By default, Windows 11 heavily micromanages your Downloads folder. Instead of simply listing your files alphabetically, it forcefully groups them into annoying categories like “Today,” “Earlier this week,” and “Last month.” Finding a specific file is incredibly frustrating because you have to remember exactly when you downloaded it, rather than just looking for its name. Thankfully, you can turn this grouping feature off.
How to Remove Date Grouping
You can revert the Downloads folder back to a standard, unified list with just three clicks.
- Open File Explorer and navigate to your Downloads folder.
- Look at the command bar along the top of the window and click on the Sort button (it has an icon with an up and down arrow).
- A dropdown menu will appear. Scroll down to the bottom of the menu and hover your mouse over the Group by option.
- A secondary menu will slide out to the right. Currently, “Date modified” will have a checkmark next to it.
- Click on (None) at the very top of that secondary list.
The annoying date headers will instantly vanish. All your downloaded files will immediately snap together into one continuous block. If you want them sorted alphabetically, simply click the Sort button one more time and select Name. Your Downloads folder will now behave exactly like every other standard folder in Windows 11.