The fastest way to make a text file

A text file is the simplest kind of file your computer can store. It holds only words, numbers, and basic punctuation — no formatting, no images, no hidden data. You create one by opening a plain text editor, typing what you need, and saving it with a .txt extension at the end of the filename.

The method depends on what device you use. On Windows, you can right-click your desktop or inside a folder and select "New" → "Text Document". On Mac, open the app called TextEdit, go to Format menu, click "Make Plain Text", then type and save. On Linux, right-click in a file manager window and choose "Create Document" or "New File", or open a terminal and type touch filename.txt.

All three methods take under a minute. The key is making sure you save the file with the .txt extension so your computer knows it is a text file and not something else.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, right-click your desktop or folder, select "New" → "Text Document", and the file appears ready to rename and open.
  • On Mac, use TextEdit, switch to plain text mode in the Format menu, type your content, then save with a .txt extension.
  • On Linux, right-click in your file manager and choose "Create Document", or open a terminal and type touch filename.txt.
  • Always save with a .txt extension so your operating system recognizes it as a text file.
  • Text files work on any device and any operating system, making them the most portable way to store straightforward information.

Creating a text file on Windows

Right-click on your desktop or inside any folder where you want the file to live. A menu appears. Click "New", then look for "Text Document" in the submenu. Windows creates a file called "New Text Document.txt" and highlights the name so you can type over it when ready.

Type the name you want — for example, "grocery list" or "passwords" or "notes from meeting". Do not type .txt; Windows adds that automatically when you press Enter. The file is now created and ready to open. Double-click it to open it in Notepad, the text editor built into Windows.

If you do not see "Text Document" in the New menu, your system may have a different setup. Instead, open Notepad directly: press the Windows key, type "Notepad", and press Enter. Type your content, then go to File → Save As. Choose where to save it, type a filename, make sure the file type is set to "All Files", and add .txt at the end of the name yourself.

Creating a text file on Mac

Open the Applications folder, then open Utilities, then double-click TextEdit. A blank document opens. Before you type anything, go to the Format menu at the top and click "Make Plain Text". This is the crucial step — if you skip it, Mac will save your file in a format that includes hidden formatting, and it will not be a true text file.

Now type whatever you need. When you are done, press Command+S (or go to File → Save). A dialog box appears asking for a filename. Type the name you want, and make sure the filename ends with .txt — for example, "notes.txt" or "to-do.txt". Choose where to save it and click Save.

If you already have a document open in TextEdit and want to convert it to plain text, go to Format → Make Plain Text, then save it. Mac will warn you that some formatting will be lost; click "Use .txt" to proceed.

Creating a text file on Linux

Linux offers several routes depending on which file manager you use. In most graphical file managers (like Nautilus, Dolphin, or Thunar), right-click in the folder where you want the file and look for "Create Document", "New File", or "New Empty File". Click it, type a name with .txt at the end, and press Enter. The file is created and ready to open.

If you prefer the terminal, open it and navigate to the folder where you want the file. Type touch filename.txt and press Enter. The file is created when ready. Then type nano filename.txt to open it in the Nano text editor, type your content, press Ctrl+X, then Y, then Enter to save and close.

You can also open any text editor directly from the terminal. Type gedit filename.txt (on GNOME desktops) or kate filename.txt (on KDE desktops) or vim filename.txt (in terminal-based editors). The editor opens with a blank file ready for typing.

What to do after you create the file

Once your text file exists, you can open it by double-clicking it, and it will open in your default text editor. On Windows that is Notepad. On Mac it is TextEdit (if you set it to plain text mode). On Linux it depends on your desktop environment, but common choices are Gedit, Kate, or Vim.

You can move the file to different folders by dragging it, rename it by right-clicking and selecting "Rename", or delete it by pressing Delete or dragging it to the trash. Text files are small and take almost no storage space, so you can create as many as you need without worrying about running out of room.

If you want to open the file in a different text editor than the default, right-click it, select "Open With" (Windows and Linux) or "Open With" (Mac), and choose the editor you prefer. This does not change the file itself — it just opens it in a different program this time.

Why use .txt instead of other formats

A .txt file is readable on any device, any operating system, and any software. You can open it on a phone, a tablet, a computer from 1995, or a computer from next year. You can email it, upload it to a website, or store it in the cloud. No special program is required.

Other formats like .doc (Microsoft Word), .pages (Mac), or .odt (LibreOffice) include hidden formatting instructions that only certain programs can read. A .txt file contains only the text itself, nothing else. This makes it slower to corrupt, easier to share, and easier to back up.

The trade-off is that you cannot make text bold, italic, colored, or different sizes in a .txt file. If you need formatting, you would use a word processor instead. But for lists, notes, scripts, code, and any information that does not need visual styling, .txt is the most reliable choice.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a text file on my phone?

Yes. On iPhone, use the Notes app (which saves as plain text by default) or read a text editor like iA Writer or 1Writer. On Android, use Google Keep, Notepad, or any text editor from the Google Play Store. Most phone text editors save as .txt automatically, though some save in their own format unless you export as .txt.

What is the difference between .txt and .doc?

.txt is plain text with no formatting. .doc is Microsoft Word format and includes fonts, colors, bold, italics, and other styling. .txt files are smaller, open everywhere, and never corrupt. .doc files require Word or a compatible program and can fail if the file is damaged.

Do I have to type the .txt extension myself?

On Windows and Mac, if you use the built-in "New Text Document" or TextEdit method, the .txt extension is added automatically. On Linux it depends on your file manager; some add it, some do not. If you are unsure, type the extension yourself — it never hurts to be explicit.

Can I change a .txt file to a different format?

Yes. Open the file in the program you want to use (Word, Google Docs, Pages), make any changes you need, then save it in the new format. The original .txt file stays unchanged unless you delete it. You can also rename the file extension, but that only changes the label — the content inside stays the same.

What if my text file opens in the wrong program?

Right-click the file and select "Open With" (Windows and Linux) or "Open With" (Mac). Choose the text editor you prefer. To make that editor the default for all .txt files, look for a checkbox that says "Always use this app" or "Set as default" before clicking Open.