To keep folders above ordinary files in a Mac Finder window, sort the window by Name and enable the Finder setting for keeping folders on top when sorting by name. This changes how the listing is presented; it does not move documents into folders, create copies, or rename anything.
The important qualification is the sort order. Apple’s folders-first option specifically applies when sorting by name. If a window is arranged by a date or divided into groups, do not assume it will look like one simple alphabetical list with every folder first.
Start with a known folder and a simple view
Open Finder and navigate to an ordinary folder containing both folders and files. Documents is a useful starting point if you know what should be there. Avoid beginning with a search-results window, where the results can span multiple locations and make the effect harder to judge.
Switch to List view using the view controls at the top of the window. List view makes the ordering visible because each item occupies a row. Note the existing sort column and direction before changing anything, especially if a shared support procedure expects a particular presentation.
As a hypothetical example, imagine a folder containing a folder named Projects, a folder named Receipts, and a document named Agenda.pdf. A single alphabetical list can place Agenda.pdf above both folders. Folders-first presentation is intended to separate that folder block from the ordinary files without changing their actual locations.
Enable the folders-first setting
- With Finder active, open Finder > Settings from the menu bar.
- Select Advanced.
- Under Keep folders on top, select In windows when sorting by name.
- Return to your test folder and choose Name as the sorting field.
Apple documents this setting in its Finder sorting and arranging instructions. Labels can differ across macOS versions, so use Apple’s version selector if your menus do not match the current guide.
In List view, clicking the Name column sorts by that column; clicking it again reverses the direction. Alternatively, choose View > Show View Options and inspect the Sort By menu. Use the visible ordering to confirm which direction you selected rather than relying on the appearance of an unfamiliar arrow.
If the folders still look scattered, check grouping
Sorting and grouping solve different presentation problems. Sorting defines an order, while grouping divides the display into sections such as dates or kinds. A grouped window may therefore be inconvenient when your goal is one continuous folders-first name list.
Inspect the grouping control in the Finder toolbar or its corresponding View menu options. For a plain comparison, turn grouping off where offered, then sort by Name again. Do not drag items between sections as a troubleshooting step: that is unnecessary for changing the presentation and risks an unintended file operation.
Also check that you are looking at the same folder where you changed the ordering. Apple notes that a folder’s sorting and arranging settings apply until changed. A different folder may use a different presentation, so an apparent inconsistency does not establish file damage or missing documents.
Verify the result without reorganising your data
- Confirm that the known folders now form the first block in the name-sorted listing.
- Check that the expected documents remain visible after the folder block.
- Open one familiar folder to confirm that its contents are still where expected.
- Return to the parent and verify the location rather than assuming the first row is the newest item.
If you need to document the actual location of a file for another person, use the separate Finder path-bar workflow. A display position is not a path, and folders-first sorting does not tell a colleague where an item is stored.
Quick questions and undo checklist
Does this make a backup? No. It is a viewing preference, not duplication, synchronization, or recovery protection.
Why did a date-sorted window behave differently? The documented folders-on-top setting is conditional on sorting by name. Choose the sort field that suits the current task rather than expecting both arrangements to mean the same thing.
How do I undo it? Clear the same checkbox in Finder Settings, then restore the folder’s original sort field, direction, and grouping if you changed them. No file restoration should be needed for a view-only adjustment.
This tutorial is for educational purposes. Test changes carefully before using them in production workflows. The site owner is not responsible for misuse, damage, data loss, or production issues. Keep normal backups before performing any separate move, rename, or deletion operation.
