Finder windows not sorting files and folders in the same Finder window by name

Don't use optimizers from Macpaw or Zeobit like MacKeeper, Advanced Mac Cleaner, or anything with Cleaner in the name. The Finder background settings that hold information about directory layout are held in DS_Store files that are only visible when you make files that are normally invisible, visible, or copy folders to a PC readable flash drive.

https://www.devontechnologies.com/apps/freeware EasyFind

can help you see if you loaded anything by these two developers.

https://discussions.apple.com/docs/DOC-250002463 Etrecheck can tell you if anything is running in the background that shouldn't, and one of the people on this board can help you determine if from its report if you need to remove anything.

I have the same problem on an iMac 2020. I don't have any "cleaner" apps. I also tried Barney-15E toggling, which did not work.

I prefer to use column view which has always worked fine in the past. Instead of sorting ALL files alphabetically it's sorting them by "kind" alphabetically even when I choose to have them grouped by "name" and not by "kind". See screen shot.

I don't think it defaults to it, but there is a preference in Finder to put the folders at the top when sorted by name.

If it is not set, try toggling it on then off.

You appear to be sorted by Kind. There are a few things that would fall above, But you don’t appear to have any in that folder