The fastest way: open TextEdit and save as plain text

The simplest path is to use TextEdit, which comes built into every Mac. Open Spotlight by pressing Command+Space, type "TextEdit", and press Enter. A blank document opens when ready.

Before you type anything, you must change one setting. Go to the Format menu at the top and click "Make Plain Text". This step matters because TextEdit defaults to rich text format, which adds invisible formatting codes that some programs cannot read. Plain text is just the words you type, nothing else.

Now type your content. When you are done, press Command+S to save. Give your document a name, choose where to save it (your Desktop or Documents folder are common choices), and click Save. Your document is now a .txt file that opens on any device.

Key Takeaways

  • TextEdit comes free on every Mac and creates plain text documents without any setup or downloads.
  • You must switch TextEdit to plain text mode before typing, using the Format menu, or your document will contain hidden formatting.
  • Saving with Command+S creates a .txt file that opens on Windows, phones, and any other device.
  • If you want formatting like bold or different fonts, use Pages or Google Docs instead of TextEdit.

What happens if you forget to switch to plain text mode

If you type in TextEdit without changing the format first, you create a .rtf file (rich text format) instead of a .txt file. This file still opens on most devices, but it carries hidden codes for things like font size and spacing. Some programs strip these codes out, which can make your document look different than you intended.

If this happens, open the document again in TextEdit, go to Format, click "Make Plain Text", and save. A dialog box appears asking if you want to convert. Click "Convert" and your document becomes plain text. The formatting disappears, but the words stay.

Using Google Docs if you want to share or edit later

If you plan to share the document with someone else or edit it from your phone, Google Docs is faster than TextEdit. Go to docs.google.com in your web browser, click the plus sign to create a new document, and start typing. Your document saves automatically.

Google Docs keeps your document in the cloud, which means you can open it from any device with internet access. You can also share it with others and let them edit at the same time. When you are done, you can read it as a .txt or .docx file if you need to send it somewhere else.

Creating a document in Pages if you need formatting

Pages is Apple's word processor and comes free on newer Macs. Open Spotlight (Command+Space), type "Pages", and press Enter. Click "Create Document" and choose a blank template. Pages lets you add bold, italics, different fonts, colors, and images — things TextEdit cannot do.

Pages saves documents in its own format by default, but you can save as .docx (Microsoft Word) or .pdf if you need to share. Press Command+S, choose your format from the dropdown menu, and save. Pages is useful if you are writing something that needs to look polished, but it is more complex than TextEdit if you just need plain words.

Where your document actually lives on your Mac

When you save a document, it goes to the folder you chose — usually Desktop or Documents. You can find it later by opening Finder (the face icon in your dock) and clicking the folder name on the left side. Your document appears in the list.

If you cannot find it, open Spotlight (Command+Space), type the document name, and press Enter. Spotlight searches your entire Mac and shows you where the file is. You can click the result to open it when ready.

Saving to iCloud so your document syncs across devices

If you use iCloud on your Mac, you can save documents to iCloud Drive instead of just your computer. When you press Command+S, look for "iCloud Drive" in the location dropdown before you click Save. Your document then appears on your iPhone, iPad, and any other Mac you own that uses the same iCloud account.

This is useful if you start a document on your Mac and want to finish it on your phone, or if your Mac breaks and you need to recover your work. iCloud Drive is included free with every iCloud account, though you get only 5 GB of storage before you have to pay for more.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I create a text document without TextEdit?

Yes. Google Docs, Pages, Microsoft Word, and many other programs create text documents. TextEdit is just the simplest because it is already on your Mac and opens when ready. If you already use another program, use that instead.

What is the difference between .txt and .docx?

.txt is plain text with no formatting — just words. .docx is Microsoft Word format and can contain bold, colors, images, and other formatting. Most people can open both, but .txt is simpler and smaller. Use .txt unless you need formatting.

Why does my TextEdit document look different on my friend's computer?

This usually happens if you did not switch to plain text mode before saving. TextEdit in rich text mode adds formatting codes that other programs interpret differently. Switch to plain text mode, save again, and send the new version.

Is it safe to save documents to iCloud?

Yes. iCloud is encrypted and backed up by Apple. Your documents are safer on iCloud than on your computer alone, because if your Mac breaks, your documents still exist in the cloud. You can turn off iCloud sync anytime in System Settings.

Can I password-protect a text document?

Plain text documents cannot be password-protected. If you need security, use Pages or Microsoft Word, which have password options. Save the document, go to File menu, look for "Protect" or "Password", and follow the prompts.