How To Sort Folders By Size In Windows Tutorial

Windows File Explorer offers various tools to help users organize their files and folders, but sorting folders by size can be particularly challenging due to the limitations of the native File Explorer. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to sort folders by size in Windows, including some helpful workarounds and third-party solutions.

Sorting Files by Size

Before diving into sorting folders, it's important to understand how to sort files by size, as this can sometimes help in identifying which files within a folder are consuming the most space.

• Using File Explorer Columns:

  • Open the File Explorer window.
  • Click on the header of the “Size” column. This will sort the files based on their size, with the downward arrow indicating descending order and the upward arrow indicating ascending order.

• Using the Sort Toolbar Button:

  • Click on the “Sort” toolbar button in the top ribbon.
  • In the context menu that appears, click on “More” and select the option to sort by size.

• Using Right-Click Sort:

• Right-click on the body of the folder.

• In the pop-up menu, click on “Sort by -> Size”.

Sorting Folders by Size

Unfortunately, Windows File Explorer does not natively support sorting folders by size. However, there are some workarounds and third-party applications that can help.

Using Third-Party Applications

Since Windows does not provide a built-in method to sort folders by size, you can use third-party applications to achieve this.

• Folder Size:

  • Download and install Folder Size from its official website. This application supports Windows 11, 10, 8.1, and Vista.
  • Launch Folder Size and select the drive you want to scan.
  • Click on the “Scan” button in the menu bar and choose “Scan Selected Drive.”
  • After the scan is complete, Folder Size will automatically arrange all the folders according to their size, providing detailed graphs and reports.

• SpaceSniffer:

  • Download and install SpaceSniffer, a freeware that provides a tree map visualization of your system's storage.
  • This application helps in recognizing the spread of repository resources across the system, but it only allows sorting files in ascending order.

Viewing Folder Size

To understand which folders are consuming the most space, you can view the folder size manually.

• Hover Over the Folder:

  • Hover your cursor over the folder to see a tooltip with the folder details, including its size.

• Properties:

  • Right-click on a folder and select “Properties” from the pop-up menu. This will open a window with comprehensive data about the folder, including its size.

Additional Tips

Common Issues and Solutions

• Windows Defender Warning:

  • If you encounter an “Unknown publisher” error when running third-party applications like Folder Size, click on “More Info” on the Defender prompt and then click on “Run anyway” to bypass the warning.

• Pinning File Explorer:

  • If you can’t find File Explorer, it is usually pinned to the Taskbar. If not, you can press Win+E to open it or search for it through the Windows Search bar and pin it back to the Taskbar.

Alternative Methods for Sorting

While sorting folders by size is not directly possible, you can use the following method to sort files by month, which might indirectly help in managing folder sizes.

• Sorting by Month:
  • Open the folder in which you need to classify items by month.
  • Click on “View” and select “Details” to arrange the folder in the Details view.
  • In the “Date modified” column, click on the downward-pointing arrow associated with the word “Date modified.”
  • Check the checkbox associated with “Select a date or date range.”
  • Click on the month-year to contract the calendar and show the months. Select a month to see all files modified in that month.

By following these steps and using the recommended third-party applications, you can effectively manage and sort your folders by size, even though Windows File Explorer does not natively support this functionality.