Default Sort Ascend
This plugin changes the default order of queries generating posts from descending to ascending.
Use with caution
Default Sort Ascend works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 400+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
- Small user base (400+ active installs)
- Only tested up to WordPress 6.9 (latest is 7.1)
Daily downloads
Download spikes usually follow a new release — each site that auto-updates counts as a download.
Rankings
Where Default Sort Ascend stands todayWordPress.org search rankings
Live position in the plugin search, top 100| Keyword | Position |
|---|---|
| ascending | #12 |
| chronological | #7 |
| order | >100 |
| reverse | #25 |
| sort | #5 |
Version adoption
Share of active sites per release.
Rating breakdown
★★★★★★★★★★ 4.9 from 7 reviews
About Default Sort Ascend
From the official readme · v0.9Description
By default, the sort order for queries in WordPress is descending. This will produce posts in reverse chronological order, the desired result for most blogs.
In some cases, it may be desirable to have posts in ascending order. When activated, this plugin changes the default order from descending to ascending. This affects all queries (home page, archives, dates, etc). Deactivating the plugin returns the default order to descending.
IF YOU DON’T LIKE THE RESULT, IT’S THE THEME
How well this works out varies from theme to theme. Depending on a theme’s navigation labels for posts, things may or may not make sense. If labels are “Earlier” and “Later”, things will seem backwards. Some themes make sense either way. For example, in the “Twenty Fifteen” theme, “Previous” is above “Next”, suggesting list order rather than time.
Installation
From your WordPress dashboard:
Visit ‘Plugins > Add New’
Search for ‘Default-Sort-Ascend’
Activate from your Plugins page.
From WordPress.org:
Download Default-Sort-Ascend.
Upload ‘default_sort_ascend.php’ to the ‘/wp-content/plugins/’ directory.
Activate from your Plugins page.
When the plug-in is activated, it the default order becomes ascending.
When the plug-in is deactivated, the default sort order reverts to the default, descending.
For developers
Is this your plugin? Show off the numbers.
Add a live badge to your site, docs or GitHub README. It updates on its own — no account needed.
FAQ
Default Sort Ascend: quick answers
Straight answers, pulled from live WordPress.org data.
Live data from WordPress.org · checked Sep 28, 2026
Is Default Sort Ascend free?
Yes. Default Sort Ascend is free to download and use from the official WordPress.org plugin directory.
Is Default Sort Ascend safe to use in 2026?
Default Sort Ascend works, but test it on a staging site before relying on it in 2026. It runs on 400+ sites, is rated 4.9/5 and was last updated 6 months ago, and scores 60/100 on our health check.
How many websites use Default Sort Ascend?
Default Sort Ascend is active on 400+ WordPress websites and has been downloaded 14,664 times since it launched in September 2007. It was downloaded 134 times in the last 30 days.
Does Default Sort Ascend work with WordPress 7.1?
Default Sort Ascend is officially tested up to WordPress 6.9.9, while the latest release is 7.1.2. It may still work, but try it on a staging site first.
When was Default Sort Ascend last updated?
The latest version, 0.9, was released on April 1, 2026 (6 months ago).
Who makes Default Sort Ascend?
Default Sort Ascend is developed and maintained by rdsteed.
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