How to Set Forum Discussion Replies to Descending Order

Introduction

Forum discussion replies in BuddyBoss are displayed in ascending order by default. You can change this behavior so replies appear in descending order by adding a custom function to your active theme. This guide explains how you can set forum discussion replies to descending order.

Custom Workaround

Before proceeding, make sure you have a complete site backup.

1. In your WordPress admin dashboard, go to Appearance > Theme Editor.
   
2. Under Select theme to edit, choose your active theme (preferably BuddyBoss Child Theme), then click Select.
   
3. From the Theme Files list, click Theme Functions (functions.php).
   
4. Paste the following code just before the closing PHP tag (?>):
   

add_filter( 'bbp_before_has_replies_parse_args', 'buddyboss__change_replies_order' );

function buddyboss__change_replies_order( $r ) {

    $r['order'] = 'DESC';

    return $r;

}

add_filter( 'bb_get_parent_reply_position', 'buddyboss__get_parent_reply_position', 10, 3 );

function buddyboss__get_parent_reply_position( $reply_position, $reply_id, $topic_id ) {

    if ( empty( $reply_id ) ) {

        return false;

    }

    $top_level_reply_id = bbp_get_reply_ancestor_id( $reply_id );

    $parent_replies_ids = bb_get_parent_replies_ids( $topic_id, bbp_get_reply_post_type() );

    if ( ! empty( $parent_replies_ids ) ) {

        $reply_position = array_search( (string) $top_level_reply_id, $parent_replies_ids );

        $reply_position++;

    }

    return $reply_position;
}

5. Click Update File to save your changes.
   

Note: Any modifications like this are considered custom work. Please review the BuddyBoss Support Policy for details.

Troubleshooting and FAQs

Q: Replies are still showing in ascending order, what should I check?
A: Make sure the code is added to the active theme’s functions.php and clear any caches.

Q: Will this affect existing forum replies?
A: Yes, it changes the display order for all replies within forum discussions.

Q: Does this affect other forum areas?
A: No, it only affects the reply order inside discussion topics.

Q: Can I revert this change easily?
A: Yes, remove the code from functions.php and save.

Q: Who can I contact for further assistance?
A: Check the BuddyBoss Support Policy or consult a developer.