diff --git a/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeFileSorter.tsx b/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeFileSorter.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..3cb716d0d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeFileSorter.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+import React, { useState } from 'react';
+import { Group, Button, Text, ActionIcon, Stack } from '@mantine/core';
+import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
+import SortIcon from '@mui/icons-material/Sort';
+import SortByAlphaIcon from '@mui/icons-material/SortByAlpha';
+import AccessTimeIcon from '@mui/icons-material/AccessTime';
+import CalendarTodayIcon from '@mui/icons-material/CalendarToday';
+import ArrowUpwardIcon from '@mui/icons-material/ArrowUpward';
+import ArrowDownwardIcon from '@mui/icons-material/ArrowDownward';
+
+interface MergeFileSorterProps {
+  onSortFiles: (sortType: 'filename' | 'dateModified', ascending: boolean) => void;
+  disabled?: boolean;
+}
+
+const MergeFileSorter: React.FC<MergeFileSorterProps> = ({
+  onSortFiles,
+  disabled = false,
+}) => {
+  const { t } = useTranslation();
+  const [ascending, setAscending] = useState(true);
+
+  const sortButtons = [
+    {
+      key: 'filename' as const,
+      icon: <SortByAlphaIcon/>,
+      label: t('merge.sortBy.filename', 'Sort by Filename'),
+    },
+    {
+      key: 'dateModified' as const,
+      icon: <AccessTimeIcon/>,
+      label: t('merge.sortBy.dateModified', 'Sort by Date Modified'),
+    },
+  ];
+
+  const handleSortDirectionToggle = () => {
+    setAscending(!ascending);
+  };
+
+  return (
+    <Stack gap="xs">
+      <Text size="sm" fw={500}>
+        {t('merge.sortBy.description', "Files will be merged in the order they're selected. Drag to reorder or use the buttons below to sort.")}
+      </Text>
+      <Group gap="xs">
+        {sortButtons.map(({ key, icon, label }) => (
+          <Button
+            key={key}
+            variant="light"
+            size="xs"
+            leftSection={icon}
+            onClick={() => onSortFiles(key, ascending)}
+            disabled={disabled}
+          >
+            {label}
+          </Button>
+        ))}
+
+        <ActionIcon
+          variant="light"
+          size="sm"
+          onClick={handleSortDirectionToggle}
+          disabled={disabled}
+          title={ascending ? t('merge.sortBy.ascending', 'Ascending') : t('merge.sortBy.descending', 'Descending')}
+        >
+          {ascending ? <ArrowUpwardIcon/> : <ArrowDownwardIcon/>}
+        </ActionIcon>
+      </Group>
+    </Stack>
+  );
+};
+
+export default MergeFileSorter;
diff --git a/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeSettings.tsx b/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeSettings.tsx
index f7611d4ec..a12695081 100644
--- a/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeSettings.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/components/tools/merge/MergeSettings.tsx
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 import React from 'react';
-import { Stack, Select, Checkbox, Text } from '@mantine/core';
+import { Stack, Checkbox } from '@mantine/core';
 import { useTranslation } from 'react-i18next';
 import { MergeParameters } from '../../../hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters';
 
@@ -16,29 +16,8 @@ const MergeSettings: React.FC<MergeSettingsProps> = ({
 }) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
 
-  const mergeOrderOptions = [
-    { value: 'orderProvided', label: t('merge.orderBy.orderProvided', 'Dragging Files') },
-    { value: 'byFileName', label: t('merge.orderBy.byFileName', 'By File Name') },
-    { value: 'byDateModified', label: t('merge.orderBy.byDateModified', 'By Date Modified') },
-    { value: 'byDateCreated', label: t('merge.orderBy.byDateCreated', 'By Date Created') },
-    { value: 'byPDFTitle', label: t('merge.orderBy.byPDFTitle', 'By PDF Title') },
-  ];
-
   return (
     <Stack gap="md">
-      <div>
-        <Text size="sm" fw={500} mb="xs">
-          {t('merge.orderBy.title', 'Merge Order')}
-        </Text>
-        <Select
-          data={mergeOrderOptions}
-          value={parameters.mergeOrder}
-          onChange={(value) => onParameterChange('mergeOrder', value as MergeParameters['mergeOrder'])}
-          disabled={disabled}
-          placeholder={t('merge.orderBy.placeholder', 'Select merge order')}
-        />
-      </div>
-
       <Checkbox
         label={t('merge.removeDigitalSignature', 'Remove digital signature in the merged file?')}
         checked={parameters.removeDigitalSignature}
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts
index 393b16ab2..3dba39b71 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ const buildFormData = (parameters: MergeParameters, files: File[]): FormData =>
   files.forEach((file) => {
     formData.append("fileInput", file);
   });
-  formData.append("sortType", parameters.mergeOrder);
+  formData.append("sortType", "orderProvided"); // Always use orderProvided since UI handles sorting
   formData.append("removeCertSign", parameters.removeDigitalSignature.toString());
   formData.append("generateToc", parameters.generateTableOfContents.toString());
 
diff --git a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters.ts b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters.ts
index 2ce21f478..c777f1489 100644
--- a/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters.ts
+++ b/frontend/src/hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters.ts
@@ -1,13 +1,11 @@
 import { useState, useCallback } from 'react';
 
 export interface MergeParameters {
-  mergeOrder: 'orderProvided' | 'byFileName' | 'byDateModified' | 'byDateCreated' | 'byPDFTitle';
   removeDigitalSignature: boolean;
   generateTableOfContents: boolean;
 }
 
 export const defaultMergeParameters: MergeParameters = {
-  mergeOrder: 'orderProvided',
   removeDigitalSignature: false,
   generateTableOfContents: false,
 };
diff --git a/frontend/src/tools/Merge.tsx b/frontend/src/tools/Merge.tsx
index 623f8eb0e..45005627c 100644
--- a/frontend/src/tools/Merge.tsx
+++ b/frontend/src/tools/Merge.tsx
@@ -1,11 +1,12 @@
-import React, { useEffect } from "react";
+import React, { useCallback, useEffect } from "react";
 import { useTranslation } from "react-i18next";
 import { useEndpointEnabled } from "../hooks/useEndpointConfig";
 import { useFileContext } from "../contexts/FileContext";
-import { useToolFileSelection } from "../contexts/FileSelectionContext";
+import { useToolFileSelection, useFileSelectionActions } from "../contexts/FileSelectionContext";
 
 import { createToolFlow } from "../components/tools/shared/createToolFlow";
 import MergeSettings from "../components/tools/merge/MergeSettings";
+import MergeFileSorter from "../components/tools/merge/MergeFileSorter";
 
 import { useMergeParameters } from "../hooks/tools/merge/useMergeParameters";
 import { useMergeOperation } from "../hooks/tools/merge/useMergeOperation";
@@ -15,6 +16,7 @@ const Merge = ({ onPreviewFile, onComplete, onError }: BaseToolProps) => {
   const { t } = useTranslation();
   const { setCurrentMode } = useFileContext();
   const { selectedFiles } = useToolFileSelection();
+  const { setSelectedFiles } = useFileSelectionActions();
 
   const mergeParams = useMergeParameters();
   const mergeOperation = useMergeOperation();
@@ -52,6 +54,27 @@ const Merge = ({ onPreviewFile, onComplete, onError }: BaseToolProps) => {
     setCurrentMode("merge");
   };
 
+  const sortFiles = useCallback((sortType: 'filename' | 'dateModified', ascending: boolean = true) => {
+    setSelectedFiles(((prevFiles: File[]) => {
+      const sortedFiles = [...prevFiles].sort((a, b) => {
+        let comparison = 0;
+
+        switch (sortType) {
+          case 'filename':
+            comparison = a.name.localeCompare(b.name);
+            break;
+          case 'dateModified':
+            comparison = a.lastModified - b.lastModified;
+            break;
+        }
+
+        return ascending ? comparison : -comparison;
+      });
+
+      return sortedFiles;
+    }) as any /* FIX ME: Parameter type is wrong on setSelectedFiles */);
+  }, []);
+
   const hasFiles = selectedFiles.length > 1; // Merge requires at least 2 files
   const hasResults = mergeOperation.files.length > 0 || mergeOperation.downloadUrl !== null;
   const settingsCollapsed = !hasFiles || hasResults;
@@ -63,6 +86,16 @@ const Merge = ({ onPreviewFile, onComplete, onError }: BaseToolProps) => {
       placeholder: "Select multiple PDF files to merge",
     },
     steps: [
+      {
+        title: "Sort Files",
+        isCollapsed: settingsCollapsed,
+        content: (
+          <MergeFileSorter
+            onSortFiles={sortFiles}
+            disabled={!hasFiles || endpointLoading}
+          />
+        ),
+      },
       {
         title: "Settings",
         isCollapsed: settingsCollapsed,