12

Is there a way to sort Google Search results by date?

(I know how to limit the search to a particular time period.)

Improve this question

6 Answers 6

Reset to default
13
+50

Click 'Search tools' then select any date filter other than 'Any time'. Then click in the default 'Sorted by relevance' option and select 'Sorted by date'

Improve this answer
1
  • Thank you. I hadn't noticed that! Your answer motivated me to hunt around for a firefox add-on, and I found one that streamlines things almost as much as I was hoping: Shortcut Keys for Google Search.
    – aparente001
    Jul 22, 2015 at 3:08
8

No, you cannot change the sort order of Google Search results. The sort order is determined by Google's secret recipe.

All you can do is filter your search for specific time periods.

Improve this answer
2
4

Rubén and infrcl have good answers.

Here is one way you can sort by date, using Search Query Parameters.

Assume you want the last two years sorted by date.

  1. Search for your term, hit enter

enter image description here

  1. You will get a URL, which includes Search Query Params. Copy it.

enter image description here

  1. Append &tbs=qdr:y2,sbd:1 to your URL and hit Enter.

enter image description here

  1. Now you will have "Past 2 years" and "Sorted by Date"

enter image description here

tbs: It is a param that is like a container for params.Defines specific structure, such as key:value, and comma delineation between params. https://stenevang.wordpress.com/2013/02/22/google-search-url-request-parameters/

qdr: Similar to as_qdr(advanced search quick date range). Here you specify date range. qdr:y2 means, "search within the last two years". You can search by days using d, as in qdr:d10 to search within the last 10 days. Further instruction at https://developers.google.com/custom-search/docs/xml_results?hl=en#Advanced_Search_Query_Parameters

sbd: I believe this is a boolean for sort-by-date.

Improve this answer
3
  • Unfortunately this didn't work for me when I tried it.
    – aparente001
    Feb 11, 2016 at 14:29
  • @aparente001 Ok. Sorry about that, I figured this one out through experimentation and I don't think tbs is available in formal docs. However maybe I can help. What happens when you try? Can you send a sample URL thats not working? For instance https://www.google.com/search?q=cheese&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8 should become https://www.google.com/search?q=cheese&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&tbs=qdr:y2,sbd:1 and that works for me.
    – Daniel Dropik
    Feb 11, 2016 at 18:31
  • Tried it again and is working for me -- not sure what I was doing wrong before.
    – aparente001
    Jun 26, 2016 at 4:15
2

Short answer

Google Search doesn't include a way to sort unfiltered search results.

Alternatives

Google Search built-in filters

Filter results by any time filter. This will display several dropdowns. One of them if for sorting options including sorting by date. (see [4])

Google Custom Search

One alternative could be to create your own search engine with Google Custom Search as it allows to search the entire web and include results sorting.

References

  1. Custom Search Help
  2. Search the entire web - Custom Search Help
  3. Search Features > Sort results - Custom Search Help
  4. https://webapps.stackexchange.com/a/80376/88163
  5. Filter your search results - Search Help
Improve this answer
3
  • This sounds intriguing, @Rubén. How do I create my own search engine with Google Custom Search?
    – aparente001
    Jul 16, 2015 at 1:41
  • Please follow the first reference in my answer.
    – Rubén - Volunteer Moderator - ♦
    Jul 16, 2015 at 2:12
  • am I supposed to make a website that only I can see? Or what?
    – aparente001
    Jul 18, 2015 at 2:59
2

To add to https://webapps.stackexchange.com/a/89543 above, there is a hacky way to sort all Google search results from "Any time" by date so you get new results at top without using any time range.

Simply botch the qdr parameter by feeding it something other than what it expects like &tbs=qdr:X instead of &tbs=qdr:y2, &tbs=qdr:m1, &tbs=qdr:d30 or &tbs=qdr:w4 etc. Now Google will serve results that are sorted by date,newest first and date range will turn to 'Any time'.

Also I noticed that search results can be very inconsistent for a time range if it is defined differently say using &tbs=qdr:m1 instead of &tbs=qdr:d30.

Improve this answer
2
  • Sounds promising. Could you be very specific about how to set this up to work automatically? My desired end result is to type something into the search box (the address field in Firefox, actually), and for it to automatically give me the results in a sorted-by-date order. I don't know what you mean by "botch the parameter".
    – aparente001
    Aug 7, 2016 at 12:45
  • @aparente001 By botching I simply mean modifying the qdr value within URL to something unexpected like changing google.co.in/#q=some+document&tbs=qdr:w,sbd:1 to google.co.in/#q=some+document&tbs=qdr:X,sbd:1 To automate on Firefox you could create Smart Keyword search. I did it by going to URL google.co.in/#q=some+document&tbs=qdr:X,sbd:1 holding ctrl and right clicking on search field. In location bar I enter keyword+'My search string' and get sorted results from anytime! :)
    – Andy
    Aug 8, 2016 at 1:18
0

After limiting your search to a time period, change the option "Sorted by relevance" to "Sorted by date" below your search query.

Sorting is right next to the date range option.

Improve this answer
1
  • 1
    This was already posted a few days ago.
    – user79865
    Jul 20, 2015 at 23:24

Your Answer

By clicking “Post Your Answer”, you agree to our terms of service and acknowledge you have read our privacy policy.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged or ask your own question.