OneDrive File Issues

How to Sort OneDrive Folders and Files Together Alphabetically

Amos Gikunda Oct 14, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to display both folders and files mixed together in a single alphabetical list, rather than folders grouping separately from files.

How to Sort OneDrive Folders and Files Together Alphabetically

Product: OneDrive
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing and viewing files and subfolders within a OneDrive directory.
Observed behavior: OneDrive automatically groups all folders together at the top of the view, separating them from documents, even when the sort order is set to alphabetical by name.

Before you start

Ensure you are logged into your OneDrive account on the web browser or have the OneDrive sync client active on your computer to test available sorting configurations.

Solution 1Recommended

Utilize Default Sorting Groupings

Since OneDrive natively groups folders before files, the best immediate approach is to use the standard alphabetical sort within these native groups.

Microsoft OneDrive does not currently feature a built-in toggle to combine folders and files into a single continuous alphabetical list. By design, the system prioritizes folders over individual files to replicate traditional file hierarchy systems.

While this behavior cannot be bypassed natively, applying the standard 'Name' sort will perfectly alphabetize your folders A-Z, followed immediately by your files A-Z.

Access the sort menu

Navigate to the top right of your OneDrive file list and click the 'Sort' drop-down button.

Apply alphabetical sorting

Select 'Name' from the list of parameters, then click 'Ascending' to sort your folders from A to Z, followed by your files from A to Z.

Submit feedback to Microsoft

To request this feature, visit the official Microsoft OneDrive Feedback portal online and vote for the idea to 'alphabetize folders and documents together'.

Feedback Portal: Many users have requested this exact feature. Submitting a vote on the OneDrive Feedback portal helps Microsoft prioritize future updates.

Solution 2

Use Naming Conventions to Force Desired Order

Rename your most important files or folders using prefixes to push them to the top of their respective groups.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I make OneDrive folders appear at the bottom instead of the top?

No, OneDrive prioritizes folder groupings. If you change the sort order to 'Descending', it will reverse the alphabetical order (Z to A), but the folder group will still remain above the file group.

Does Windows File Explorer sort OneDrive files differently?

Yes and no. By default, Windows File Explorer also groups folders first. However, you can use Windows Search within File Explorer to find files and folders, which sometimes displays them in a more mixed view depending on your search parameters.

Will my sorting preference affect other users in a shared folder?

No. The sorting options you apply (such as sorting by Name, Date, or Size) only affect your personal view of the OneDrive interface. Other users will see the files according to their own applied sorting preferences.

Document & File Issues