How to arrange/sort desktop folders alphabetically?

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Level 1

8 points

How to arrange/sort desktop folders alphabetically?

I tried to arrange/sort my desktop folders in alphabetic order. There are 'kind', 'date created', 'date modified', 'name' etc. But there's no 'alphabetical order', making finding a folder so frustrating. Imaging finding out a word in a non-digital dictionary. If it were not alphabetically ordered, it would be almost impossible to find out the words being looked up. I'm experiencing the same frustration.

Also, unlike Windows, Mac does not have navigating folders pressing the first letter of the folder name. I've to type at least first two letters (instead of the very first one) to find a folder. It's time-consuming and inconvenient.

iMac 21.5″, macOS 11.6

Posted on Nov 3, 2021 7:16 PM

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Answer 1

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 3, 2021 7:49 PM in response to iph11

Try this…

Right or control click on the Desktop and choose "Clean Up By" Name.

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Answer 2

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 3, 2021 7:32 PM in response to iph11

FWIW, "Name" sorts folders alphabetically by… wait for it… name.

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Answer 3

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:00 AM in response to iph11

What I was saying is, in order to see "Clean Up By Name", "Use Stacks" has to be unchecked.

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Answer 4

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:55 AM in response to iph11

Uncheck "Use Stacks"

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Answer 5

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:46 AM in response to iph11

Use desktop stacks on Mac - Apple Support

There is nothing about sorting Stacks alphabetically. If you would like to see such a feature, let Apple know.

Feedback - macOS - Apple

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Answer 6

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:44 AM in response to dialabrain

No. Sorting by 'Name' is NOT arranging them in alphabetical order. I've set Sort by to 'Name' and Stack by to 'Kind'. And what happens is attached here as a screenshot for you to see.

(Btw, if I select 'None' for 'Stack by', something much disgusting happens: there are myriad files on desktop, on top of which sits the folders with no order whatsoever. So, I'm forced to select a Stack by option other than 'None'.)

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Answer 7

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:57 AM in response to dialabrain

If I select 'None' for 'Stack by', or uncheck it something disgusting happens: there are myriad files on desktop, on top of which sit the folders with no order whatsoever. You want me to share a screenshot of 'Stack by' unchecked?

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Answer 8

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:22 AM in response to iph11

You want to say it's not working because of 'so many files and folders on desktop'? Hahaha. Ridiculous. FIY if you have some idea of how programming works, you would not say that. Sorting by alphabetical order is NOT was not coded here. It was omitted. Intentionally or unintentionally. Further FIY, the files that you're seeing were originally INSIDE the folders. When Stack By is unchecked, all the files fly out of their folders and then all those files and empty folders are dumped on the desktop.

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Answer 9

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:27 AM in response to iph11

iph11 wrote:

You want to say it's not working because of 'so many files and folders on desktop'?

I never said that. I just meant I can't test anything because I don't have that many files/folders on my desktop.

And FYI, "FIY" is FYI.

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Answer 10

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 6:40 AM in response to dialabrain

To repeat, the files you're seeing here were originally inside the the folders that you see alongside. When Stack by is not selected or unchecked, or not used, those files DO NOT stay put in their folders. They fly out. And all those runaway files and all the EMPTY folders are then dumped onto the desktop. This is pretty bizarre. As you can see, selecting a Stack by option is kinda mandatory.

Finally, THERE'S NO ALPHABETICAL SORTING OF FOLDERS on my iMac. Only option left is wait for Apple to send an update addressing this issue.

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Answer 11

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 7:12 AM in response to dialabrain

I didn't want to arrange Stacks alphabetically. I wanted my folders arranged alphabetically on my desktop. As simple as that. It's surprising to see the sorting options leaving out this very basic feature.

Btw, how to let Apple know about it?

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Answer 12

dialabrain

Level 10

135,707 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:47 AM in response to iph11

I see you didn't try "Clean Up By Name" as I suggested.

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Answer 13

iph11 Author

Level 1

8 points

Nov 4, 2021 5:49 AM in response to dialabrain

When I right-click, there's not 'Cleanup By'. When I click 'Show View Options, there're Stacking and Sorting options, which are totally useless. What I get for a right-click is attached here:

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