Users are experiencing a bug where clicking a sidebar link to /latest?order=created prevents switching back to the default /latest (activity-sorted) view, even when the “Link to the filtered list” preference is disabled. Damian_Boon first reported the issue, noting that manually editing the Latest Topics link to / breaks visual indicators like the new posts dot. tobiaseigen initially couldn’t reproduce it but later confirmed the bug after testing the exact scenario: clicking the custom sidebar link and then attempting to return via the default Topics link fails to reset the order=created parameter. Moin identifies this as part of a broader issue — sidebar links don’t clear prior query parameters, making filters “sticky” across topic lists, group pages, and review queues. While this behavior may be intentional for /filter routes, it’s confusing in contexts like /latest or /c/category. Moin references prior reports of similar sticky parameter behavior (e.g., ?status=deleted, ?order=votes) and notes the user directory (/u) is the only exception, resetting filters correctly. The issue is confirmed as a bug and may relate to this older thread.
I am trying to show a page of latest posts (by created date) in the sidebar i followed the recommendation in this post thanks to @th21
I added a link with /latest?order=created
and it works, however I cannot switch back to latest activity (which is the homepage). Is there a better way of achieving this? or is this a bug?
I tried to fix this by editing the Latest topics link to / which works but breaks the ability to show the new posts dot next to it and the text being highlighted
Were you able to figure this out in the end? I am not entirely sure I understand the problem you are describing. If you still have a problem could you share a short screencast demonstrating it, or show me a link (feel free to chat it at me) so I can try it for myself?
Nope still exists, add a link with /latest?order=created then try get back to latest topics
Hmm.. I don’t have repro. I created a custom section here on meta with /latest and /latest?order=created and am able to click between them.
Ah! I see it now. It’s the default link to latest which you can’t switch back to. This is a Contribute > Bug! Nice catch.
Repro steps:
/latest?order=created/latest/latest?order=created sidebar item/Latest and it will not switch backPossible related bug: "Latest" on forum home displays last column sort
To me, that feels like another occurrence of the problem that links in the sidebar do not remove any prior query parameters.
When I add two links with different parameters, it works. For example, /latest?order=activity and /latest?order=created. But topics takes me to the list as I had ordered it before. So when I start at /latest?order=created, go to /c/support/6 and use “topics” from the sidebar to get back to latest the “order=created” parameter is still there.
Last year, I reported the parameter being sticky when the group page was filtered for a username.
In his reply, Jammy mentioned that he noticed it on ?status=deleted, and I mentioned ?order=votes.
I also mentioned sticky filters here
I see why one might say it’s a feature for the /filter route. Maybe it’s helpful that what you had filtered before is still there when you use the filter link in the sidebar later. But in the context of topic lists like /latest or the group list or the review queue, I think this is confusing. I don’t want a filtered group list, and I don’t want a filtered review queue after using the link in the sidebar.
The user directory is the only exception I can think of that, even if you leave it on /u?order=post_count&period=daily, opens on /u?order=likes_received when you use the link in the sidebar.