Query Loop – search results

i am using twenty 24 theme,
on my page i have links to categories, which load up the All Archives template, which has the Query Loop.

if i want to sort by oldest first or something, the only way i can see to do this is turning off Inherit query from template. (which then shows options) when i do this and go back to the page and click a category link, the results are sorting by oldest by not just from the linked category? i don’t understand whats wrong? or why?

thanks