Other PDF Issues

How to Sort Folders Before Documents in Adobe Acrobat

Steve K Oct 19, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user wants to display folders at the top of the document list, ahead of individual files, when browsing within Adobe Acrobat.

How to Sort Folders Before Documents in Adobe Acrobat

Product: Adobe Acrobat
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Organizing files and folders within the Adobe Acrobat document list to replicate the standard file explorer experience where folders are grouped at the top.
Observed behavior: Adobe Acrobat sorts all items strictly by name, mixing folders and documents alphabetically. Adding leading spaces to folder names pushes them to the bottom of the list instead of the top.

Before you start

Make sure you have permission to rename the folders in your directory, as the solution requires modifying folder names to change how the application reads them.

Solution 1Recommended

Use Number Prefixes to Rename Folders

Since Adobe Acrobat sorts numbers before letters, adding a numerical prefix to your folder names forces them to the top of the list.

Adobe Acrobat lacks a native 'Group Folders First' toggle in its document list view. Because the application sorts items in increasing numerical order first and then alphabetically, the most reliable workaround is to rename your folders starting with a number.

Locate the folder

Open the directory or the document list in Adobe Acrobat where your files and folders are currently mixed.

Rename the folder

Right-click the folder you want to move to the top and select 'Rename' from the context menu.

Add a numerical prefix

Type a number at the very beginning of the folder name. For example, change 'Invoices' to '01_Invoices' or '1-Invoices'.

Save the changes

Press 'Enter' to save the new name. The document list will refresh, and your numbered folders will now appear grouped together above your alphabetically named documents.

Submit a Feature Request: If you prefer having an automatic sorting option to keep folders first without renaming them, you can submit a suggestion to Adobe via their official Feature Request or Bug Report form.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Manage PDFs More Intuitively with WPS Office

If you are frustrated with limited file sorting and organization in standard PDF readers, try WPS Office. It provides an intuitive, tabbed interface for seamless document management, powerful built-in PDF editing tools, and full office suite capabilities without expensive subscriptions.

1. Download the installer: Visit the official WPS website and download the free WPS Office installation package.
2. Access the PDF toolkit: Launch WPS Office and click on the 'PDF' tab on the home screen to access all document management features.
3. Browse and edit: Use the integrated file explorer to neatly view folders and documents, then open any PDF for instant editing.

Lightweight, all-in-one Office suite featuring a robust built-in PDF editorFully compatible with Microsoft Office formats (Word, Excel, PowerPoint) and standard PDFsFamiliar user interface with advanced file management and organizational toolsFree to use with comprehensive cross-platform support for PC, Mac, and mobile

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do folders with leading spaces move to the bottom in Adobe Acrobat?

Adobe Acrobat's specific sorting algorithm assigns spaces a lower sorting priority compared to standard alphabetical characters. As a result, when you add a space to the beginning of a folder name, Acrobat interprets it as coming after the letter 'Z', pushing it to the end of your document list.

Is there a setting in Adobe Acrobat to automatically show folders first?

Currently, Adobe Acrobat does not offer a native built-in setting or toggle to group folders at the top of the document list like Windows File Explorer or macOS Finder does. You must use naming workarounds, like adding numerical prefixes.

Will sorting by date modified help keep folders at the top?

No, if you change the sorting criteria to 'Date Modified', Acrobat will order every item strictly by its most recent timestamp. This will continue to mix folders and documents based on when they were last altered.

PDF Troubleshooting