How to create a new text file in a Finder folder

Create a text file with TextEdit

1. 1

   Start a document

   Open TextEdit and choose File → New, or New Document if it opens a file picker.

2. 2

   Switch to plain text

   Choose Format → Make Plain Text. If the menu says Make Rich Text instead, the document is already plain text.

3. 3

   Save it in your folder

   Choose File → Save, name it notes.txt, and pick your folder. Expand the save dialog to browse. You can leave the file blank or write a few lines first.

4. 4

   Open it from Finder

   Your notes.txt file is ready. Double-click it in Finder whenever you want to add something.

Make plain text your default

TextEdit starts in rich text mode, which saves formatting along with your words. Choose Plain text under TextEdit → Settings → New Document if you mostly use it for simple notes.

If a file ends in .rtf, open it and choose Format → Make Plain Text before saving it as .txt. Renaming the extension alone won’t convert it.

• Apple: create, save, and convert TextEdit documents

Create it straight from Finder with NeatClick 1.2

NeatClick’s New File action creates the file in the folder you’re already working in. Handy for a quick meeting-notes.txt before a call.

1. Right-click an empty area of the Finder folder, or the folder itself, and choose NeatClick → New File….
2. Choose a template, enter a filename, and click Create.
3. Open the new file in your usual editor and start writing.

• Enable NeatClick’s Finder extension after installation. In affected iCloud-managed Desktop and Documents folders, use the NeatClick Actions Services fallback.

Pick a starting point

Choose Text for notes, Markdown for a README, or JSON for a configuration file. The JSON template starts with {} so you can fill it in straight away.

You can also import custom templates for files you create often.

Can’t find the file?

Check where TextEdit saved it. The save dialog may suggest iCloud or the folder you used last. Search for the filename in Finder, then move it into the folder you wanted.

Frequently asked questions