diff --git a/static/js/components/controls/PageControls.js b/static/js/components/controls/PageControls.js
index 849e256a..81daf0b1 100644
--- a/static/js/components/controls/PageControls.js
+++ b/static/js/components/controls/PageControls.js
@@ -316,7 +316,12 @@ export class PageControls {
      * Load sort preference from storage
      */
     loadSortPreference() {
-        const savedSort = getStorageItem(`${this.pageType}_sort`);
+        // Use separate keys for grouped vs non-grouped sort so each mode
+        // remembers its own preference independently
+        const key = state.global.settings.group_by_model
+            ? `${this.pageType}_sort_grouped`
+            : `${this.pageType}_sort`;
+        const savedSort = getStorageItem(key);
         if (savedSort) {
             // Handle legacy format conversion
             const convertedSort = this.convertLegacySortFormat(savedSort);
@@ -360,7 +365,11 @@ export class PageControls {
             };
             return;
         }
-        setStorageItem(`${this.pageType}_sort`, sortValue);
+        // Separate storage for grouped vs non-grouped sort
+        const key = state.global.settings.group_by_model
+            ? `${this.pageType}_sort_grouped`
+            : `${this.pageType}_sort`;
+        setStorageItem(key, sortValue);
     }
     
     /**
@@ -555,37 +564,28 @@ export class PageControls {
 
     /**
      * Called when group_by_model is toggled.
-     * Saves current sort when entering grouped mode, restores normal sort
-     * when leaving — prevents "Most versions first" persisting after exit.
+     * Swaps between {pageType}_sort (non-group) and {pageType}_sort_grouped,
+     * so each mode remembers its own sort preference independently.
      */
     onGroupByModelToggled(isEnabled) {
-        const normalKey = `${this.pageType}_sort_normal`;
         const groupedKey = `${this.pageType}_sort_grouped`;
 
         if (isEnabled) {
-            // Entering group mode: save current sort for later restoration
-            setStorageItem(normalKey, this.pageState.sortBy);
-            // Restore previously saved grouped sort, if any
+            // Entering group mode: restore last-used grouped sort, if any
             const savedGroupedSort = getStorageItem(groupedKey);
             if (savedGroupedSort) {
                 this.pageState.sortBy = savedGroupedSort;
-                this.saveSortPreference(savedGroupedSort);
                 const sortSelect = document.getElementById('sortSelect');
                 if (sortSelect) {
                     sortSelect.value = savedGroupedSort;
                 }
             }
         } else {
-            // Leaving group mode: save current grouped sort aside, restore normal
-            const currentSort = this.pageState.sortBy;
-            if (currentSort && currentSort.startsWith('versions_count')) {
-                setStorageItem(groupedKey, currentSort);
-            }
-            const savedNormalSort = getStorageItem(normalKey);
+            // Leaving group mode: persist current sort for next time, restore non-group sort
+            setStorageItem(groupedKey, this.pageState.sortBy);
+            const savedNormalSort = getStorageItem(`${this.pageType}_sort`);
             if (savedNormalSort) {
-                removeStorageItem(normalKey);
                 this.pageState.sortBy = savedNormalSort;
-                this.saveSortPreference(savedNormalSort);
                 const sortSelect = document.getElementById('sortSelect');
                 if (sortSelect) {
                     sortSelect.value = savedNormalSort;
diff --git a/static/js/recipes.js b/static/js/recipes.js
index 2b96f2e1..b36bd2ea 100644
--- a/static/js/recipes.js
+++ b/static/js/recipes.js
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ import { ImportManager } from './managers/ImportManager.js';
 import { BatchImportManager } from './managers/BatchImportManager.js';
 import { RecipeModal } from './components/RecipeModal.js';
 import { state, getCurrentPageState } from './state/index.js';
-import { getSessionItem, removeSessionItem } from './utils/storageHelpers.js';
+import { getStorageItem, setStorageItem, getSessionItem, removeSessionItem } from './utils/storageHelpers.js';
 import { RecipeContextMenu } from './components/ContextMenu/index.js';
 import { DuplicatesManager } from './components/DuplicatesManager.js';
 import { refreshVirtualScroll } from './utils/infiniteScroll.js';
@@ -237,13 +237,18 @@ class RecipeManager {
     }
 
     initEventListeners() {
-        // Sort select
+        // Sort select — load saved preference, persist on change
         const sortSelect = document.getElementById('sortSelect');
         if (sortSelect) {
+            const savedSort = getStorageItem('recipes_sort');
+            if (savedSort) {
+                this.pageState.sortBy = savedSort;
+            }
             initSortDropdown(sortSelect);
             sortSelect.value = this.pageState.sortBy || 'date:desc';
             sortSelect.addEventListener('change', () => {
                 this.pageState.sortBy = sortSelect.value;
+                setStorageItem('recipes_sort', sortSelect.value);
                 refreshVirtualScroll();
             });
         }