[UX] Dashboard utilities sorting (#42065)

## Summary of the Pull Request

This PR adds a sorting button to the module list so it can be sorted
alphabetically (default) or by status.

Fixes: #41837

<img width="760" height="933" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/69c831a9-ae9e-4849-b630-772d03e4a4b1"
/>


@yeelam-gordon When running the runner, I do see the settings value is
being updated. But when running the runner again the setting doesn't
seem to be saved? Is that because of a bug in my implementation, or am I
testing it wrong :)?

<img width="286" height="86" alt="image"
src="https://github.com/user-attachments/assets/3a90997f-c40c-4f50-8361-b1ae3aa02052"
/>



<!-- Please review the items on the PR checklist before submitting-->
## PR Checklist

- [x] Closes: #xxx
- [ ] **Communication:** I've discussed this with core contributors
already. If the work hasn't been agreed, this work might be rejected
- [ ] **Tests:** Added/updated and all pass
- [ ] **Localization:** All end-user-facing strings can be localized
- [ ] **Dev docs:** Added/updated
- [ ] **New binaries:** Added on the required places
- [ ] [JSON for
signing](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ESRPSigning_core.json)
for new binaries
- [ ] [WXS for
installer](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/installer/PowerToysSetup/Product.wxs)
for new binaries and localization folder
- [ ] [YML for CI
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/ci/templates/build-powertoys-steps.yml)
for new test projects
- [ ] [YML for signed
pipeline](https://github.com/microsoft/PowerToys/blob/main/.pipelines/release.yml)
- [ ] **Documentation updated:** If checked, please file a pull request
on [our docs
repo](https://github.com/MicrosoftDocs/windows-uwp/tree/docs/hub/powertoys)
and link it here: #xxx

<!-- Provide a more detailed description of the PR, other things fixed,
or any additional comments/features here -->
## Detailed Description of the Pull Request / Additional comments

<!-- Describe how you validated the behavior. Add automated tests
wherever possible, but list manual validation steps taken as well -->
## Validation Steps Performed

---------

Signed-off-by: Shawn Yuan (from Dev Box) <shuaiyuan@microsoft.com>
Co-authored-by: Shawn Yuan (from Dev Box) <shuaiyuan@microsoft.com>

src/runner/general_settings.cpp

@@ -35,6 +35,31 @@ namespace
         ensure_ignored_conflict_properties_shape(obj);
         return obj;
     }
+
+    DashboardSortOrder parse_dashboard_sort_order(const json::JsonObject& obj, DashboardSortOrder fallback)
+    {
+        if (json::has(obj, L"dashboard_sort_order", json::JsonValueType::Number))
+        {
+            const auto raw_value = static_cast<int>(obj.GetNamedNumber(L"dashboard_sort_order", static_cast<double>(static_cast<int>(fallback))));
+            return raw_value == static_cast<int>(DashboardSortOrder::ByStatus) ? DashboardSortOrder::ByStatus : DashboardSortOrder::Alphabetical;
+        }
+
+        if (json::has(obj, L"dashboard_sort_order", json::JsonValueType::String))
+        {
+            const auto raw = obj.GetNamedString(L"dashboard_sort_order");
+            if (raw == L"ByStatus")
+            {
+                return DashboardSortOrder::ByStatus;
+            }
+
+            if (raw == L"Alphabetical")
+            {
+                return DashboardSortOrder::Alphabetical;
+            }
+        }
+
+        return fallback;
+    }
 }
 
 // TODO: would be nice to get rid of these globals, since they're basically cached json settings
@@ -46,6 +71,7 @@ static bool download_updates_automatically = true;
 static bool show_whats_new_after_updates = true;
 static bool enable_experimentation = true;
 static bool enable_warnings_elevated_apps = true;
+static DashboardSortOrder dashboard_sort_order = DashboardSortOrder::Alphabetical;
 static json::JsonObject ignored_conflict_properties = create_default_ignored_conflict_properties();
 
 json::JsonObject GeneralSettings::to_json()
@@ -75,6 +101,7 @@ json::JsonObject GeneralSettings::to_json()
     result.SetNamedValue(L"download_updates_automatically", json::value(downloadUpdatesAutomatically));
     result.SetNamedValue(L"show_whats_new_after_updates", json::value(showWhatsNewAfterUpdates));
     result.SetNamedValue(L"enable_experimentation", json::value(enableExperimentation));
+    result.SetNamedValue(L"dashboard_sort_order", json::value(static_cast<int>(dashboardSortOrder)));
     result.SetNamedValue(L"is_admin", json::value(isAdmin));
     result.SetNamedValue(L"enable_warnings_elevated_apps", json::value(enableWarningsElevatedApps));
     result.SetNamedValue(L"theme", json::value(theme));
@@ -99,6 +126,7 @@ json::JsonObject load_general_settings()
     show_whats_new_after_updates = loaded.GetNamedBoolean(L"show_whats_new_after_updates", true);
     enable_experimentation = loaded.GetNamedBoolean(L"enable_experimentation", true);
     enable_warnings_elevated_apps = loaded.GetNamedBoolean(L"enable_warnings_elevated_apps", true);
+    dashboard_sort_order = parse_dashboard_sort_order(loaded, dashboard_sort_order);
 
     if (json::has(loaded, L"ignored_conflict_properties", json::JsonValueType::Object))
     {
@@ -128,6 +156,7 @@ GeneralSettings get_general_settings()
         .downloadUpdatesAutomatically = download_updates_automatically && is_user_admin,
         .showWhatsNewAfterUpdates = show_whats_new_after_updates,
         .enableExperimentation = enable_experimentation,
+    .dashboardSortOrder = dashboard_sort_order,
         .theme = settings_theme,
         .systemTheme = WindowsColors::is_dark_mode() ? L"dark" : L"light",
         .powerToysVersion = get_product_version(),
@@ -159,6 +188,7 @@ void apply_general_settings(const json::JsonObject& general_configs, bool save)
     show_whats_new_after_updates = general_configs.GetNamedBoolean(L"show_whats_new_after_updates", true);
 
     enable_experimentation = general_configs.GetNamedBoolean(L"enable_experimentation", true);
+    dashboard_sort_order = parse_dashboard_sort_order(general_configs, dashboard_sort_order);
 
     // apply_general_settings is called by the runner's WinMain, so we can just force the run at startup gpo rule here.
     auto gpo_run_as_startup = powertoys_gpo::getConfiguredRunAtStartupValue();

src/runner/general_settings.h

@@ -2,6 +2,12 @@
 
 #include <common/utils/json.h>
 
+enum class DashboardSortOrder
+{
+    Alphabetical = 0,
+    ByStatus = 1,
+};
+
 struct GeneralSettings
 {
     bool isStartupEnabled;
@@ -16,6 +22,7 @@ struct GeneralSettings
     bool downloadUpdatesAutomatically;
     bool showWhatsNewAfterUpdates;
     bool enableExperimentation;
+    DashboardSortOrder dashboardSortOrder;
     std::wstring theme;
     std::wstring systemTheme;
     std::wstring powerToysVersion;

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI.Library/GeneralSettings.cs

@@ -13,6 +13,12 @@ using Settings.UI.Library.Attributes;
 
 namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
 {
+    public enum DashboardSortOrder
+    {
+        Alphabetical,
+        ByStatus,
+    }
+
     public class GeneralSettings : ISettingsConfig
     {
         // Gets or sets a value indicating whether run powertoys on start-up.
@@ -76,6 +82,9 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
         [JsonPropertyName("enable_experimentation")]
         public bool EnableExperimentation { get; set; }
 
+        [JsonPropertyName("dashboard_sort_order")]
+        public DashboardSortOrder DashboardSortOrder { get; set; }
+
         [JsonPropertyName("ignored_conflict_properties")]
         public ShortcutConflictProperties IgnoredConflictProperties { get; set; }
 
@@ -89,6 +98,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Library
             ShowNewUpdatesToastNotification = true;
             AutoDownloadUpdates = false;
             EnableExperimentation = true;
+            DashboardSortOrder = DashboardSortOrder.Alphabetical;
             Theme = "system";
             SystemTheme = "light";
             try

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI/Converters/EnumToBooleanConverter.cs

@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+// Copyright (c) Microsoft Corporation
+// The Microsoft Corporation licenses this file to you under the MIT license.
+// See the LICENSE file in the project root for more information.
+
+using System;
+using Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Data;
+
+namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Converters
+{
+    public partial class EnumToBooleanConverter : IValueConverter
+    {
+        public object Convert(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
+        {
+            if (value == null || parameter == null)
+            {
+                return false;
+            }
+
+            // Get the enum value as string
+            var enumString = value.ToString();
+            var parameterString = parameter.ToString();
+
+            return enumString.Equals(parameterString, StringComparison.OrdinalIgnoreCase);
+        }
+
+        public object ConvertBack(object value, Type targetType, object parameter, string language)
+        {
+            throw new NotImplementedException();
+        }
+    }
+}

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI/SettingsXAML/Views/DashboardPage.xaml

@@ -19,6 +19,7 @@
             x:Key="ModuleItemTemplateSelector"
             ActivationTemplate="{StaticResource ModuleItemActivationTemplate}"
             ShortcutTemplate="{StaticResource ModuleItemShortcutTemplate}" />
+        <converters:EnumToBooleanConverter x:Key="EnumToBooleanConverter" />
         <DataTemplate x:Key="ModuleItemShortcutTemplate" x:DataType="viewmodels:DashboardModuleShortcutItem">
             <Grid MinHeight="36" ColumnSpacing="12">
                 <Grid.ColumnDefinitions>
@@ -276,9 +277,36 @@
                         Padding="0"
                         VerticalAlignment="Top"
                         DividerVisibility="Collapsed">
+                        <controls:Card.TitleContent>
+                            <Button
+                                x:Uid="Dashboard_SortBy"
+                                Margin="0,0,4,0"
+                                VerticalAlignment="Center"
+                                Style="{StaticResource SubtleButtonStyle}">
+                                <ToolTipService.ToolTip>
+                                    <TextBlock x:Uid="Dashboard_SortBy_ToolTip" />
+                                </ToolTipService.ToolTip>
+                                <Button.Content>
+                                    <FontIcon FontSize="16" Glyph="&#xE8CB;" />
+                                </Button.Content>
+                                <Button.Flyout>
+                                    <MenuFlyout>
+                                        <ToggleMenuFlyoutItem
+                                            x:Uid="Dashboard_SortAlphabetical"
+                                            Click="SortAlphabetical_Click"
+                                            IsChecked="{x:Bind ViewModel.DashboardSortOrder, Mode=OneWay, Converter={StaticResource EnumToBooleanConverter}, ConverterParameter=Alphabetical}" />
+                                        <ToggleMenuFlyoutItem
+                                            x:Uid="Dashboard_SortByStatus"
+                                            Click="SortByStatus_Click"
+                                            IsChecked="{x:Bind ViewModel.DashboardSortOrder, Mode=OneWay, Converter={StaticResource EnumToBooleanConverter}, ConverterParameter=ByStatus}" />
+                                    </MenuFlyout>
+                                </Button.Flyout>
+                            </Button>
+                        </controls:Card.TitleContent>
+
                         <ItemsRepeater
                             x:Name="DashboardView"
-                            Grid.Row="2"
+                            Grid.Row="1"
                             ItemsSource="{x:Bind ViewModel.AllModules, Mode=OneWay}">
                             <ItemsRepeater.Layout>
                                 <StackLayout Orientation="Vertical" Spacing="0" />

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI/SettingsXAML/Views/DashboardPage.xaml.cs

@@ -66,5 +66,15 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.Views
 
             App.GetOobeWindow().Activate();
         }
+
+        private void SortAlphabetical_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+        {
+            ViewModel.DashboardSortOrder = DashboardSortOrder.Alphabetical;
+        }
+
+        private void SortByStatus_Click(object sender, RoutedEventArgs e)
+        {
+            ViewModel.DashboardSortOrder = DashboardSortOrder.ByStatus;
+        }
     }
 }

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI/Strings/en-us/Resources.resw

@@ -2999,7 +2999,7 @@ Right-click to remove the key combination, thereby deactivating the shortcut.</v
     <value>Crosshairs fixed length (px)</value>
     <comment>px = pixels</comment>
   </data>
-	<data name="MouseUtils_MousePointerCrosshairs_CrosshairsOrientation.Header" xml:space="preserve">
+  <data name="MouseUtils_MousePointerCrosshairs_CrosshairsOrientation.Header" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Crosshairs orientation</value>
   </data>
   <data name="MouseUtils_MousePointerCrosshairs_CrosshairsOrientation_Both.Content" xml:space="preserve">
@@ -4462,6 +4462,18 @@ Activate by holding the key for the character you want to add an accent to, then
   <data name="Shell_Dashboard.Content" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Home</value>
   </data>
+  <data name="Dashboard_SortBy_ToolTip.Text" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Sort utilities</value>
+  </data>
+  <data name="Dashboard_SortAlphabetical.Text" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Alphabetically</value>
+  </data>
+  <data name="Dashboard_SortByStatus.Text" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>By status</value>
+  </data>
+  <data name="Dashboard_SortBy.[using:Microsoft.UI.Xaml.Automation]AutomationProperties.Name" xml:space="preserve">
+    <value>Sort utilities</value>
+  </data>
   <data name="Peek_Preview_GroupSettings.Header" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Preview</value>
   </data>
@@ -4770,7 +4782,7 @@ Copy a zoomed screen with Ctrl+C or save it by typing Ctrl+S. Crop the copy or s
   </data>
   <data name="ZoomIt_Toggle_SmoothZoomedImage.Header" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Smooth zoomed image</value>
-  </data>  
+  </data>
   <data name="ZoomIt_Slider_InitialMagnification.Header" xml:space="preserve">
     <value>Specify the initial level of magnification when zooming in</value>
   </data>

src/settings-ui/Settings.UI/ViewModels/DashboardViewModel.cs

@@ -62,6 +62,23 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.ViewModels
             }
         }
 
+        private DashboardSortOrder _dashboardSortOrder = DashboardSortOrder.Alphabetical;
+
+        public DashboardSortOrder DashboardSortOrder
+        {
+            get => generalSettingsConfig.DashboardSortOrder;
+            set
+            {
+                if (Set(ref _dashboardSortOrder, value))
+                {
+                    generalSettingsConfig.DashboardSortOrder = value;
+                    OutGoingGeneralSettings outgoing = new OutGoingGeneralSettings(generalSettingsConfig);
+                    SendConfigMSG(outgoing.ToString());
+                    RefreshModuleList();
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
         private ISettingsRepository<GeneralSettings> _settingsRepository;
         private GeneralSettings generalSettingsConfig;
         private Windows.ApplicationModel.Resources.ResourceLoader resourceLoader = Helpers.ResourceLoaderInstance.ResourceLoader;
@@ -73,14 +90,13 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.ViewModels
             generalSettingsConfig = settingsRepository.SettingsConfig;
             generalSettingsConfig.AddEnabledModuleChangeNotification(ModuleEnabledChangedOnSettingsPage);
 
+            // Initialize dashboard sort order from settings
+            _dashboardSortOrder = generalSettingsConfig.DashboardSortOrder;
+
             // set the callback functions value to handle outgoing IPC message.
             SendConfigMSG = ipcMSGCallBackFunc;
 
-            foreach (ModuleType moduleType in Enum.GetValues<ModuleType>())
+            RefreshModuleList();
-            {
-                AddDashboardListItem(moduleType);
-            }
-
             GetShortcutModules();
         }
 
@@ -113,21 +129,39 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.ViewModels
             GlobalHotkeyConflictManager.Instance?.RequestAllConflicts();
         }
 
-        private void AddDashboardListItem(ModuleType moduleType)
+        private void RefreshModuleList()
         {
-            GpoRuleConfigured gpo = ModuleHelper.GetModuleGpoConfiguration(moduleType);
+            AllModules.Clear();
-            var newItem = new DashboardListItem()
+
+            var moduleItems = new List<DashboardListItem>();
+
+            foreach (ModuleType moduleType in Enum.GetValues<ModuleType>())
             {
-                Tag = moduleType,
+                GpoRuleConfigured gpo = ModuleHelper.GetModuleGpoConfiguration(moduleType);
-                Label = resourceLoader.GetString(ModuleHelper.GetModuleLabelResourceName(moduleType)),
+                var newItem = new DashboardListItem()
-                IsEnabled = gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Enabled || (gpo != GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled && ModuleHelper.GetIsModuleEnabled(generalSettingsConfig, moduleType)),
+                {
-                IsLocked = gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Enabled || gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled,
+                    Tag = moduleType,
-                Icon = ModuleHelper.GetModuleTypeFluentIconName(moduleType),
+                    Label = resourceLoader.GetString(ModuleHelper.GetModuleLabelResourceName(moduleType)),
-                DashboardModuleItems = GetModuleItems(moduleType),
+                    IsEnabled = gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Enabled || (gpo != GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled && ModuleHelper.GetIsModuleEnabled(generalSettingsConfig, moduleType)),
+                    IsLocked = gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Enabled || gpo == GpoRuleConfigured.Disabled,
+                    Icon = ModuleHelper.GetModuleTypeFluentIconName(moduleType),
+                    DashboardModuleItems = GetModuleItems(moduleType),
+                };
+                newItem.EnabledChangedCallback = EnabledChangedOnUI;
+                moduleItems.Add(newItem);
+            }
+
+            // Sort based on current sort order
+            var sortedItems = DashboardSortOrder switch
+            {
+                DashboardSortOrder.ByStatus => moduleItems.OrderByDescending(x => x.IsEnabled).ThenBy(x => x.Label),
+                _ => moduleItems.OrderBy(x => x.Label), // Default alphabetical
             };
 
-            AllModules.Add(newItem);
+            foreach (var item in sortedItems)
-            newItem.EnabledChangedCallback = EnabledChangedOnUI;
+            {
+                AllModules.Add(item);
+            }
         }
 
         private void EnabledChangedOnUI(DashboardListItem dashboardListItem)
@@ -149,6 +183,7 @@ namespace Microsoft.PowerToys.Settings.UI.ViewModels
         {
             try
             {
+                RefreshModuleList();
                 GetShortcutModules();
 
                 OnPropertyChanged(nameof(ShortcutModules));