How to Fix the File Explorer Sort by Date Modified Feature Not Working in Windows 11
For whatever annoying reason the "Sort by Modified" option in File Explorer on Windows 11 stops working sometimes which makes finding recently used files a nightmare. Especially in folders that have mountains and mountains of files saved. While this sucks, there are a few different steps you can take to solve the problem without wasting hours of your time troubleshooting.
How to Fix the File Explorer Sort by Date Modified Feature Not Working in Windows 11
I have absolutely no idea what is causing the problem or if it is just a random bug that was introduced in a Windows update but it is a super annoying one that usually affects "Sort by Modified" but may also affect any of the other "Sort by options" as well. While this is a super infuriating problem that usually results in no sorting actually happening or a completely unrelated sort order there are some steps you can try to solve the problem.
Reset Folder View
Sometimes, folder view settings become corrupted, causing sorting issues. Resetting these settings can restore proper sorting behaviour.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to the folder.
- Click the three dots in the toolbar (or Options in older versions).
- In the Folder Options window, go to the View tab.
- Click Reset Folders and apply the changes.
- Check if the "Sort by date modified" feature now works properly.
Change Folder Optimization
Windows optimizes folders based on their content, but this may not always align with your files. Adjusting folder optimization can help apply sorting correctly.
- Right-click on the folder with the sorting issue and select Properties.
- Go to the Customize tab.
- Under Optimize this folder for, choose the most appropriate option (e.g., Documents or Pictures).
- Check the box to Apply this template to all subfolders.
- Click Apply and OK to save the changes.
Rebuild the Search Index
File Explorer depends on the search index to retrieve file properties, such as modification dates. Rebuilding the index can fix any inconsistencies.
- Search for Control Panel in Windows search and open it.
- Set View by to Small icons and select Indexing Options.
- Click Modify, select the locations you want indexed, and click OK.
- In Indexing Options, click Advanced, then click Rebuild under Delete and rebuild index.
Note: This process may take time depending on your drive size.
Update Windows
Installing the latest software updates can fix known bugs that might be affecting File Explorer’s performance.
- Type Updates into the Windows search bar and press Enter.
- Click Check for Updates or Install all if updates are available.
- Install any optional and pending updates.
- Restart your device to see if the issue is resolved.
Uninstall the last Windows Update
Honestly, if this issue just started happening recently around the time of an update you may want to roll back the update and see if that solves the problem. If you aren't sure how to do that, you can check out our guide below.
How to Uninstall a Bad Windows Update.
Clear Thumbnail Cache
A corrupted thumbnail cache can sometimes cause file-sorting issues in File Explorer. Clearing this cache may help.
- Type Disk Cleanup into the Windows search bar and press Enter.
- Choose your main drive (usually C:) and click OK.
- In the list of files to delete, select Thumbnails and click OK.
- Wait for the process to complete.