diff --git a/app/src/lib/app-state.ts b/app/src/lib/app-state.ts
index 94e642c2b6e..1dc87fedc4a 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/app-state.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/app-state.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,7 @@ import { IStashEntry } from '../models/stash-entry'
 import { TutorialStep } from '../models/tutorial-step'
 import { UncommittedChangesStrategy } from '../models/uncommitted-changes-strategy'
 import { ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting } from '../models/show-branch-name-in-repo-list'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../models/branch-sort-order'
 import { DragElement } from '../models/drag-drop'
 import { ILastThankYou } from '../models/last-thank-you'
 import {
@@ -398,6 +399,9 @@ export interface IAppState {
   /** Controls when to show the current branch name next to each repository in the repository list */
   readonly showBranchNameInRepoList: ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
 
+  /** Controls the sort order for branch lists in branch-selection views */
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
+
   /**
    * Cached repo rulesets. Used to prevent repeatedly querying the same
    * rulesets to check their bypass status.
diff --git a/app/src/lib/stores/app-store.ts b/app/src/lib/stores/app-store.ts
index c014f9722c1..8dcf31d256d 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/stores/app-store.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/stores/app-store.ts
@@ -182,6 +182,10 @@ import {
   defaultShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting,
   ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting,
 } from '../../models/show-branch-name-in-repo-list'
+import {
+  BranchSortOrder,
+  defaultBranchSortOrder,
+} from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import { WorkflowPreferences } from '../../models/workflow-preferences'
 import { TrashNameLabel } from '../../ui/lib/context-menu'
 import { getDefaultDir } from '../../ui/lib/default-dir'
@@ -494,6 +498,7 @@ export const showDiffCheckMarksDefault = true
 export const showDiffCheckMarksKey = 'diff-check-marks-visible'
 
 export const showBranchNameInRepoListKey = 'show-branch-name-in-repo-list'
+const branchSortOrderKey = 'branch-sort-order'
 
 const commitMessageGenerationDisclaimerLastSeenKey =
   'commit-message-generation-disclaimer-last-seen'
@@ -663,6 +668,8 @@ export class AppStore extends TypedBaseStore<IAppState> {
   private showBranchNameInRepoList: ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting =
     defaultShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
 
+  private branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder = defaultBranchSortOrder
+
   private cachedRepoRulesets = new Map<number, IAPIRepoRuleset>()
 
   private underlineLinks: boolean = underlineLinksDefault
@@ -1212,6 +1219,7 @@ export class AppStore extends TypedBaseStore<IAppState> {
       underlineLinks: this.underlineLinks,
       showDiffCheckMarks: this.showDiffCheckMarks,
       showBranchNameInRepoList: this.showBranchNameInRepoList,
+      branchSortOrder: this.branchSortOrder,
       updateState: updateStore.state,
       commitMessageGenerationDisclaimerLastSeen:
         this.commitMessageGenerationDisclaimerLastSeen,
@@ -2619,6 +2627,9 @@ export class AppStore extends TypedBaseStore<IAppState> {
       getEnum(showBranchNameInRepoListKey, ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting) ??
       defaultShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
 
+    this.branchSortOrder =
+      getEnum(branchSortOrderKey, BranchSortOrder) ?? defaultBranchSortOrder
+
     this.commitMessageGenerationDisclaimerLastSeen =
       getNumber(commitMessageGenerationDisclaimerLastSeenKey) ?? null
 
@@ -3929,7 +3940,9 @@ export class AppStore extends TypedBaseStore<IAppState> {
 
     // loadBranches needs the default remote to determine the default branch
     await gitStore.loadRemotes()
-    await gitStore.loadBranches()
+    await gitStore.loadBranches(
+      gitStore.getRecentBranchesLimit(this.branchSortOrder)
+    )
     await gitStore.loadWorktrees()
 
     const section = state.selectedSection
@@ -9202,6 +9215,23 @@ export class AppStore extends TypedBaseStore<IAppState> {
     }
   }
 
+  public _updateBranchSortOrder(branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder) {
+    if (branchSortOrder !== this.branchSortOrder) {
+      this.branchSortOrder = branchSortOrder
+      localStorage.setItem(branchSortOrderKey, branchSortOrder)
+      this.emitUpdate()
+
+      if (this.selectedRepository instanceof Repository) {
+        const gitStore = this.gitStoreCache.get(this.selectedRepository)
+        if (gitStore) {
+          void gitStore.loadBranches(
+            gitStore.getRecentBranchesLimit(branchSortOrder)
+          )
+        }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
   public _updateFileListFilter(
     repository: Repository,
     filterUpdate: Partial<IFileListFilterState>
diff --git a/app/src/lib/stores/git-store.ts b/app/src/lib/stores/git-store.ts
index 4358632e393..9dd73f0ac2d 100644
--- a/app/src/lib/stores/git-store.ts
+++ b/app/src/lib/stores/git-store.ts
@@ -105,6 +105,7 @@ import { findDefaultBranch } from '../find-default-branch'
 import { cleanUntrackedFiles } from '../git/clean'
 import { dotGitPath } from '../helpers/git-dir'
 import { normalizePath } from '../helpers/path'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 
 /** The number of commits to load from history per batch. */
 const CommitBatchSize = 100
@@ -112,8 +113,14 @@ const CommitBatchSizeSearch = 500
 
 const LoadingHistoryRequestKey = 'history'
 
-/** The max number of recent branches to find. */
-const RecentBranchesLimit = 5
+/**
+ * The max number of recent branches to include for non-alphabetic
+ * sorts where full "recent" list ordering is required.
+ */
+const RecentOptionsBranchLimit = 2500
+
+/** The max number of recent branches to include for alphabetic sort mode. */
+const AlphabetBranchRecentLimit = 5
 
 /** The store for a repository's git data. */
 export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
@@ -178,6 +185,12 @@ export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
     this._tagsToPush = getTagsToPush(repository)
   }
 
+  public getRecentBranchesLimit(branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder): number {
+    return branchSortOrder === BranchSortOrder.Alphabet
+      ? AlphabetBranchRecentLimit
+      : RecentOptionsBranchLimit
+  }
+
   /**
    * Reconcile the local history view with the repository state
    * after a pull has completed, to include merged remote commits.
@@ -398,14 +411,16 @@ export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
   }
 
   /** Load all the branches. */
-  public async loadBranches() {
+  public async loadBranches(
+    recentBranchesLimit: number = AlphabetBranchRecentLimit
+  ) {
     const [localAndRemoteBranches, recentBranchNames] = await Promise.all([
       this.performFailableOperation(() => getBranches(this.repository)) || [],
       this.performFailableOperation(() =>
         // Chances are that the recent branches list will contain the default
         // branch which we filter out in refreshRecentBranches. So grab one
         // more than we need to account for that.
-        getRecentBranches(this.repository, RecentBranchesLimit + 1)
+        getRecentBranches(this.repository, recentBranchesLimit + 1)
       ),
     ])
 
@@ -417,7 +432,7 @@ export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
 
     // refreshRecentBranches is dependent on having a default branch
     await this.refreshDefaultBranch()
-    this.refreshRecentBranches(recentBranchNames)
+    this.refreshRecentBranches(recentBranchNames, recentBranchesLimit)
 
     await this.checkPullWithRebase()
 
@@ -558,7 +573,8 @@ export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
   }
 
   private refreshRecentBranches(
-    recentBranchNames: ReadonlyArray<string> | undefined
+    recentBranchNames: ReadonlyArray<string> | undefined,
+    recentBranchesLimit: number = RecentOptionsBranchLimit
   ) {
     if (!recentBranchNames || !recentBranchNames.length) {
       this._recentBranches = []
@@ -591,7 +607,7 @@ export class GitStore extends BaseStore {
 
       recentBranches.push(branch)
 
-      if (recentBranches.length >= RecentBranchesLimit) {
+      if (recentBranches.length >= recentBranchesLimit) {
         break
       }
     }
diff --git a/app/src/models/branch-sort-order.ts b/app/src/models/branch-sort-order.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..5cca32c2abc
--- /dev/null
+++ b/app/src/models/branch-sort-order.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+export enum BranchSortOrder {
+  Alphabet = 'Alphabet',
+  RecentlyAdded = 'RecentlyAdded',
+  RecentlyChanged = 'RecentlyChanged',
+}
+
+export const defaultBranchSortOrder = BranchSortOrder.Alphabet
diff --git a/app/src/ui/app.tsx b/app/src/ui/app.tsx
index 1f95c31870e..bb86c8c2d45 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/app.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/app.tsx
@@ -1659,6 +1659,7 @@ export class App extends React.Component<IAppProps, IAppState> {
             underlineLinks={this.state.underlineLinks}
             showDiffCheckMarks={this.state.showDiffCheckMarks}
             showBranchNameInRepoList={this.state.showBranchNameInRepoList}
+            branchSortOrder={this.state.branchSortOrder}
           />
         )
       case PopupType.RepositorySettings: {
@@ -3457,6 +3458,7 @@ export class App extends React.Component<IAppProps, IAppState> {
         dispatcher={this.props.dispatcher}
         isOpen={isOpen}
         branchDropdownWidth={this.state.branchDropdownWidth}
+        branchSortOrder={this.state.branchSortOrder}
         onDropDownStateChanged={this.onBranchDropdownStateChanged}
         repository={repository}
         repositoryState={selection.state}
@@ -3635,6 +3637,7 @@ export class App extends React.Component<IAppProps, IAppState> {
           stashedFilesWidth={state.stashedFilesWidth}
           issuesStore={this.props.issuesStore}
           gitHubUserStore={this.props.gitHubUserStore}
+          branchSortOrder={state.branchSortOrder}
           onViewCommitOnGitHub={this.onViewCommitOnGitHub}
           imageDiffType={state.imageDiffType}
           hideWhitespaceInChangesDiff={state.hideWhitespaceInChangesDiff}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/branches/branch-list.tsx b/app/src/ui/branches/branch-list.tsx
index 5015ae64fb7..88de3e2e1d9 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/branches/branch-list.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/branches/branch-list.tsx
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import { SelectionSource } from '../lib/filter-list'
 import { IMatches } from '../../lib/fuzzy-find'
 import { Button } from '../lib/button'
 import { TextBox } from '../lib/text-box'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 
 import {
   groupBranches,
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ interface IBranchListProps {
    */
   readonly recentBranches: ReadonlyArray<Branch>
 
+  readonly branchSortOrder?: BranchSortOrder
+
   /**
    * All worktrees in the repository.
    */
@@ -195,7 +198,9 @@ export class BranchList extends React.Component<
       this.props.currentBranch,
       this.props.allBranches,
       this.props.recentBranches,
-      this.props.allWorktrees
+      this.props.allWorktrees,
+      this.props.branchSortOrder,
+      this.state.commitAuthorDates
     )
   }
 
diff --git a/app/src/ui/branches/branches-container.tsx b/app/src/ui/branches/branches-container.tsx
index c783632e69e..f3f3b20596b 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/branches/branches-container.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/branches/branches-container.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { Button } from '../lib/button'
 import { BranchList } from './branch-list'
 import { PullRequestList } from './pull-request-list'
 import { IBranchListItem } from './group-branches'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import {
   getDefaultAriaLabelForBranch,
   renderDefaultBranch,
@@ -53,6 +54,8 @@ interface IBranchesContainerProps {
   readonly onSetAsDefaultBranch: (branchName: string) => void
   readonly onDeleteBranch: (branchName: string) => void
 
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
+
   /** All worktrees in the repository. */
   readonly allWorktrees: ReadonlyArray<WorktreeEntry>
 
@@ -280,6 +283,7 @@ export class BranchesContainer extends React.Component<
             currentBranch={this.props.currentBranch}
             allBranches={this.props.allBranches}
             recentBranches={this.props.recentBranches}
+            branchSortOrder={this.props.branchSortOrder}
             allWorktrees={this.props.allWorktrees}
             onItemClick={this.onBranchItemClick}
             filterText={this.state.branchFilterText}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/branches/group-branches.ts b/app/src/ui/branches/group-branches.ts
index 9ec92b001e8..0b5e58f454e 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/branches/group-branches.ts
+++ b/app/src/ui/branches/group-branches.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 import { Branch } from '../../models/branch'
 import { WorktreeEntry } from '../../models/worktree'
 import { IFilterListGroup, IFilterListItem } from '../lib/filter-list'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
+import { caseInsensitiveCompare } from '../../lib/compare'
 
 export type BranchGroupIdentifier = 'default' | 'recent' | 'other'
 
@@ -38,7 +40,9 @@ export function groupBranches(
   currentBranch: Branch | null,
   allBranches: ReadonlyArray<Branch>,
   recentBranches: ReadonlyArray<Branch>,
-  allWorktrees: ReadonlyArray<WorktreeEntry>
+  allWorktrees: ReadonlyArray<WorktreeEntry>,
+  branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder = BranchSortOrder.Alphabet,
+  commitAuthorDates?: ReadonlyMap<string, Date>
 ): ReadonlyArray<IFilterListGroup<IBranchListItem>> {
   const groups = new Array<IFilterListGroup<IBranchListItem>>()
 
@@ -60,51 +64,133 @@ export function groupBranches(
     })
   }
 
-  const recentBranchNames = new Set<string>()
   const defaultBranchName = defaultBranch ? defaultBranch.name : null
   const recentBranchesWithoutDefault = recentBranches.filter(
     b => b.name !== defaultBranchName
   )
-  if (recentBranchesWithoutDefault.length > 0) {
-    const recentBranches = new Array<IBranchListItem>()
-
-    for (const branch of recentBranchesWithoutDefault) {
-      const worktreeInUse = findWorktreeForBranch(branch.name, allWorktrees)
-      recentBranches.push({
-        text: [branch.name],
-        id: branch.name,
-        branch,
-        worktreeInUse,
+  const recentBranchesWithoutDefaultForSort = recentBranchesWithoutDefault
+  const remainingBranches = allBranches.filter(
+    b => b.name !== defaultBranchName && !b.isDesktopForkRemoteBranch
+  )
+  const isAlphabeticSort = branchSortOrder === BranchSortOrder.Alphabet
+
+  if (isAlphabeticSort) {
+    const recentBranchNames = new Set(
+      recentBranchesWithoutDefaultForSort.map(branch => branch.name)
+    )
+    const branchesWithMetadata = remainingBranches.map(branch => ({
+      text: [branch.name],
+      id: branch.name,
+      branch,
+      worktreeInUse: findWorktreeForBranch(branch.name, allWorktrees),
+    }))
+    const sortedBranches = branchesWithMetadata.sort((left, right) =>
+      caseInsensitiveCompare(left.branch.name, right.branch.name)
+    )
+    const recentBranchesToShow = new Array<IBranchListItem>()
+    const remainingBranchesToShow = new Array<IBranchListItem>()
+
+    for (const branch of sortedBranches) {
+      if (recentBranchNames.has(branch.branch.name)) {
+        recentBranchesToShow.push(branch)
+      } else {
+        remainingBranchesToShow.push(branch)
+      }
+    }
+
+    if (recentBranchesToShow.length > 0) {
+      groups.push({
+        identifier: 'recent',
+        items: recentBranchesToShow,
       })
-      recentBranchNames.add(branch.name)
     }
 
     groups.push({
-      identifier: 'recent',
-      items: recentBranches,
+      identifier: 'other',
+      items: remainingBranchesToShow,
     })
+
+    return groups
   }
 
-  const remainingBranches = allBranches.filter(
-    b =>
-      b.name !== defaultBranchName &&
-      !recentBranchNames.has(b.name) &&
-      !b.isDesktopForkRemoteBranch
-  )
+  const sortByName = (left: IBranchListItem, right: IBranchListItem) =>
+    caseInsensitiveCompare(left.branch.name, right.branch.name)
 
-  const remainingItems = remainingBranches.map(b => {
-    const worktreeInUse = findWorktreeForBranch(b.name, allWorktrees)
-    return {
-      text: [b.name],
-      id: b.name,
-      branch: b,
-      worktreeInUse,
+  const sortByMostRecentCommit = (
+    left: IBranchListItem,
+    right: IBranchListItem
+  ) => {
+    const leftCommitDate =
+      commitAuthorDates?.get(left.branch.tip.sha)?.getTime() ?? -Infinity
+    const rightCommitDate =
+      commitAuthorDates?.get(right.branch.tip.sha)?.getTime() ?? -Infinity
+
+    if (leftCommitDate === rightCommitDate) {
+      return sortByName(left, right)
     }
+
+    return rightCommitDate - leftCommitDate
+  }
+
+  const recentBranchNameToRank = new Map<string, number>()
+  recentBranchesWithoutDefaultForSort.forEach((branch, index) => {
+    recentBranchNameToRank.set(branch.name, index)
   })
-  groups.push({
-    identifier: 'other',
-    items: remainingItems,
-  })
+  const remainingBranchesForFilter = remainingBranches
+    .map(branch => ({
+      text: [branch.name],
+      id: branch.name,
+      branch,
+      worktreeInUse: findWorktreeForBranch(branch.name, allWorktrees),
+    }))
+    .sort((left, right) => {
+      if (branchSortOrder === BranchSortOrder.RecentlyChanged) {
+        return sortByMostRecentCommit(left, right)
+      }
+
+      const leftRank = recentBranchNameToRank.get(left.branch.name)
+      const rightRank = recentBranchNameToRank.get(right.branch.name)
+
+      if (leftRank !== undefined && rightRank !== undefined) {
+        return leftRank - rightRank
+      }
+
+      if (leftRank !== undefined) {
+        return -1
+      }
+
+      if (rightRank !== undefined) {
+        return 1
+      }
+
+      return sortByName(left, right)
+    })
+  const useRecentBranchesOnly =
+    branchSortOrder === BranchSortOrder.RecentlyChanged
+  const recentBranchesToShow = useRecentBranchesOnly
+    ? remainingBranchesForFilter
+    : remainingBranchesForFilter.filter(branch =>
+        recentBranchNameToRank.has(branch.branch.name)
+      )
+  const remainingBranchesToShow = useRecentBranchesOnly
+    ? []
+    : remainingBranchesForFilter.filter(
+        branch => !recentBranchNameToRank.has(branch.branch.name)
+      )
+
+  if (recentBranchesToShow.length > 0) {
+    groups.push({
+      identifier: 'recent',
+      items: recentBranchesToShow,
+    })
+  }
+
+  if (!useRecentBranchesOnly) {
+    groups.push({
+      identifier: 'other',
+      items: remainingBranchesToShow,
+    })
+  }
 
   return groups
 }
diff --git a/app/src/ui/dispatcher/dispatcher.ts b/app/src/ui/dispatcher/dispatcher.ts
index 56c88701c8b..24b9ae8581e 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/dispatcher/dispatcher.ts
+++ b/app/src/ui/dispatcher/dispatcher.ts
@@ -103,6 +103,7 @@ import {
 } from '../../lib/stores/commit-status-store'
 import { MergeTreeResult } from '../../models/merge'
 import { UncommittedChangesStrategy } from '../../models/uncommitted-changes-strategy'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import { ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting } from '../../models/show-branch-name-in-repo-list'
 import { IStashEntry } from '../../models/stash-entry'
 import { WorkflowPreferences } from '../../models/workflow-preferences'
@@ -4203,6 +4204,10 @@ export class Dispatcher {
     )
   }
 
+  public setBranchSortOrder(branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder) {
+    return this.appStore._updateBranchSortOrder(branchSortOrder)
+  }
+
   public testPruneBranches() {
     return this.appStore._testPruneBranches()
   }
diff --git a/app/src/ui/history/compare.tsx b/app/src/ui/history/compare.tsx
index d8ec3508aba..a8dacca1d6e 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/history/compare.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/history/compare.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { DragType } from '../../models/drag-drop'
 import { PopupType } from '../../models/popup'
 import { getUniqueCoauthorsAsAuthors } from '../../lib/unique-coauthors-as-authors'
 import { getSquashedCommitDescription } from '../../lib/squash/squashed-commit-description'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import { doMergeCommitsExistAfterCommit } from '../../lib/git'
 import { KeyboardInsertionData } from '../lib/list'
 import { Account } from '../../models/account'
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ interface ICompareSidebarProps {
   readonly dispatcher: Dispatcher
   readonly currentBranch: Branch | null
   readonly selectedCommitShas: ReadonlyArray<string>
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
   readonly onRevertCommit: (commit: Commit) => void
   readonly onAmendCommit: (commit: Commit, isLocalCommit: boolean) => void
   readonly onViewCommitOnGitHub: (sha: string) => void
@@ -413,6 +415,7 @@ export class CompareSidebar extends React.Component<
         allBranches={branches}
         recentBranches={recentBranches}
         allWorktrees={[]}
+        branchSortOrder={this.props.branchSortOrder}
         filterText={filterText}
         textbox={this.textbox!}
         selectedBranch={this.state.focusedBranch}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/preferences/appearance.tsx b/app/src/ui/preferences/appearance.tsx
index 657cb25f0f0..d9e8756b8c8 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/preferences/appearance.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/preferences/appearance.tsx
@@ -14,6 +14,8 @@ import { tabSizeDefault } from '../../lib/stores/app-store'
 import { Checkbox, CheckboxValue } from '../lib/checkbox'
 import { ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting } from '../../models/show-branch-name-in-repo-list'
 import { parseEnumValue } from '../../lib/enum'
+import { assertNever } from '../../lib/fatal-error'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 
 interface IAppearanceProps {
   readonly selectedTheme: ApplicationTheme
@@ -30,6 +32,8 @@ interface IAppearanceProps {
   readonly onShowBranchNameInRepoListChanged: (
     value: ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
   ) => void
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
+  readonly onBranchSortOrderChanged: (sortOrder: BranchSortOrder) => void
 }
 
 interface IAppearanceState {
@@ -231,6 +235,48 @@ export class Appearance extends React.Component<
     }
   }
 
+  private onBranchSortOrderChanged = (branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder) => {
+    this.props.onBranchSortOrderChanged(branchSortOrder)
+  }
+
+  private renderBranchSortOrder() {
+    const { branchSortOrder } = this.props
+
+    return (
+      <div className="advanced-section">
+        <h2 id="branch-sort-order-heading">Sort branches</h2>
+
+        <RadioGroup<BranchSortOrder>
+          ariaLabelledBy="branch-sort-order-heading"
+          selectedKey={branchSortOrder}
+          radioButtonKeys={[
+            BranchSortOrder.Alphabet,
+            BranchSortOrder.RecentlyAdded,
+            BranchSortOrder.RecentlyChanged,
+          ]}
+          onSelectionChanged={this.onBranchSortOrderChanged}
+          renderRadioButtonLabelContents={this.renderBranchSortOptionLabel}
+        />
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+
+  private renderBranchSortOptionLabel = (branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder) => {
+    switch (branchSortOrder) {
+      case BranchSortOrder.Alphabet:
+        return 'Alphabet'
+      case BranchSortOrder.RecentlyAdded:
+        return 'Recently added'
+      case BranchSortOrder.RecentlyChanged:
+        return 'Recently changed'
+      default:
+        return assertNever(
+          branchSortOrder,
+          `Unknown branch sort order: ${branchSortOrder}`
+        )
+    }
+  }
+
   private renderRepositoryList() {
     return (
       <div className="advanced-section">
@@ -303,6 +349,7 @@ export class Appearance extends React.Component<
       <DialogContent>
         {this.renderSelectedTheme()}
         {this.renderRepositoryList()}
+        {this.renderBranchSortOrder()}
         {this.renderWorktreeVisibility()}
         {this.renderSelectedTabSize()}
         {this.renderTitleBarStyleDropdown()}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/preferences/preferences.tsx b/app/src/ui/preferences/preferences.tsx
index cb12a610783..76857837e5d 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/preferences/preferences.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/preferences/preferences.tsx
@@ -24,6 +24,7 @@ import { ApplicationTheme } from '../lib/application-theme'
 import { TitleBarStyle } from '../lib/title-bar-style'
 import { OkCancelButtonGroup } from '../dialog/ok-cancel-button-group'
 import { Integrations } from './integrations'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import {
   UncommittedChangesStrategy,
   defaultUncommittedChangesStrategy,
@@ -95,6 +96,7 @@ interface IPreferencesProps {
   readonly showWorktrees: boolean
   readonly repositoryIndicatorsEnabled: boolean
   readonly showBranchNameInRepoList: ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
   readonly hideWindowOnQuit: boolean
   readonly onEditGlobalGitConfig: () => void
   readonly underlineLinks: boolean
@@ -147,6 +149,7 @@ interface IPreferencesState {
   readonly existingLockFilePath?: string
   readonly repositoryIndicatorsEnabled: boolean
   readonly showBranchNameInRepoList: ShowBranchNameInRepoListSetting
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
   readonly hideWindowOnQuit: boolean
 
   readonly initiallySelectedTheme: ApplicationTheme
@@ -223,6 +226,7 @@ export class Preferences extends React.Component<
       showWorktrees: this.props.showWorktrees,
       repositoryIndicatorsEnabled: this.props.repositoryIndicatorsEnabled,
       showBranchNameInRepoList: this.props.showBranchNameInRepoList,
+      branchSortOrder: this.props.branchSortOrder,
       hideWindowOnQuit: this.props.hideWindowOnQuit,
       initiallySelectedTheme: this.props.selectedTheme,
       initiallySelectedTabSize: this.props.selectedTabSize,
@@ -560,6 +564,8 @@ export class Preferences extends React.Component<
             onShowBranchNameInRepoListChanged={
               this.onShowBranchNameInRepoListChanged
             }
+            branchSortOrder={this.state.branchSortOrder}
+            onBranchSortOrderChanged={this.onBranchSortOrderChanged}
           />
         )
         break
@@ -811,6 +817,10 @@ export class Preferences extends React.Component<
     this.setState({ showBranchNameInRepoList })
   }
 
+  private onBranchSortOrderChanged = (branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder) => {
+    this.setState({ branchSortOrder })
+  }
+
   private onSelectedTabSizeChanged = (tabSize: number) => {
     this.props.dispatcher.setSelectedTabSize(tabSize)
   }
@@ -1017,6 +1027,7 @@ export class Preferences extends React.Component<
     dispatcher.setDiffCheckMarksSetting(this.state.showDiffCheckMarks)
 
     dispatcher.setShowBranchNameInRepoList(this.state.showBranchNameInRepoList)
+    dispatcher.setBranchSortOrder(this.state.branchSortOrder)
 
     this.props.onDismissed()
   }
diff --git a/app/src/ui/repository.tsx b/app/src/ui/repository.tsx
index 647f0251290..fc1aafb003d 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/repository.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/repository.tsx
@@ -38,6 +38,7 @@ import { clamp } from '../lib/clamp'
 import { Emoji } from '../lib/emoji'
 import { PopupType } from '../models/popup'
 import { Branch } from '../models/branch'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../models/branch-sort-order'
 
 interface IRepositoryViewProps {
   readonly repository: Repository
@@ -113,6 +114,8 @@ interface IRepositoryViewProps {
     sourceBranch?: Branch
   ) => void
 
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
+
   /** The user's preference of pull request suggested next action to use **/
   readonly pullRequestSuggestedNextAction?: PullRequestSuggestedNextAction
 
@@ -417,6 +420,7 @@ export class RepositoryView extends React.Component<
         repository={repository}
         isLocalRepository={remote === null}
         compareState={compareState}
+        branchSortOrder={this.props.branchSortOrder}
         selectedCommitShas={shas}
         shasToHighlight={compareState.shasToHighlight}
         currentBranch={currentBranch}
@@ -473,6 +477,7 @@ export class RepositoryView extends React.Component<
         repository={repository}
         isLocalRepository={remote === null}
         compareState={compareState}
+        branchSortOrder={this.props.branchSortOrder}
         selectedCommitShas={shas}
         shasToHighlight={compareState.shasToHighlight}
         currentBranch={currentBranch}
diff --git a/app/src/ui/toolbar/branch-dropdown.tsx b/app/src/ui/toolbar/branch-dropdown.tsx
index 6ebdfce21b2..1617d8b9157 100644
--- a/app/src/ui/toolbar/branch-dropdown.tsx
+++ b/app/src/ui/toolbar/branch-dropdown.tsx
@@ -29,6 +29,7 @@ import { PopupType } from '../../models/popup'
 import { generateBranchContextMenuItems } from '../branches/branch-list-item-context-menu'
 import { showContextualMenu } from '../../lib/menu-item'
 import { Emoji } from '../../lib/emoji'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../models/branch-sort-order'
 import { enableResizingToolbarButtons } from '../../lib/feature-flag'
 
 interface IBranchDropdownProps {
@@ -46,6 +47,8 @@ interface IBranchDropdownProps {
   /** Whether or not the branch dropdown is currently open */
   readonly isOpen: boolean
 
+  readonly branchSortOrder: BranchSortOrder
+
   /**
    * An event handler for when the drop down is opened, or closed, by a pointer
    * event or by pressing the space or enter key while focused.
@@ -112,6 +115,7 @@ export class BranchDropdown extends React.Component<IBranchDropdownProps> {
         pullRequests={this.props.pullRequests}
         currentPullRequest={this.props.currentPullRequest}
         isLoadingPullRequests={this.props.isLoadingPullRequests}
+        branchSortOrder={this.props.branchSortOrder}
         emoji={this.props.emoji}
         onDeleteBranch={this.onDeleteBranch}
         onRenameBranch={this.onRenameBranch}
diff --git a/app/test/unit/group-branches-test.ts b/app/test/unit/group-branches-test.ts
index aabc6f4d957..37870ea81c7 100644
--- a/app/test/unit/group-branches-test.ts
+++ b/app/test/unit/group-branches-test.ts
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ import assert from 'node:assert'
 import { groupBranches } from '../../src/ui/branches'
 import { Branch, BranchType } from '../../src/models/branch'
 import { CommitIdentity } from '../../src/models/commit-identity'
+import { BranchSortOrder } from '../../src/models/branch-sort-order'
 
 describe('Branches grouping', () => {
   const author = new CommitIdentity('Hubot', 'hubot@github.com', new Date())
@@ -71,4 +72,127 @@ describe('Branches grouping', () => {
     items = groups[2].items
     assert.equal(items[0].branch, otherBranch)
   })
+
+  it('should sort by recent branch order with "recently added"', () => {
+    const allBranches = [
+      currentBranch,
+      new Branch('alpha', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('zeta', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('gamma', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+    ]
+    const recentBranches = [allBranches[2], allBranches[1], allBranches[3]]
+    const groups = groupBranches(
+      defaultBranch,
+      currentBranch,
+      allBranches,
+      recentBranches,
+      [],
+      BranchSortOrder.RecentlyAdded
+    )
+
+    assert.equal(groups.length, 3)
+    assert.equal(groups[1].identifier, 'recent')
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(
+      groups[1].items.map(item => item.branch.name),
+      ['zeta', 'alpha', 'gamma']
+    )
+    assert.equal(groups[2].identifier, 'other')
+    assert.equal(groups[2].items.length, 0)
+  })
+
+  it('should cap recent branches to 5 when sorting alphabetically', () => {
+    const allBranches = [
+      currentBranch,
+      new Branch('alpha', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('beta', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('charlie', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('delta', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('echo', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+      new Branch('foxtrot', null, branchTip, BranchType.Local, '', false),
+    ]
+    const recentBranches = [
+      allBranches[1],
+      allBranches[2],
+      allBranches[3],
+      allBranches[4],
+      allBranches[5],
+    ]
+    const groups = groupBranches(
+      defaultBranch,
+      currentBranch,
+      allBranches,
+      recentBranches,
+      [],
+      BranchSortOrder.Alphabet
+    )
+
+    assert.equal(groups.length, 3)
+    assert.equal(groups[1].identifier, 'recent')
+    assert.equal(groups[1].items.length, 5)
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(
+      groups[1].items.map(item => item.branch.name),
+      ['alpha', 'beta', 'charlie', 'delta', 'echo']
+    )
+    assert.equal(groups[2].identifier, 'other')
+    assert.equal(groups[2].items.length, 1)
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(
+      groups[2].items.map(item => item.branch.name),
+      ['foxtrot']
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('should sort by commit date with "recently changed"', () => {
+    const branchDateA = new Date('2026-01-01T00:00:00.000Z')
+    const branchDateB = new Date('2026-01-15T00:00:00.000Z')
+    const branchDateC = new Date('2026-01-10T00:00:00.000Z')
+
+    const branchA = new Branch(
+      'alpha',
+      null,
+      { sha: 'a-date-branch' },
+      BranchType.Local,
+      '',
+      false
+    )
+    const branchB = new Branch(
+      'beta',
+      null,
+      { sha: 'b-date-branch' },
+      BranchType.Local,
+      '',
+      false
+    )
+    const branchC = new Branch(
+      'gamma',
+      null,
+      { sha: 'c-date-branch' },
+      BranchType.Local,
+      '',
+      false
+    )
+    const allBranches = [currentBranch, branchA, branchB, branchC]
+    const commitAuthorDates = new Map<string, Date>([
+      [branchA.tip.sha, branchDateA],
+      [branchB.tip.sha, branchDateB],
+      [branchC.tip.sha, branchDateC],
+    ])
+    const recentBranches = [branchA]
+
+    const groups = groupBranches(
+      defaultBranch,
+      currentBranch,
+      allBranches,
+      recentBranches,
+      [],
+      BranchSortOrder.RecentlyChanged,
+      commitAuthorDates
+    )
+
+    assert.equal(groups.length, 2)
+    assert.equal(groups[1].identifier, 'recent')
+    assert.deepStrictEqual(
+      groups[1].items.map(item => item.branch.name),
+      ['beta', 'gamma', 'alpha']
+    )
+  })
 })