oct 25, 2018 · In Windows Explorer, simply type an asterisk into the search window to return all files and folders within the parent folder. But instead, whenever I open an explorer window (be it the explorer directly or the folders via my internet browser or discord to upload/download something), it has all files sorted BY NAME at first, THEN it takes a minute or so to sort all files EVEN in smaller folders to display them in another sorting, Dec 5, 2017 · I have a user who has a folder that contains scanned forms. In short, the numbers in file names are interpreted logically so that “File 2” comes before “File 10”. for more information about this quary and Feb 14, 2025 · If you want to sort files and folders together on Windows 11, you might encounter certain limitations, but this guide is here to help you. Dec 9, 2024 · In File Explorer, when searching, sometimes it lists the subfolders among the files when it used to list all subfolders at the top and then all files below it. 3447) Win10 File Explorer automatically sorted the files when a new file was added. This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable numerical sorting in File Explorer for all users in Windows 10. In some instances, a user might want to turn Apr 23, 2015 · When Windows Explorer sorts files, it first sorts files from directories and only then sorts each group using the sort specified (My default is DateCreated). How do I fix this? Sep 18, 2024 · Restore Display view for files grouped by Date Modified in the Downloads folder Launch File Explorer and go to the Downloads folder. Apr 15, 2025 · When you sorted files by date in an Explorer window (or a File>Open dialog, etc) in earlier versions of Windows, the folders always stuck to the top. Sep 19, 2022 · When numerical sorting is enabled, File Explorer will sort file names by increasing number value (for example, 3 < 22 < 111). When in Windows Explorer we sort files by name, the ord To sort files: Open File Explorer by pressing Windows + E, and navigate to the folder you want to Sort. Choose how you want to sort the files by clicking on "Sort by. NEF to _PMB 5070. " Aug 15, 2017 · When numerical sorting is disabled, File Explorer will sort file names by each digit in a file name (for example, 111 < 22 < 3). I would like to sort these files in ascending or descending order based on the date included in the filename. Typically, the only folder where this setting is automatically applied is the Downloads folder in which files are grouped by date modified. Error. It only happens occasionally now, A lot of threads in here about File Explorer sort issues. When listed ascending by name, it puts names that are "the same but longer" before the "plain" name. In the opened folder, click the "View" tab in the ribbon at the top. Jan 27, 2025 · when opening file explorer it goes to the Home Favorites are shown Recently used files are show below that. You can then click on any column header to sort the results by that column. Close the Registry Editor and restart File Explorer (or reboot I can sort files and directories in Windows Explorer by date modified. Even copying all the files to a new folder on a different partition doesn't fix the problem. Sep 12, 2024 · If you're a Windows 11 user and find that your File Explorer's "Sort by Date Modified" function is playing hard to get, you're not alone. Sep 12, 2024 · Introduction In the bustling digital ecosystems we navigate daily, organization is key to maintaining productivity and peace of mind. Dec 13, 2024 · File Explorer works a lot like a spreadsheet, the heading of any column such as Name, Size, Date, Type, etc. While this works well in most cases, it causes files with names containing numerals to be sorted counter intuitively. File names are stored as strings in almost every operating system and database management system. Apr 16, 2025 · Similar threads X File Explorer sorts by file date, when file name should be sort order x509 Jul 6, 2025 General Support Replies 9 Views 737 Jul 6, 2025 Jul 15, 2025 · How do I make Sort By > Date Modified always an option in the explorer or any pop-up to open files? The only "hacky" way I can find - is to switch the view to "details", right-click the search bar, and choose "Date Modified" But obviously - detail view is USLESS for photos - so then I have to switch back to "large icon" view. Locate the folder you want to apply sorting settings to. , Type) to group similar files together. If you have a lot of files, with that naming convention, then you could use a utility like the free version of Bulk Rename Utility Mar 26, 2023 · Hi everyone, I have a folder in Windows Explorer that contains several files with names that include a date in the format "dd-mm-yyyy" (e. Aug 25, 2023 · In this guide, we will show you various methods to fix the Sort By feature not working in Windows 11 File Explorer. You can sort any folder this way by name, date, type, size, and tags and in ascending or descending order. Then click it alternatively until the small arrow points upwards for ascending order. Make sure you have installed all the updates and try to create some sample plane names and test how it works. Optimization of folders: Windows optimizes folders by their contents, but automatic settings may cause sorting errors like sort by date modified not working in Windows 11. From what I can gather it seems like Windows Explorer is taking the file extension into account, which is causing the design problem I'm facing. However, for Windows 10 File Explorer characters in the Basic Latin block (ASCII characters), this is not strictly true. Here we have explained how to sort Folders by Size or Month. To set the sort order that you want to use for files and folders whose names contain numerals, use one of the following methods, as appropriate for your situation: - To configure Windows XP or Windows Server 2003 to use the method that Windows 2000 uses for sorting files and folders, in the Value data box, type 1, and the click OK. yyyy format. life Sep 18, 2022 · In Windows Explorer there is the option to sort files by name. Jul 6, 2025 · I always want to sort by file name so I can break up the photos by day when i import into Adobe Lightroom Classic. Remember, the key to staying organized is regular maintenance and using descriptive names for your files and folders. put your tags in front of the filename) and/or organise them in folders. …. In a file Open/Save dialog, you have to right-click the white space (i. Above: Sorting files in folders in Windows 10. it sorts my Download folder by name, but I want it to sort by date. Sep 12, 2023 · File Explorer typically sorts files by their alphanumeric names, which is why it might not automatically sort by the full date in dd. doc, then sorting on name will arrange the files in date order. If you have a secondary sort you want to do use the Group By button. Hold the Shift key and click on the Name heading. Is it possible to get Win 11 to use that behavior? Nov 11, 2020 · Closed 10 months ago. Arrow down to choose Name, Date Modified Sep 25, 2024 · Is it possible to have file explorer to sort the contents of a folder only by name regardless if the contents are a document or a folder? When i select to sort by Name it always separates by type ie listing the folder and then listing the documents. So, what alternative solution do we have if we want to manually sort files in folders other than rolling back to an older version of Windows 10? Sep 22, 2023 · How to Disable File Grouping in Windows 10 If you disable File Grouping, you’ll prevent the Explorer file manager from grouping your files according to their name, date, or file size. Method 1: Using Third-Party Applications Dec 13, 2024 · Follow these File Explorer Tips and Tricks in Windows 11 and learn to navigate Explorer like a power user! Explore the new Explorer features! Mar 10, 2022 · I have tried again and again to set the arrange and sort option in my download folder ' sort by name ' and ' no Group '. Grouping and sorting options in File Explorer Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder you want to enable additional grouping and sorting options for. Launch File Explorer by clicking on its icon from the taskbar or by pressing Windows + E on your keyboard. Jun 4, 2024 · By opening File Explorer, customizing the layout, creating new folders, sorting files, and using Quick Access, you can keep everything in its place and easily accessible. Where can I view the ordering of their collective sorting structure within various Windows applications (in particular, File Explorer)? Oct 5, 2023 · Follow these steps to fix the issue: Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder where you want to change the "Sort By" settings. g. Click on “Sort by, ” and another menu appears. Included folders in a library will all share the same sort by view. Repro: Start file explorer to view e g desktop: win-r, C: Ensure settings are correct: ensure view ribbon tab is visible: ensure nothing is selected in group by, ensure sort by is set to "Date Modified", descending. I don't like this as the default behavi Oct 10, 2022 · File Explorer has two methods to sort out files as per their numerical nomenclature: Numerical sorting and Literal sorting. For example, the following is the usual behavior. But instead, Windows Explorer sorts by file date. Nov 13, 2024 · Open File Explorer: Navigate to the folder filled with your assorted files. Descending order places the newest files at the bottom and the oldest files at the top. Page cannot be displayed. A common trick to have files sorted first in Windows Explorer is to add the _ character as prefix, as displayed in the screenshot below. Press Applications key (or Shift + F10) and arrow down to Sort By and press Enter. Mar 14, 2025 · How to Sort Files by Date in Windows 11 File Explorer The primary method for sorting files by date on Windows 11 is through the File Explorer. Windows typically performs a lexicographical (or "alphabetical") sort, which means it sorts numbers as text rather than numeric values, so filenames like "001 [topic]" and "1 [topic]" may not sort in May 16, 2022 · There is option or setting to sort files from right to left naming in File Explorer, if that is the sorting you require, you would need to rename those files with the numeric characters first. Oct 1, 2009 · My file dialog shows files sorted by date and I want it to sort alphabetically by filename. I have an issue where File Explorer doesn't sort correctly, and I've tried legit everything. How can I turn the display of file extensions on or off in Windows? - In File Explorer, go to Folder Options and select or uncheck the "Hide file extensions for known file types" option. It's sorting by date when I regularly open File Explorer, just when a separate program opens one for me to select a file. However, users may want to sort folders separately and have them remain at the top and files below. I was amused by the following note in the documentation: Behavior of this function, and therefore the results it returns, can change from Aug 20, 2016 · If for whatever reason you’re in the habit of viewing folders full of files whose names are hex values, you can set the policy “Turn off numerical sorting in Windows Explorer. This will bring folders to the top of the listing with the files ordered by date. When numerical sorting is disabled, File Explorer will sort file names by each digit in a file name (for example, 111 < 22 < 3). Please contact your service provider for more details. You can choose to sort by Name, Date Modified, Type, Size, etc. Sep 8, 2021 · In Windows 11, you can change the sort by view of a folder in File Explorer to have all items in the folder sorted by the name, date, date modified, size, type, and more file detail you want, and have all items in the folder arranged in ascending (alphabetical ) or descending order. mm. Is there a way to keep the same ascending sort order but have the files appear (on top) before the folders? Thanks! -qntum Jul 24, 2024 · 9. Apr 9, 2015 · 2 There is also a partial solution within Windows explorer itself: right-click into the folder, group by Name if you like, you can then select a sort by Name This will give you intermixed folders and files, but will insert some separators that group by letters. With the standard windows 10 file explorer, simply select the 'date modified' tab with your mouse so it is highlighted in your themes color. This first screenshot is from a font bundle that I recently extracted. Expected: Files in desktop directory are shown sorted by Date Modified. Both types together. Dec 31, 2024 · To disable Group By globally in File Explorer on Windows 11, use this method: Press Win+R, type regedit, and hit Enter. ff9xdqcflvctpx3irnz65ehlhd8cedqw01x1