# Sort Unread Messages According to Recency

**URL:** <https://forum.mattermost.com/t/sort-unread-messages-according-to-recency/7736>\
**Category:** Design Feedback Request\
**Created:** [July 23, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://forum.mattermost.com/t/sort-unread-messages-according-to-recency/7736 "2019-07-23T04:47:59Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 3\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ahmaddanial](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.mattermost.com/ahmaddanial/32/2938_2.png) [@ahmaddanial](https://forum.mattermost.com/u/ahmaddanial)\
**Post date:** [July 23, 2019, 4:47am UTC](https://forum.mattermost.com/t/sort-unread-messages-according-to-recency/7736/1 "2019-07-23T04:47:59Z")

</div>

**Problem Definition**

- The current behavior of the [Unread Message Indicator](https://docs.mattermost.com/help/getting-started/configuring-notifications.html#unread-messages-indicator) shows the unread messages in an alphabetical order by default regardless of the timing when the messages are received
- This can potentially cause an issue when a user is communicating with multiple users / channels at a time, not knowing which 1-1 / channel has the most recent unread message and which one to respond to first

**Suggested Solution**

Propose a new unread message indicator _feature_ that allow users to configure it to be sorted **alphabetically** or based on **recency**

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![nommaz](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.mattermost.com/nommaz/32/7162_2.png) [@nommaz](https://forum.mattermost.com/u/nommaz)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 3:58am UTC](https://forum.mattermost.com/t/sort-unread-messages-according-to-recency/7736/2 "2023-11-10T03:58:52Z")

</div>

Couldnt agree more. I am surprised this hasnt been picked up in all these years. I keep losing messages everyday

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![agnivade](https://sea2.discourse-cdn.com/flex020/user_avatar/forum.mattermost.com/agnivade/32/3846_2.png) [@agnivade](https://forum.mattermost.com/u/agnivade)\
**Post date:** [November 10, 2023, 7:33am UTC](https://forum.mattermost.com/t/sort-unread-messages-according-to-recency/7736/3 "2023-11-10T07:33:29Z")

</div>

Settings → Sidebar → Group unread channels separately

should always group unread channels by recency.