How to Sort iPhone Photos by File Size

By Eugene Grunin, developer of SwipellioUpdated October 17, 2026

If your goal is space, start by finding the files that weigh the most. A long review of tiny pictures may achieve less than a careful look at a few large videos. Size helps you choose an order; it does not decide which memories are disposable.

Choose what you want to compare

In Swipellio, choose Photos to look at still images, Videos for clips, or Everything for a mixed review. Those are free basic modes. Switching the type keeps the question manageable: compare photos with photos when you want to understand your still-image library.

Choose Largest, then read the card

Largest is a free sort order and shows each item’s weight on its card. Review a file before setting it aside. A heavy video might be the one clip you want to keep, while several smaller recordings may no longer be useful. There is no requirement to delete the first result.

Decide between keep, delete and make smaller

Swipe right to keep or left to move to the in-app Trash Bin. If you want a video but not its file weight, video compression is a separate Pro tool. Quick Cleanup also provides specific transformations for supported photos and videos; it is not the same thing as sorting.

File weight is not a promise of immediate free space

The card reports the item’s size, not a guarantee that deleting it will instantly add the same number to iPhone Storage. Check Recently Deleted after emptying the app’s Bin, and allow the system time to update. Review results before making removal permanent.

Keep the session focused

Choose a few large items and make decisions you can verify. A size-ordered session can end after those files; it does not need to become a complete review of your history. If you prefer a chronological task, Older and Newer sorting are also free.

More guides

Check before deleting

A left swipe only moves the photo into the in-app Trash Bin. You can restore it until you empty the Bin; a double tap undoes the last swipe. After deleting from your library, check Recently Deleted in Photos too. Permanently deleting from there cannot be undone.

With iCloud Photos enabled, deleting also syncs to other devices on the same account. Keep a separate copy of important memories before permanently removing them.

Apple’s guide to deleting and recovering photos

Try Swipellio on iPhone

Everything, Photos, Videos and Screenshots are free basic modes, with no daily swipe cap. All sort orders, the Trash Bin and double-tap undo are included. No ads, cooldown timers or account.

Download on the App Store