How to Save a Text or .txt File on a Computer

PDF download Download Article
PDF download Download Article

If you are working in a Word document and you want to save it instead as a .txt file, what do you do? This wikiHow will show you how to save your document as a .txt file. If, instead, you want to create a file, use Notepad (for Windows) or TextEdit (for Mac).

Steps

PDF download Download Article
  1. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-1.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-1.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/5\/51\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-1.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-1.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    Since these programs are all similar word processing documents, you can easily convert those files to a .txt file.
    • You can even follow these steps to save your Excel documents as .txt files, though the formatting may look different.
    • To create a new .txt document, follow the same steps using Notepad (Windows) or TextEdit (Mac). These programs are pre-installed when you buy your computer, so you don't have to worry about finding them online. You can use the search (in the Start menu) or Spotlight to search for these programs.
  2. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-2.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-2.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/a\/a2\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-2.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-2.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    It's usually in the menu near the top left-hand corner of the program window. For Macs, this is usually in the menu bar at the top of your screen.
    Advertisement
  3. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-3.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-3.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/0\/0d\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-3.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-3.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    This will open a new file manager window where you can name your file and specify the file type before saving it.
    • You may need to pick a save location before continuing.
  4. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-4.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-4.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/6\/6a\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-4.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-4.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    In order to change it from a program-specific file type (like .docx for Word), you'll need to change it to say ".txt" in the "save as type" list.
    • You can either leave the default name or change it.
  5. {"smallUrl":"https:\/\/www.wikihow.com\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-5.jpg\/v4-460px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-5.jpg","bigUrl":"\/images\/thumb\/2\/2a\/Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-5.jpg\/v4-728px-Save-a-Text-or-.txt-File-Step-5.jpg","smallWidth":460,"smallHeight":345,"bigWidth":728,"bigHeight":546,"licensing":"<div class=\"mw-parser-output\"><p>License: <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noreferrer noopener\" class=\"external text\" href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Fair_use\">Fair Use<\/a> (screenshot)<br>\n<\/p><\/div>"}
    When you're finished naming the file and specifying the file type, click Save to continue. [1]
    6. Advertisement

Expert Q&A

Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
      Advertisement

      Tips

      Submit a Tip
      All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
      Submit
      Thanks for submitting a tip for review!

      You Might Also Like

      How to Find a File's Path on Windows
      How to Open an ISO Files on Windows and Mac
      How to
      Run a BAT File on Windows
      How to Install MSI Files on Windows 10 or Windows 11
      How to
      Open an Img File on PC or Mac
      How to
      Delete Files That Cannot Be Deleted
      Easily Create a New File in Windows: User-Friendly Instructions
      A Guide to Rebuilding the Icon Cache on a Windows PC
      Block an .exe Running in Windows
      How to
      Copy a Folder with Batch File
      How to
      Install a Screensaver File in Windows
      How to
      Delete a File in Microsoft Windows Using Batch Files
      How to
      Extract a Tgz File in Windows from the Command Line
      How to
      Play WebM Files
      Advertisement

      References

      1. ↑ https://www.customguide.com/word/how-to-save-a-word-document-as-a-pdf

      About This Article

      Article Summary X

      1. Open your MS Word, Corel WordPerfect, or OpenOffice document.
      2. Click the File tab.
      3. Click Save As .
      4. Enter a document name and select "Plain text (.txt)" in the "Save as type" drop-down menu.
      5. Click Save .

      Did this summary help you?
      In other languages
      Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 24,083 times.

      Is this article up to date?

      Advertisement