Feature: Separate Downloads sort order from global sort order

[actuallyatiger]

What feature or improvement do you think would benefit Files?

In the standard Windows file explorer, the order of Downloads is automatically sorted by Date, with the most recent downloads first, whilst all other folders are sorted by Name by default. Whilst Files has an option to change sort order, this is a global setting which applies to all folders. It would be nice to disconnect the sorting (or have an option to) of the Downloads folder and all other folders.

My main use case is that I'll frequently want to access the most recently downloaded item. File explorer makes this easy by this always being the top most item, whereas with Files I'll need to search through the folder to find the file, costing time.

Requirements

• This proposal will add an option to settings to stop Downloads using the sorting method chosen globally (likely in Layout -> Sort by).
• When the setting is enabled, a different sorting preference is used only for the Downloads folder, whilst the normal setting will apply to all others.

Files Version

4.0.11.0

Windows Version

10.0.26100.7171

Comments

Windows actually splits the sort order of all folders, defaulting to sorting by name. Whilst my issue is focused around the Downloads folder, it might be interesting to reframe this so that all folders default to the global setting, and then the user can override specific files by using the header bar, with these preferences saved (again adding an option to allow this overriding behaviour or all folders using the same sorting)

[Josh65-2201]

Thanks for the feedback, you can do this already

1. Set the default view for folders with the layout button on the right of the toolbar

3. Disable Files settings > Layout > Sync layout and sorting preferences across directories
4. Set the layout changes you want in the downloads folder using the layout button on the right of the toolbar.