diff --git a/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.cpp b/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.cpp
index c7ee9fa0c0..c5f99c3071 100644
--- a/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.cpp
+++ b/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.cpp
@@ -233,6 +233,16 @@ RiaPreferences::RiaPreferences()
     CAF_PDM_InitField( &m_writeEchoInGrdeclFiles, "writeEchoInGrdeclFiles", false, "Write NOECHO and ECHO in GRDECL files" );
     caf::PdmUiNativeCheckBoxEditor::configureFieldForEditor( &m_writeEchoInGrdeclFiles );
 
+    CAF_PDM_InitField( &m_useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault,
+                       "useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault",
+                       false,
+                       "Use Recently Used Folder/File as Default",
+                       "",
+                       "When enabled, file dialogs will open at the most recently used folder/file path. "
+                       "When disabled, the last used directory combined with the default filter pattern is used.",
+                       "" );
+    caf::PdmUiNativeCheckBoxEditor::configureFieldForEditor( &m_useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault );
+
     CAF_PDM_InitFieldNoDefault( &m_gridCalculationExpressionFolder, "gridCalculationExpressionFolder", "Grid Calculation Expression Folder" );
     CAF_PDM_InitFieldNoDefault( &m_summaryCalculationExpressionFolder,
                                 "summaryCalculationExpressionFolder",
@@ -504,6 +514,9 @@ void RiaPreferences::defineUiOrdering( QString uiConfigName, caf::PdmUiOrdering&
 #endif
     else if ( uiConfigName == RiaPreferences::tabNameImportExport() )
     {
+        caf::PdmUiGroup* diskOpsGroup = uiOrdering.addNewGroup( "Disk Operations" );
+        diskOpsGroup->add( &m_useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault );
+
         caf::PdmUiGroup* importGroup = uiOrdering.addNewGroup( "Import" );
         importGroup->add( &m_surfaceImportResamplingDistance );
         importGroup->add( &m_multiLateralWellPattern );
@@ -857,6 +870,14 @@ bool RiaPreferences::writeEchoInGrdeclFiles() const
     return m_writeEchoInGrdeclFiles;
 }
 
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+///
+//--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
+bool RiaPreferences::useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault() const
+{
+    return m_useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault;
+}
+
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 ///
 //--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
diff --git a/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.h b/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.h
index f19608ea6f..8408f41900 100644
--- a/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.h
+++ b/ApplicationLibCode/Application/RiaPreferences.h
@@ -88,6 +88,7 @@ public:
     void        setLastUsedPlotTemplatePath( const QString& templatePath );
     bool        openExportedPdfInViewer() const;
     bool        writeEchoInGrdeclFiles() const;
+    bool        useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault() const;
 
     RiaDefines::ThemeEnum guiTheme() const;
 
@@ -196,6 +197,7 @@ private:
     caf::PdmField<double>              m_pageBottomMargin;
     caf::PdmField<bool>                m_openExportedPdfInViewer;
     caf::PdmField<bool>                m_writeEchoInGrdeclFiles;
+    caf::PdmField<bool>                m_useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault;
 
     caf::PdmField<QString>       m_plotTemplateFolders;
     caf::PdmField<int>           m_maxPlotTemplateFoldersDepth;
diff --git a/ApplicationLibCode/Commands/RicRecursiveFileSearchDialog.cpp b/ApplicationLibCode/Commands/RicRecursiveFileSearchDialog.cpp
index ca1d57f4ae..f44a7682dd 100644
--- a/ApplicationLibCode/Commands/RicRecursiveFileSearchDialog.cpp
+++ b/ApplicationLibCode/Commands/RicRecursiveFileSearchDialog.cpp
@@ -22,6 +22,7 @@
 #include "RiaFilePathTools.h"
 #include "RiaFileSearchTools.h"
 #include "RiaGuiApplication.h"
+#include "RiaPreferences.h"
 #include "RiaStdStringTools.h"
 #include "RiaStringListSerializer.h"
 
@@ -234,7 +235,15 @@ RicRecursiveFileSearchDialogResult RicRecursiveFileSearchDialog::runRecursiveSea
         dialog.m_fileFilterField->setCurrentText( fileNameFilter );
         dialog.m_fileFilterField->setEditable( true );
 
-        dialog.m_pathFilterField->setCurrentText( QDir::toNativeSeparators( pathFilterText ) );
+        // Use most recently used path from registry (index 1) when preference is enabled, otherwise use constructed fallback (index 0)
+        if ( RiaPreferences::current()->useRecentlyUsedFolderAsDefault() && dialog.m_pathFilterField->count() > 1 )
+        {
+            dialog.m_pathFilterField->setCurrentIndex( 1 );
+        }
+        else
+        {
+            dialog.m_pathFilterField->setCurrentText( QDir::toNativeSeparators( pathFilterText ) );
+        }
         dialog.m_pathFilterField->setEditable( true );
 
         if ( !fileTypes.empty() )