iOS 15 Notes Folder Sorting Options
With the release of iOS 15, Apple expanded the functionality of the Notes app by introducing granular, folder-specific sorting capabilities alongside automated Smart Folders. Prior to this update, sorting preferences were largely applied universally across the entire app. iOS 15 allows users to customize the view and order of notes on an individual folder basis, making organization more flexible and efficient.
Per-Folder Sorting Preferences
Instead of relying on global settings located in the main iOS Settings app, iOS 15 enables users to set distinct sorting rules for each individual folder directly inside the Notes interface. To change the order of a specific folder, open the folder, tap the More button (the three dots inside a circle), select Sort By, and choose a preferred method.
The available sorting criteria include:
- Date Edited: Orders notes based on when they were last modified (Newest to Oldest, or Oldest to Newest).
- Date Created: Arranges notes based on the original timestamp of creation (Newest to Oldest, or Oldest to Newest).
- Title: Organizes notes alphabetically or reverse-alphabetically (A to Z, or Z to A).
Setting one folder to sort alphabetically will no longer alter other folders configured to display notes by the most recently edited date.
Grouping Notes by Date
iOS 15 also introduced a toggle to Group by Date. When enabled within a folder sorted chronologically, the app automatically sections notes under headers such as "Today," "Yesterday," and "Previous 30 Days." This can be toggled on or off per folder depending on whether a segmented timeline view or a continuous list view is preferred.
Smart Folders and Tag-Based Sorting
Beyond manual folders, iOS 15 added Smart Folders,
which automate folder sorting entirely. Users can apply tags (e.g.,
#finance or #ideas) anywhere in the body of a
note. A Smart Folder can then be created to automatically aggregate and
sort every note containing specific tags, updating in real time as new
tagged notes are written.