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How to change the sort by for folders to type, because I want folders to be shown first and then files by name. When I sort by type, I get the result I want, but I need to change this for all my folders.

How can I change the default preference to sort by: type, so every folder will by default be sorted by type? I tried with dconf-editor, then org > gnome > nautilus > preferences and tried to choose type in default-sort-order, but I can only select modification_date, not by type.

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5 Answers 5

Reset to default
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On Nemo (a recent fork of nautilus), I have the following in the menu :

  1. Edit > Preferences
  2. then on the Views tab
    • I got a section called Default View
    • with a line Arrange items, there is a select where I can choose the default sort order

Screenshot

http://imgur.com/OO2lMIz

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  • It says installing Nemo will install Cinnamon too (webupd8.org/2012/12/how-to-install-nemo-file-manager-in.html). I wouldn't like to change anything now, if there is a solution without changes :)
    – bosniamaj
    Feb 8, 2013 at 15:29
  • I never meant you to install Nemo, just show you the option exist in recent version. Which ubuntu and nautilus version do you use ? Add it to the question/description
    – Édouard Lopez
    Feb 8, 2013 at 15:31
  • 1
    got similar settings on a nautilus 3.4.2. Did you close your nautilus and open it back ?
    – Édouard Lopez
    Feb 8, 2013 at 15:39
  • Yes, I am a noob to the Ubuntu, sorry. I found the preference > default view. I didn't see it in the top bar, instead I was trying dconf-editor :(
    – bosniamaj
    Feb 8, 2013 at 16:20
  • Thanks a lot! This has been bugging me for a long time.. Why isn't this the default?!
    – tsauerwein
    Aug 9, 2014 at 12:03
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Determine the current default value of Nautilus sort order using gsettings

gsettings get org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-sort-order

Then change/set it to 'type'

gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-sort-order 'type'

The change happens instantly

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  • Change type to mtime to sort by Last Modified. You can also set default-sort-in-reverse-order to true to sort in reverse order.
    – passerby51
    Nov 24, 2021 at 21:22
13

update February 2017:

nautilus now has a configuration option to sort directories first (I think since 3.14 or so) so I recommend using that instead of changing the default sort order. It is literally the first item in GUI preferences.

initial post from May 2014

I see the same problems on Fedora 18 (using the same versions).

The first attempt using dconf directly via the command line does not work for me:

$ dconf write /org/gnome/nautilus/preferences/default-sort-order type
error: 0-4:unknown keyword

Now gsettings to the rescue:

$ gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-sort-order type

I'm not sure why dconf does not accept 'type' as a valid value even though dconf-editor explicitely lists it in the help text but gsettings works for me just fine.

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  • 4
    Set by "modification time" using gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-sort-order mtime
    – Dave
    May 21, 2013 at 23:09
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    user274121 added this explanation: "the quotes need to be passed to dconf" so dconf write /org/gnome/nautilus/preferences/default-sort-order \'type\' would be the correct call.
    – Felix Schwarz
    May 5, 2014 at 8:29
  • 2021 - None of the answers seem to work.
    – Uzumaki D. Ichigo
    Oct 6, 2021 at 19:14
3

Change the reverse sort order settings for files(nautilus)/nemo on Ubuntu 14.04:

gsettings list-recursively | grep reverse

...

gsettings set org.nemo.preferences default-sort-in-reverse-order true    
gsettings set org.gnome.nautilus.preferences default-sort-in-reverse-order true
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1

In preferences -> Views -> Arrange Items

It has got 'By Type' in the drop down list.

If you can't see preferences in gnome-shell, click on the nautilus icon in the top panel

enter image description here

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