Outlook 365: Folder sorting resets automatically to A–Z
Outlook 365 – Folder sorting resets automatically Environment: - Outlook desktop app (Microsoft 365) - Exchange / Office 365 mailbox - Dark mode enabled - Multiple shared mailboxes Problem description: Outlook automatically changes the folder sorting/display settings without user action. The option “Sort subfolders A to Z” reactivates randomly during the day. The configured sorting (e.g., Received – Descending) resets several times per day. In View Settings, the sorting remains configured correctly, but visually Outlook displays a different order. The issue occurs across multiple folders (Inbox, shared mailboxes). Actions already taken: - Verified and modified sorting via View > View Settings > Sort. - Applied the same view to multiple folders. - Confirmed that the settings remain saved correctly. - Issue persists: the parameter stays the same, but Outlook displays mails differently after refresh. Possible causes considered: 1. Outlook bug – display refresh resets the sorting visually even though settings remain unchanged. 2. Corrupted Outlook views – local view definition might be corrupted (outlook.exe /cleanviews). 3. Outlook add-in – third-party add-in may override sorting. 4. Exchange synchronization – server-side policy may enforce default sorting on shared mailboxes. 5. Recent Microsoft 365 updates – some users have reported similar issues in 2025 (views automatically resetting). Request: - Confirm whether this is a known Outlook 365 bug related to automatic resetting of folder views/sorting. - Provide solution or patch/workaround. - Official Microsoft recommendations to prevent Outlook from reverting to A → Z sorting automatically.
