diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortKey.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortKey.ts
index 674237e..6ed1d57 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortKey.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortKey.ts
@@ -69,13 +69,17 @@ export class SortKey {
         }
     }
 
+    public get rawData(): SortKeyData {
+        return this.data;
+    }
+
     public static fromValues(
         sortType: SortType,
         sortDirection: SortDirection,
         namespaceName: string | undefined
     ) {
         let data;
-        
+
         if (sortType === "Namespace") {
             data = {
                 Namespace: {
@@ -99,8 +103,4 @@ export class SortKey {
             return `${this.sortType} ${this.sortDirection}`;
         }
     }
-
-    public rawData(): SortKeyData {
-        return this.data;
-    }
 }
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortingPreset.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortingPreset.ts
index 9eb258a..43bc7f3 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortingPreset.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/api/models/SortingPreset.ts
@@ -1,20 +1,39 @@
 import {SortKey} from "./SortKey";
 import {SortingPresetData} from "../api-types/presets";
+import {mapNew} from "./adaptors";
 
 export class SortingPreset {
-    private readonly _id: number;
     private keys: SortKey[];
 
     constructor(presetData: SortingPresetData) {
         this._id = presetData.id;
-        this.keys = presetData.keys.map(SortKey.fromRawData);
+        this.keys = presetData.keys.map(mapNew(SortKey));
     }
 
+    private _id: number;
+
     public get id(): number {
         return this._id;
     }
 
+    public set id(value: number) {
+        this._id = value;
+    }
+
     public get sortKeys(): SortKey[] {
-        return this.sortKeys;
+        return this.keys;
+    }
+
+    public get rawData(): SortingPresetData {
+        return {
+            id: this._id,
+            keys: this.keys.map(k => k.rawData),
+        };
+    }
+
+    public static fromValues(id: number, keys: SortKey[]) {
+        let preset = new SortingPreset({ id, keys: [] });
+        preset.keys = keys;
+        return preset;
     }
 }
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.html b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.html
index e4de89f..f9e7f61 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.html
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.html
@@ -35,7 +35,8 @@
             </button>
         </app-filter-input>
 
-        <button (click)="openSortDialog()" id="sort-button" mat-flat-button>Sort: {{sortExpression.join(", ")}}</button>
+        <button (click)="openSortDialog()" id="sort-button" mat-flat-button>
+            Sort: {{sortingPreset.sortKeys.join(", ")}}</button>
     </div>
 
     <mat-divider fxFlex="1em"></mat-divider>
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.ts
index 9737c2d..7c6f149 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/file-search.component.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,6 @@ import {
     Output,
     ViewChild
 } from "@angular/core";
-import {SortKey} from "../../../../../api/models/SortKey";
 import {MatDialog} from "@angular/material/dialog";
 import {SortDialogComponent} from "./sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component";
 import {LoggingService} from "../../../../services/logging/logging.service";
@@ -23,6 +22,7 @@ import {FileStatus, FilterExpression,} from "../../../../../api/api-types/files"
 import {filterExpressionToString} from "../../../../utils/filter-utils";
 import {MatCheckboxChange} from "@angular/material/checkbox";
 import * as deepEqual from "fast-deep-equal";
+import {SortingPreset} from "../../../../../api/models/SortingPreset";
 
 
 @Component({
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@ import * as deepEqual from "fast-deep-equal";
     changeDetection: ChangeDetectionStrategy.OnPush
 })
 export class FileSearchComponent implements AfterViewChecked, OnInit {
-    public sortExpression: SortKey[] = [];
+    public sortingPreset: SortingPreset = new SortingPreset({ id: -1, keys: [] });
     public filters: SearchFilters = new SearchFilters([]);
 
     @Input() availableTags: Tag[] = [];
@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ export class FileSearchComponent implements AfterViewChecked, OnInit {
             this.filters = f;
             this.assignDisplayedFilters();
         });
-        this.state.sortKeys.subscribe(s => this.sortExpression = s);
+        this.state.sortingPreset.subscribe(s => this.sortingPreset = s);
         this.applyStatusFromFilters();
         this.needsScroll = true;
         this.assignDisplayedFilters();
@@ -127,20 +127,18 @@ export class FileSearchComponent implements AfterViewChecked, OnInit {
     }
 
     public openSortDialog() {
-        const sortEntries = this.sortExpression.map(
-            key => JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(key.rawData()))).map(
-            data => new SortKey(data));
+        const sortingPreset = new SortingPreset(JSON.parse(JSON.stringify(this.sortingPreset.rawData)));
         const openedDialog = this.dialog.open(SortDialogComponent, {
             minWidth: "40vw",
             data: {
-                sortEntries,
+                sortingPreset,
             },
             disableClose: true,
         });
-        openedDialog.afterClosed().subscribe(async (sortExpression) => {
-            if (sortExpression) {
-                this.sortExpression = sortExpression;
-                this.state.setSortKeys(this.sortExpression);
+        openedDialog.afterClosed().subscribe(async (sortingPreset) => {
+            if (sortingPreset) {
+                this.sortingPreset = sortingPreset;
+                this.state.setSortingPreset(this.sortingPreset);
             }
         });
     }
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.html b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.html
index c6fc105..a350274 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.html
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.html
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 <h1 mat-dialog-title>Sort Entries</h1>
 <div mat-dialog-content>
     <div (cdkDropListDropped)="this.onSortEntryDrop($event)" cdkDropList class="sort-input-list">
-        <div *ngFor="let sortKey of sortEntries" cdkDrag class="sort-input-row">
+        <div *ngFor="let sortKey of sortingPreset.sortKeys" cdkDrag class="sort-input-row">
             <div *cdkDragPlaceholder class="drag-placeholder"></div>
             <div cdkDragHandle class="drag-handle">
                 <ng-icon name="mat-drag-handle"></ng-icon>
@@ -21,14 +21,16 @@
             </mat-form-field>
             <mat-form-field *ngIf="sortKey.sortType === 'Namespace'">
                 <mat-label>Namespace Name</mat-label>
-                <input #namespaceInput (change)="sortKey.namespaceName = namespaceInput.value"
-                       [matAutocomplete]="namespaceAutocomplete"
-                       (keyup)="this.updateAutocompleteSuggestions(namespaceInput.value)"
+                <input #namespaceInput
+                       (change)="this.handlePresetChange(); sortKey.namespaceName = namespaceInput.value"
                        (focus)="this.updateAutocompleteSuggestions(namespaceInput.value)"
+                       (keyup)="this.updateAutocompleteSuggestions(namespaceInput.value)"
+                       [matAutocomplete]="namespaceAutocomplete"
                        [value]="sortKey.namespaceName ?? ''"
                        matInput
                        required>
-                <mat-autocomplete #namespaceAutocomplete (optionSelected)="sortKey.namespaceName = $event.option.value">
+                <mat-autocomplete #namespaceAutocomplete
+                                  (optionSelected)="this.handlePresetChange(); sortKey.namespaceName = $event.option.value">
                     <mat-option *ngFor="let namespace of suggestedNamespaces" [value]="namespace.name">
                         {{namespace.name}}
                     </mat-option>
@@ -37,16 +39,18 @@
             <div *ngIf="sortKey.sortType !== 'Namespace'" class="filler"></div>
             <mat-form-field>
                 <mat-label>Direction</mat-label>
-                <mat-select [(value)]="sortKey.sortDirection" required>
+                <mat-select (selectionChange)="this.handlePresetChange()" [(value)]="sortKey.sortDirection" required>
                     <mat-option value="Ascending">Ascending</mat-option>
                     <mat-option value="Descending">Descending</mat-option>
                 </mat-select>
             </mat-form-field>
-            <button (click)="addNewSortKey()" *ngIf="sortEntries.indexOf(sortKey) === sortEntries.length -1"
+            <button (click)="addNewSortKey()"
+                    *ngIf="sortingPreset.sortKeys.indexOf(sortKey) === sortingPreset.sortKeys.length - 1"
                     mat-flat-button>
                 <ng-icon name="mat-add"></ng-icon>
             </button>
-            <button (click)="removeSortKey(sortKey)" *ngIf="sortEntries.indexOf(sortKey) !== sortEntries.length -1"
+            <button (click)="removeSortKey(sortKey)"
+                    *ngIf="sortingPreset.sortKeys.indexOf(sortKey) !== sortingPreset.sortKeys.length -1"
                     mat-flat-button>
                 <ng-icon name="mat-remove"></ng-icon>
             </button>
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.ts
index 4bd7271..76b65d7 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/components/shared/sidebar/file-search/sort-dialog/sort-dialog.component.ts
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import {CdkDragDrop, moveItemInArray} from "@angular/cdk/drag-drop";
 import {Namespace} from "../../../../../../api/models/Namespace";
 import {TagService} from "../../../../../services/tag/tag.service";
 import {compareSearchResults} from "../../../../../utils/compare-utils";
+import {SortingPreset} from "../../../../../../api/models/SortingPreset";
 
 @Component({
     selector: "app-sort-dialog",
@@ -14,31 +15,34 @@ import {compareSearchResults} from "../../../../../utils/compare-utils";
 })
 export class SortDialogComponent {
 
-    public sortEntries: SortKey[] = [];
+    public sortingPreset: SortingPreset = SortingPreset.fromValues(-1, []);
     public suggestedNamespaces: Namespace[] = [];
 
+    private previousId: number = -1;
     private namespaces: Namespace[] = [];
 
     constructor(public tagService: TagService, public dialogRef: MatDialogRef<SortDialogComponent>, @Inject(
         MAT_DIALOG_DATA) data: any) {
-        this.sortEntries = data.sortEntries;
-        console.debug(this.sortEntries);
+        this.sortingPreset = data.sortingPreset;
+        console.debug(this.sortingPreset);
         tagService.namespaces.subscribe(
             namespaces => this.namespaces = namespaces);
     }
 
     addNewSortKey() {
         const sortKey = SortKey.fromValues("FileName", "Ascending", undefined);
-        this.sortEntries.push(sortKey);
+        this.handlePresetChange();
+        this.sortingPreset.sortKeys.push(sortKey);
     }
 
     public removeSortKey(sortKey: SortKey): void {
-        const index = this.sortEntries.indexOf(sortKey);
-        this.sortEntries.splice(index, 1);
+        const index = this.sortingPreset.sortKeys.indexOf(sortKey);
+        this.handlePresetChange();
+        this.sortingPreset.sortKeys.splice(index, 1);
     }
 
     public confirmSort(): void {
-        this.dialogRef.close(this.sortEntries);
+        this.dialogRef.close(this.sortingPreset);
     }
 
     public cancelSort(): void {
@@ -46,7 +50,8 @@ export class SortDialogComponent {
     }
 
     public onSortEntryDrop(event: CdkDragDrop<SortKey[]>): void {
-        moveItemInArray(this.sortEntries, event.previousIndex,
+        this.handlePresetChange();
+        moveItemInArray(this.sortingPreset.sortKeys, event.previousIndex,
             event.currentIndex
         );
     }
@@ -56,4 +61,11 @@ export class SortDialogComponent {
             (a, b) => compareSearchResults(value, a.name, b.name))
             .slice(0, 50);
     }
+
+    public handlePresetChange() {
+        if (this.sortingPreset.id >= 0) {
+            this.previousId = this.sortingPreset.id;
+            this.sortingPreset.id = -1;
+        }
+    }
 }
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/models/TabState.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/models/TabState.ts
index 2798640..fc75b1b 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/models/TabState.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/models/TabState.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import {SortKey} from "../../api/models/SortKey";
 import {debounceTime} from "rxjs/operators";
 import {mapNew} from "../../api/models/adaptors";
 import {SearchFilters} from "../../api/models/SearchFilters";
-import {SortKeyData} from "../../api/api-types/files";
+import {SortingPreset} from "../../api/models/SortingPreset";
 
 export class TabState {
     public uuid: number;
@@ -17,12 +17,14 @@ export class TabState {
 
     public files = new BehaviorSubject<File[]>([]);
     public filters = new BehaviorSubject<SearchFilters>(new SearchFilters([]));
-    public sortKeys = new BehaviorSubject<SortKey[]>(
+    public sortingPreset = new BehaviorSubject<SortingPreset>(SortingPreset.fromValues(
+        -1,
         [SortKey.fromValues(
             "FileImportedTime",
             "Ascending",
             undefined
-        )]);
+        )]
+    ));
 
     private fileService: FileService;
 
@@ -37,7 +39,7 @@ export class TabState {
         if (this.category === TabCategory.Files) {
             this.filters.pipe(debounceTime(500))
                 .subscribe(async () => await this.findFiles());
-            this.sortKeys.pipe(debounceTime(100))
+            this.sortingPreset.pipe(debounceTime(100))
                 .subscribe(async () => await this.findFiles());
         }
     }
@@ -51,9 +53,9 @@ export class TabState {
             dto.category,
             fileService
         );
-        const sortKeys = dto.sortKeys.map((data: SortKeyData) => new SortKey(data));
+
         state.filters.next(new SearchFilters(dto.filters ?? []));
-        state.sortKeys.next(sortKeys);
+        state.sortingPreset.next(new SortingPreset(dto.sortingPreset));
         state.mode.next(dto.mode ?? "grid");
         state.selectedCD.next(dto.selectedFileHash);
         state.files.next((dto.files ?? []).map(mapNew(File)));
@@ -65,7 +67,7 @@ export class TabState {
         this.loading.next(true);
         const files = await this.fileService.findFiles(
             this.filters.value,
-            this.sortKeys.value
+            this.sortingPreset.value.sortKeys
         );
         this.files.next(files);
         this.loading.next(false);
@@ -75,8 +77,8 @@ export class TabState {
         this.filters.next(filters);
     }
 
-    public setSortKeys(keys: SortKey[]) {
-        this.sortKeys.next(keys);
+    public setSortingPreset(preset: SortingPreset) {
+        this.sortingPreset.next(preset);
     }
 
     public getDTO(): any {
@@ -84,7 +86,7 @@ export class TabState {
             uuid: this.uuid,
             category: this.category,
             filters: this.filters.value.getFilters(),
-            sortKeys: this.sortKeys.value.map(key => key.rawData()),
+            sortingPreset: this.sortingPreset.value.rawData,
             mode: this.mode.value,
             selectedFileHash: this.selectedCD.value,
             files: this.category === TabCategory.Import ? this.files.value.map(
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/file/file.service.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/file/file.service.ts
index 4f2e549..ab783a9 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/file/file.service.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/file/file.service.ts
@@ -26,7 +26,7 @@ export class FileService {
         return MediarepoApi.findFiles(
             {
                 filters: filters.getFilters(),
-                sortBy: sortBy.map(k => k.rawData())
+                sortBy: sortBy.map(k => k.rawData)
             })
             .then(mapMany(mapNew(File)));
     }
diff --git a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/state/state.service.ts b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/state/state.service.ts
index 00a4738..3d2a0f7 100644
--- a/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/state/state.service.ts
+++ b/mediarepo-ui/src/app/services/state/state.service.ts
@@ -59,6 +59,16 @@ export class StateService {
         this.state.next(state);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Sets the state of the frontend
+     * @returns {Promise<void>}
+     */
+    public async saveState(): Promise<void> {
+        if (this.repoService.selectedRepository.value) {
+            await MediarepoApi.setFrontendState({ state: this.state.value.serializeJson() });
+        }
+    }
+
     private subscribeToState(state: AppState) {
         state.tabs.subscribe(async tabs => {
             this.tabSubscriptions.forEach(s => s.unsubscribe());
@@ -70,7 +80,7 @@ export class StateService {
     private subscribeToTab(tab: TabState) {
         this.tabSubscriptions.push(tab.filters
             .subscribe(() => this.stateChange.next()));
-        this.tabSubscriptions.push(tab.sortKeys
+        this.tabSubscriptions.push(tab.sortingPreset
             .subscribe(() => this.stateChange.next()));
         this.tabSubscriptions.push(
             tab.selectedCD.subscribe(() => this.stateChange.next()));
@@ -78,14 +88,4 @@ export class StateService {
             tab.mode.subscribe(() => this.stateChange.next()));
         this.tabSubscriptions.push(tab.files.subscribe(() => this.stateChange.next()));
     }
-
-    /**
-     * Sets the state of the frontend
-     * @returns {Promise<void>}
-     */
-    public async saveState(): Promise<void> {
-        if (this.repoService.selectedRepository.value) {
-            await MediarepoApi.setFrontendState({state: this.state.value.serializeJson()});
-        }
-    }
 }