How to Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer in Windows 10
Information
Numerical sorting in File Explorer is enabled by default in Windows 10.
When numerical sorting is enabled, File Explorer will sort file names by increasing number value (for example, 3 < 22 < 111).
When numerical sorting is disabled, File Explorer will sort file names by each digit in a file name (for example, 111 < 22 < 3).
This tutorial will show you how to enable or disable numerical sorting in File Explorer for all users in Windows 10.
You must be signed in as an administrator to enable or disable numerical sorting in File Explorer.
CONTENTS:
- Option One: To Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer using Local Group Policy Editor
- Option Two: To Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer using a REG file
EXAMPLE: Numerical Sorting in File Explorer Enabled and Disabled
Note
Local Group Policy Editor is only available in the Windows 10 Pro, Enterprise, and Education editions.
All editions can use Option TWO below.
1. Open the Local Group Policy Editor.
2. In the left pane of Local Group Policy Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)
Computer Configuration\Administrative Templates\Windows Components\File Explorer
3. In the right pane of File Explorer in Local Group Policy Editor, double click/tap on the Turn off numerical sorting in File Explorer policy to edit it. (see screenshot above)
4. Do step 5 (enable) or step 6 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
A) Select (dot) Not Configured or Disabled, click/tap on OK, and go to step 7 below. (see screenshot below)
NOTE: Not Configured is the default setting.
7. When finished, you can close the Local Group Policy Editor if you like.
The .reg files below will add and modify the DWORD value in the registry keys below.
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Policies\Explorer
NoStrCmpLogical DWORD
(delete) = Enable
1 = Disable
1. Do step 2 (enable) or step 3 (disable) below for what you would like to do.
NOTE: This is the default setting.
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Enable_numerical_sorting_in_File_Explorer.reg
Download
A) Click/tap on the Download button below to download the file below, and go to step 4 below.
Disable_numerical_sorting_in_File_Explorer.reg
Download
4. Save the .reg file to your desktop.
5. Double click/tap on the downloaded .reg file to merge it.
6. If prompted, click/tap on Run, Yes (UAC), Yes, and OK to approve the merge.
7. Restart the explorer process or sign out and sign in to apply.
8. You can now delete the downloaded .reg file if you like.
That's it,
Shawn
Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer in Windows 10
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New #2
Hello mate,
If wouldn't matter for the disable REG since HKLM would override HKCU.
HKCU is only there for the enable REG to make sure in case the "User Configuration" version of this policy was used. This tutorial only used the "Computer Configuration" version for all users.
Standard users wouldn't be able to change either policy version though.
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New #3
Actually, HKCU settings override HKLM settings, but yes, the Standard user can't change the HKCU policy key (forgot about that).
However, I still prefer the change in HKCU, as one should not assume that all users want the same settings and I always like to keep the machine settings as close to stock as possible so that it's easy to compare behavior (i.e. a new user will have stock default settings).
Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer in Windows 10
How to Enable or Disable Numerical Sorting in File Explorer in Windows 10Published by Shawn BrinkCategory: General Tips
15 Aug 2017
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