diff --git a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/index.html b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/index.html
index 2732d8400..b88d94741 100644
--- a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/index.html
+++ b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/index.html
@@ -14,7 +14,7 @@
         {% csrf_token %}
 
         {% page_permissions parent_page as parent_page_perms %}
-        {% include "wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html" with sortable=1 full_width=1 show_ordering_column=1 parent_page=parent_page orderable=parent_page_perms.can_reorder_children %}
+        {% include "wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html" with sortable=1 sortable_by_type=1 full_width=1 show_ordering_column=1 parent_page=parent_page orderable=parent_page_perms.can_reorder_children %}
 
         {% if do_paginate %}
             {% url 'wagtailadmin_explore' parent_page.id as pagination_base_url %}
diff --git a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_table_headers_explore.html b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_table_headers_explore.html
index 2309f8124..2af07e545 100644
--- a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_table_headers_explore.html
+++ b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_table_headers_explore.html
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 Table headers for the page listing, when in 'explore' mode. Expects the following variables:
 
 sortable: if true, headings are links to wagtailadmin_explore with sort parameters applied.
+sortable_by_type: must be true to allow sorting on the 'type' column
 show_ordering_column: if true, an 'ordering' column is added.
 orderable: if true, the 'ordering' column is populated (again with links to wagtailadmin_explore).
 
@@ -49,7 +50,7 @@ ordering: the current sort parameter
         {% endif %}
     </th>
     <th class="type">
-        {% if sortable and not not_sortable_by_type %}
+        {% if sortable and sortable_by_type %}
             <a href="{% if ordering == 'content_type' %}{% querystring ordering='-content_type' %}{% else %}{% querystring ordering='content_type' %}{% endif %}" class="icon icon-arrow-{% if ordering == '-content_type' %}up-after{% else %}down-after{% endif %} {% if ordering == 'content_type' or ordering == '-content_type' %}teal {% endif %}">
                 {% trans 'Type' %}
             </a>
diff --git a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/search_results.html b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/search_results.html
index 0d6c25e36..6df2ff87c 100644
--- a/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/search_results.html
+++ b/wagtail/admin/templates/wagtailadmin/pages/search_results.html
@@ -32,7 +32,7 @@
             </nav>
         {% endif %}
 
-        {% include "wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html" with show_parent=1 sortable=1 not_sortable_by_type=1 %}
+        {% include "wagtailadmin/pages/listing/_list_explore.html" with show_parent=1 sortable=1 sortable_by_type=0 %}
 
         {% url 'wagtailadmin_pages:search' as pagination_base_url %}
         {% paginate pages base_url=pagination_base_url %}