The fastest way: use TextEdit and save as plain text
Open TextEdit from your Applications folder or by pressing Command+Space, typing "TextEdit", and pressing Enter. When the blank document opens, go to Format menu and click "Make Plain Text" — this is the step most people miss. If you skip it, Mac will save your file as a rich text document (.rtf) instead of a plain text file (.txt), and you will have to rename it later.
Type or paste your content. When you are ready to save, press Command+S. In the dialog box that appears, give your file a name and make sure it ends with .txt — for example, "grocery_list.txt" or "notes.txt". Choose where you want to save it (your Desktop, Documents folder, or anywhere else), then click Save.
That file is now a plain text document. You can open it with TextEdit, Notes, or any text editor, and it will look the same on any device or operating system.
Key Takeaways
- TextEdit creates text files when you switch to plain text mode before saving, which you access through the Format menu.
- Always add .txt to the end of your filename when saving, or Mac may save it as a rich text file instead.
- Terminal and text editors like VS Code offer faster methods if you create text files regularly or work with code.
- Plain text files open on any device and take up almost no storage space, making them reliable for long-term storage.
Using Terminal if you create files often
If you regularly create text files, Terminal is faster than opening TextEdit each time. Press Command+Space, type "Terminal", and press Enter. A black window will open.
Type this command and press Enter: touch filename.txt — replace "filename" with whatever you want to call your file. For example, touch shopping.txt creates a file called shopping.txt in your current folder. The file appears when ready and is ready to edit.
To add text to the file without opening another program, type: echo "your text here" > filename.txt. Replace "your text here" with what you want in the file. If you want to add more text later without erasing what is already there, use two angle brackets instead: echo "more text" >> filename.txt.
To see what files you have created in your current folder, type ls and press Enter. A list appears showing all the files and folders in that location.
Using a dedicated text editor for code or longer documents
If you write code, configuration files, or long documents regularly, a text editor like Visual Studio Code, Sublime Text, or BBEdit will save you time. These programs open faster than TextEdit, remember where you last saved files, and highlight different parts of your text in different colors if you are writing code.
read and install any of these from their websites. Open the program, create a new file (usually Command+N), type your content, then save with Command+S. Choose .txt as the file type if prompted. These editors also let you work with many files at once in tabs, which TextEdit cannot do.
For most people, TextEdit is enough. Use a dedicated editor only if you find yourself creating text files multiple times a week.
Where to save your text files so you can find them later
When you save a text file, Mac asks you to choose a location. Your Documents folder is the safest default — it syncs to iCloud by default, so you have a backup, and it is straightforward to find later. Your Desktop works too, though files pile up there quickly and slow down your Mac if you store hundreds of files there.
Create a folder inside Documents for the type of files you are saving. For example, a "Notes" folder for personal notes, a "Receipts" folder for purchase confirmations, or a "Writing" folder for drafts. This takes 30 seconds now and saves you 10 minutes of searching later.
Avoid saving text files to your Downloads folder. That folder is meant for temporary files, and many people empty it without checking what is inside.
Renaming or moving a text file you already created
To rename a file, find it in Finder, right-click it, and select "Rename". Type the new name. If you accidentally removed the .txt extension, add it back — for example, change "notes" to "notes.txt".
To move a file to a different folder, drag it from its current location to the folder you want. You can also right-click the file, select "Move", and choose a destination folder from the dialog that appears.
If you create a text file and later realize you saved it in the wrong place, moving it takes five seconds. Do not leave it where it is and create a new copy — you will end up with duplicates and confusion about which one is current.
Checking that your file actually saved as .txt
Open Finder and navigate to the folder where you saved your file. If you do not see the .txt extension after the filename, your file may have saved in a different format. Right-click the file and select "Get Info". Look for "Kind:" — it should say "Plain Text Document" or "Text Document".
If it says "Rich Text Format" or "RTF Document", you used TextEdit but forgot to switch to plain text mode before saving. Right-click the file, select "Open With", choose TextEdit, then go to Format menu and click "Make Plain Text". Save the file again with Command+S, and it will convert to .txt.
If you used Terminal to create the file, it is already plain text — Terminal does not create rich text files.
Text files versus other file types you might create on Mac
A .txt file is plain text with no formatting — no bold, italics, colors, or fonts. If you need those things, use .rtf (rich text format, which TextEdit creates by default) or .docx (Microsoft Word format). But plain text files are smaller, open faster, and work everywhere.
If you are writing code, use .py for Python, .js for JavaScript, .html for web pages, or .css for stylesheets. Your text editor will recognize these extensions and color-code the text to make it easier to read. A .txt file will not do this.
For most notes, lists, and straightforward documents, .txt is the right choice. It is the simplest format and the one least likely to break or become unreadable years from now.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a text file on my Mac without using TextEdit?
Yes. Terminal is the fastest method if you are comfortable typing commands. You can also use any text editor like VS Code, Sublime Text, or even Notes. All of them can save files as plain text (.txt).
What is the difference between .txt and .rtf files?
.txt is plain text with no formatting and opens on any device. .rtf (rich text format) lets you use bold, italics, and different fonts, but takes up more space and does not open the same way on all devices. TextEdit creates .rtf by default unless you switch to plain text mode first.
Why does my text file have a .rtf extension instead of .txt?
You saved it from TextEdit without switching to plain text mode first. Open the file in TextEdit, go to Format menu, click "Make Plain Text", save it again, and it will convert to .txt.
Where should I save text files so they sync across my devices?
Save them to your Documents folder, which syncs to iCloud by default. You can then open the same files on your iPhone, iPad, or other Mac. Avoid Downloads and Desktop folders — they do not sync automatically.
Can I create a text file directly on my Mac desktop?
Yes, but it is not the fastest way. Right-click your desktop, and you will not see a "New File" option — Mac does not have one. Use TextEdit or Terminal instead, then move the file to your desktop if you want it there.