OneDrive File Issues

How to Save Sorting Order in OneDrive Folders

Maira Mehtab Sep 22, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to know how to permanently save their preferred sorting order, such as ascending by name, in online OneDrive folders.

Product: Microsoft OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing files and viewing folders within the OneDrive web interface.
Observed behavior: OneDrive does not consistently retain the user's preferred sort order after closing the tab or navigating away from the online folder.

Before you start

Check your current browser settings to ensure it is not configured to automatically clear cookies and site data upon closing, as OneDrive relies on these to remember temporary display preferences.

Solution 1Recommended

Test Sorting Preferences in an Alternative Browser

Since OneDrive relies heavily on local browser cache and cookies to remember view settings, switching to a different browser might help retain your desired sort order.

OneDrive for work or school does not offer a guaranteed server-side option to lock folder view configurations. However, sorting preferences are sometimes retained locally within specific browser environments.

Open a different web browser

Launch a different web browser on your computer, such as Microsoft Edge, Google Chrome, or Mozilla Firefox.

Sign in to OneDrive

Navigate to the OneDrive website and log in using your work or school account credentials.

Apply your sort order

Open the target folder, click the 'Sort' menu at the top right of the file list, and select your preferred order (e.g., Name, Ascending).

Verify settings retention

Refresh the webpage or navigate to a different folder and back to see if the sorting preference persists during your session.

Solution 2

Submit a Feature Request to the Microsoft Feedback Community

If the sorting order continues to reset, you can formally request a permanent folder view lock feature directly from Microsoft.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage Your Files Efficiently with WPS Office

If you frequently encounter limitations with Microsoft OneDrive's interface and settings, consider switching to WPS Office. It provides a lightweight, all-in-one productivity suite with its own built-in cloud storage (WPS Cloud) that seamlessly manages your documents while keeping your workspace organized.

1. Download WPS Office: Visit the official WPS website to download the free desktop application.
2. Install and launch: Run the installer package and open WPS Office on your device.
3. Access WPS Cloud: Sign in to activate your WPS Cloud space, where you can upload, organize, and sort your files with ease.

Built-in WPS Cloud remembers your local application preferences to keep your workflow consistent.Fully compatible with Microsoft Word, Excel, and PowerPoint file formats.Lightweight architecture ensures fast load times on Windows, Mac, Linux, and mobile.Free to download with a highly intuitive, tabbed user interface for easy file management.

microsoft office alternative - wps office

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my OneDrive folder keep reverting to the default sort order?

OneDrive for work or school generally does not save custom sort orders at the server level. Instead, it temporarily relies on your browser's cache and cookies. If you clear your cache or start a new browsing session, the folder view often resets to the default alphabetical layout.

Can I permanently save the sort order if I use the OneDrive desktop app?

Yes, if you use the OneDrive desktop sync client on Windows or macOS, you manage your files through File Explorer or Finder. Your operating system is responsible for remembering these local folder view settings, allowing your sort order to persist reliably.

Is there a way to force OneDrive online to always sort by date modified?

You can quickly sort files by clicking the 'Modified' column header in the OneDrive web view. However, because of the platform's limitations, you may need to reapply this setting each time you log in or navigate back to the folder.

Document & File Issues