diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/bg.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/bg.lang
index 3b2ee96b..9ddaca64 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/bg.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/bg.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	вие
 Flood in / out	Flood вход / изход
 Direct in / out	Директни вход / изход
 Airtime TX / RX	Ефирно време TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Най-малко скокове
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/cs.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/cs.lang
index f152cd29..0ef1e9e5 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/cs.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/cs.lang
@@ -2176,3 +2176,4 @@ you	vy
 Flood in / out	Flood příchozí / odchozí
 Direct in / out	Přímé příchozí / odchozí
 Airtime TX / RX	Vysílací čas TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Nejméně skoků
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/de.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/de.lang
index 48ee3dee..626012f8 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/de.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/de.lang
@@ -2158,3 +2158,4 @@ you	du
 Flood in / out	Flood ein / aus
 Direct in / out	Direkt ein / aus
 Airtime TX / RX	Sendezeit TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Wenigste Hops
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/el.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/el.lang
index 5d8e0394..d83825c6 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/el.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/el.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	εσείς
 Flood in / out	Flood εισ. / εξ.
 Direct in / out	Άμεσα εισ. / εξ.
 Airtime TX / RX	Χρόνος εκπομπής TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Λιγότερα άλματα
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/es.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/es.lang
index c4b53806..34396beb 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/es.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/es.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	tú
 Flood in / out	Flood entrada / salida
 Direct in / out	Directo entrada / salida
 Airtime TX / RX	Tiempo en aire TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Menos saltos
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/fr.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/fr.lang
index d394a482..c5232bcf 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/fr.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/fr.lang
@@ -2159,3 +2159,4 @@ you	vous
 Flood in / out	Flood reçus / émis
 Direct in / out	Direct reçus / émis
 Airtime TX / RX	Temps d'antenne TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Moins de sauts
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/hu.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/hu.lang
index e361b9dc..e5ebf9d7 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/hu.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/hu.lang
@@ -2170,3 +2170,4 @@ you	te
 Flood in / out	Flood be / ki
 Direct in / out	Direkt be / ki
 Airtime TX / RX	Adásidő TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Legkevesebb ugrás
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/it.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/it.lang
index 9b434be7..9ce57ba6 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/it.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/it.lang
@@ -2159,3 +2159,4 @@ you	tu
 Flood in / out	Flood in / out
 Direct in / out	Diretti in / out
 Airtime TX / RX	Tempo in onda TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Meno salti
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/nl.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/nl.lang
index 02146a65..1fd942eb 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/nl.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/nl.lang
@@ -2158,3 +2158,4 @@ you	jij
 Flood in / out	Flood in / uit
 Direct in / out	Direct in / uit
 Airtime TX / RX	Zendtijd TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Minste hops
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/pt-br.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/pt-br.lang
index 5a36b247..55e6e829 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/pt-br.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/pt-br.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	você
 Flood in / out	Flood entrada / saída
 Direct in / out	Direto entrada / saída
 Airtime TX / RX	Tempo no ar TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Menos saltos
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/ro.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/ro.lang
index 06edf2b1..71f439d6 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/ro.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/ro.lang
@@ -2161,3 +2161,4 @@ you	tu
 Flood in / out	Flood intrare / ieșire
 Direct in / out	Direct intrare / ieșire
 Airtime TX / RX	Timp în aer TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Cele mai puține salturi
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/ru.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/ru.lang
index a9e06973..a6ff9f81 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/ru.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/ru.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	вы
 Flood in / out	Flood вход / выход
 Direct in / out	Прямые вход / выход
 Airtime TX / RX	Эфирное время TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Меньше всего хопов
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/sr.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/sr.lang
index e27a4daf..38b1b54e 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/sr.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/sr.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	ви
 Flood in / out	Flood улаз / излаз
 Direct in / out	Директни улаз / излаз
 Airtime TX / RX	Време емитовања TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Најмање скокова
diff --git a/deploy/apps/lang/uk.lang b/deploy/apps/lang/uk.lang
index 2bf5194b..1bc9df04 100644
--- a/deploy/apps/lang/uk.lang
+++ b/deploy/apps/lang/uk.lang
@@ -2160,3 +2160,4 @@ you	ви
 Flood in / out	Flood вхід / вихід
 Direct in / out	Прямі вхід / вихід
 Airtime TX / RX	Ефірний час TX / RX
+Fewest hops	Найменше хопів
diff --git a/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp b/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
index f2aa606e..5a4cf85c 100644
--- a/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
+++ b/src/ui-touch/UITask.cpp
@@ -2962,14 +2962,15 @@ enum ContactsSortMode : uint8_t {
   CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD  = 1,  // most recent advert first (default)
   CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG    = 2,  // most recent message first (falls back to last-heard)
   CONTACTS_SORT_DISTANCE    = 3,  // nearest first; rows with no shared location are excluded
-  CONTACTS_SORT_COUNT       = 4,
+  CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS        = 4,  // fewest hops first; path-unknown rows sink to the end (#718)
+  CONTACTS_SORT_COUNT       = 5,
 };
 // Default to most-recently-heard at the top — operators care who's on the
 // air now far more than alphabetical order. Favorites still pin above all
 // (see the qsort comparator in refreshContactsList).
 static uint8_t g_contacts_sort = CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD;
 // Reverse the active sort's natural order (the asc/desc toggle). Natural order is
-// A→Z / newest-heard / newest-message / nearest; `desc` flips just the primary key
+// A→Z / newest-heard / newest-message / nearest / fewest hops; `desc` flips just the primary key
 // (favourites stay pinned on top, "?"-heard rows stay sunk). Reset when the mode
 // changes; re-tapping the active mode in the Sort sheet flips it.
 static bool    g_contacts_sort_desc = false;
@@ -2980,6 +2981,7 @@ static const char* contactsSortLabel(uint8_t m) {
     case CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD: return "RECENT";
     case CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG:   return "MSG";
     case CONTACTS_SORT_DISTANCE:   return "DIST";
+    case CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS:       return "HOPS";
   }
   return "?";
 }
@@ -2990,6 +2992,7 @@ static const char* contactsSortOptName(uint8_t m) {
     case CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD: return "Recently heard";
     case CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG:   return "Recent message";
     case CONTACTS_SORT_DISTANCE:   return "Nearest first";
+    case CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS:       return "Fewest hops";
   }
   return "?";
 }
@@ -14154,14 +14157,15 @@ static DiscoveredAddCtx s_disc_add_ctx[DISCOVERED_MAX];
 static void openDiscoveredModalCb(lv_event_t* e);
 
 // ---- Discovered-list sort (mirrors the Contacts sort) -------------------------
-// Recently heard / Name / Distance, each with an ascending/descending toggle.
+// Recently heard / Name / Distance / Hops, each with an ascending/descending toggle.
 // "Recent message" is contacts-only (discovered nodes have no message history) so
 // it's omitted. Distance excludes entries that have shared no location.
 enum DiscSortMode : uint8_t {
   DISC_SORT_RECENT   = 0,   // newest advert first (default)
   DISC_SORT_AZ       = 1,   // name A-Z
   DISC_SORT_DISTANCE = 2,   // nearest first; no-location entries excluded
-  DISC_SORT_COUNT    = 3,
+  DISC_SORT_HOPS     = 3,   // fewest hops first; path-unknown entries sink to the end (#718)
+  DISC_SORT_COUNT    = 4,
 };
 static uint8_t g_disc_sort      = DISC_SORT_RECENT;
 static bool    g_disc_sort_desc = false;
@@ -14170,6 +14174,7 @@ static const char* discSortOptName(uint8_t m) {
     case DISC_SORT_RECENT:   return "Recently heard";
     case DISC_SORT_AZ:       return "Name (A-Z)";
     case DISC_SORT_DISTANCE: return "Nearest first";
+    case DISC_SORT_HOPS:     return "Fewest hops";
   }
   return "?";
 }
@@ -14186,6 +14191,14 @@ static bool discSortBefore(int ia, int ib, double self_lat, double self_lon) {
       if (da < db) prim = -1; else if (da > db) prim = 1;
       break;
     }
+    case DISC_SORT_HOPS: {
+      // Unknown path sinks to the end whichever way the list is flipped.
+      const bool ua = (A.path_len == OUT_PATH_UNKNOWN), ub = (B.path_len == OUT_PATH_UNKNOWN);
+      if (ua != ub) return ub;
+      const uint8_t ha = pathHops(A.path_len), hb = pathHops(B.path_len);
+      if (ha != hb) prim = (ha < hb) ? -1 : 1;
+      break;
+    }
     case DISC_SORT_AZ:
       prim = strcasecmp(A.ci.name, B.ci.name);
       break;
@@ -32663,7 +32676,7 @@ static lv_obj_t* s_ct_sort_sheet  = nullptr; // Sort & filter overlay
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_normal_bar  = nullptr; // header toolbar shown in normal mode
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_select_bar  = nullptr; // header toolbar shown in select mode
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_del_btn     = nullptr; // "Delete (N)" button in the select bar
-static lv_obj_t* s_ct_sort_btns[CONTACTS_SORT_COUNT] = { nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr };
+static lv_obj_t* s_ct_sort_btns[CONTACTS_SORT_COUNT] = {};
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_filter_btns[6] = { nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr, nullptr };
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_filter_btn_lbl = nullptr;   // header Filter button label (shows the active filter)
 static lv_obj_t* s_ct_disc_badge     = nullptr;   // count badge on the header Discovered button
@@ -33059,6 +33072,7 @@ static void openContactsSortSheet(){
   s_ct_sort_btns[1] = ctSheetOption(card, contactsSortOptName(CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD), ctSortOptCb, CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD, false);
   s_ct_sort_btns[2] = ctSheetOption(card, contactsSortOptName(CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG),   ctSortOptCb, CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG,   false);
   s_ct_sort_btns[3] = ctSheetOption(card, contactsSortOptName(CONTACTS_SORT_DISTANCE),   ctSortOptCb, CONTACTS_SORT_DISTANCE,   false);
+  s_ct_sort_btns[4] = ctSheetOption(card, contactsSortOptName(CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS),       ctSortOptCb, CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS,       false);
   ctSortRowsRepaint();   // tap the active row again to flip ascending/descending
   lv_obj_t* sp = lv_obj_create(card); lv_obj_remove_style_all(sp); lv_obj_set_size(sp, 1, 4);
   ctSheetOption(card, LV_SYMBOL_TRASH "  Select to delete", ctSelectFromSheetCb, 0, false);
@@ -45795,6 +45809,13 @@ static void refreshContactsList() {
       const double db = contactDistanceKm(s_ct_sort_self_lat, s_ct_sort_self_lon,
                                           eb->gps_lat / 1.0e6, eb->gps_lon / 1.0e6);
       if (da < db) prim = -1; else if (da > db) prim = 1;
+    } else if (g_contacts_sort == CONTACTS_SORT_HOPS) {
+      // Fewest hops first; a row with no known path (shows no hop count) sinks to
+      // the end whichever way the list is flipped.
+      const bool ua = (ea->out_path_len == OUT_PATH_UNKNOWN), ub = (eb->out_path_len == OUT_PATH_UNKNOWN);
+      if (ua != ub) return ua ? 1 : -1;
+      const uint8_t ha = pathHops(ea->out_path_len), hb = pathHops(eb->out_path_len);
+      if (ha != hb) prim = (ha < hb) ? -1 : 1;
     } else if (g_contacts_sort == CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_HEARD ||
                g_contacts_sort == CONTACTS_SORT_LAST_MSG) {
       // Contacts whose last-heard renders as "?" sink to the end of the time-based