Outlook subfolders not sorting alphabetically

Question

Hello,

I'm experiencing an issue with folder sorting in the Outlook Windows app. In most folders, subfolders are automatically sorted alphabetically. However, in one specific folder, they do not sort alphabetically (either in the desktop app or in web version).

This folder contains many subfolders (around 400), so maybe this is the issue, but in old Outlook version everything worked properly.

Could you please tell me if it can be solved?

Thank you!

Answer 1

Dear @Yaryna,

Thank you for reaching out to the Microsoft Q&A Forum.

I understand that you are encountering an inconsistent folder sorting issue within the New Outlook experience, where one large folder is not respecting the alphabetical sort order. The fact that the issue occurs in both the desktop app and the web version confirms that the problem is not a client-side incident (like a corrupted cache) but rather a server-side configuration flaw specific to that one folder's properties, which are synchronized across all platforms.

While the large number of subfolders (around 400) may complicate synchronization, the core cause is likely a missing or misapplied sort order tag on that specific folder.

As a forum moderator, I genuinely wish I could directly access your account or delve into the backend systems to diagnose and fix this for you. However, our role here is limited to providing general guidance and solutions that can be applied by users. 

To provide you with the most effective solution, could you please provide the following details?

• What kind of account is this? Is it a Work/School account (managed by an organization's IT department) or a Personal account (e.g., Outlook.com, Live.com)? 
• If it is a Microsoft 365 account, is the problematic folder in your primary mailbox, or is it in a Shared Mailbox (a mailbox accessed by multiple users)?
• Was this folder created recently in the New Outlook, or was it a legacy folder migrated from Classic Outlook?
• If you create a brand-new subfolder in the problematic parent folder, where does the new subfolder appear in the list?

Gathering this detail will help determine if the issue is a issue related to Shared Mailbox permissions or a legacy folder property not being honored in the New Outlook's architecture.

Since you noted that Classic Outlook worked properly, the most effective solution for immediate productivity is to switch back to Classic Outlook temporarily.

If you must use the New Outlook, you can try this workaround:

Move the Folder Contents (Simulate a Reset): This action forces the Exchange server to generate a new, clean set of metadata for the new parent folder.

1. Create a new, empty parent folder next to the problematic folder (e.g., "Temp Folder").
2. Move ALL 400 subfolders from the old, unsorted folder into the newly created folder.
3. Check the new folder: The subfolders should now appear alphabetically sorted.
4. You can then delete the original, unsorted parent folder and rename the new folder back to the original name.

Please provide the additional information so I can investigate further, please note that our initial response does not always resolve the issue immediately. However, with your help and more detailed information, we can work together to find a solution. Thank you for your patience and understanding. I'm looking forward to your reply.

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Answer 2

Hello,

We've just solved the issue with our IT support team, finally the solution is:

Selct the folder > View > Folder pane > Sort folders > Order folders A to Z

Everything works now.

Thank you for you help!