How do I stop TextEdit from asking where to save a new file before creating it?

I figured it out. If you close all text windows before you quit TextEdit, it will show the dialog window the next time it starts. If you quit TextEdit with an empty "Untitled" window, it won't. It will open the untitled window.

ykt28403 wrote:

There's a new behavior in TextEdit which I'd love to be able to turn off. It used to be that, when I created a new .txt file, TextEdit wouldn't ask me where I wanted to save it until I was ready to save it. However, now, it asks me where I want to save the file before I've even created the file.

This is actually a very old behaviour.

Often, I just use TextEdit as a temporary clipboard to paste something I want to remember, then delete the file without saving it. So, when I open TextEdit, I want to paste the text I've copied and am trying to keep somewhere before I forget.

In all honesty, TextEdit isn't very good for that. Sometimes I use Stickies for this, but mostly BBEdit. Mainly the problem is rich text. I usually want plain text. I realize TextEdit can do plain text, but it would rather not.

Now, when I try to create a new .txt file, TextEdit wants me to decide where I want to put it before I can create the file.

It's just asking where you want to default the save location to be, should you choose to save it.

I can choose "New Document" to bypass this; but I'd like to revert back to how it used to be (it didn't ask). Is there a setting where I can stop this new behavior?

Somewhat. The problem here is iCloud. There is no way to avoid this if you want to use iCloud with TextEdit. But if iCloud doesn't matter for you, go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive > and turn off TextEdit.

dialabrain wrote:

It is listed on the iMac running Ventura, and it's checked but it has the same issue. It's not even my account or tied to any of my computers. I give up.

I unchecked TextEdit from iCloud on the iMac running Ventura and it now always opens a new document.

Just to make sure we're on the same page…

1. Open TextEdit
2. Click the red close button to close the TextEdit window
3. Quit TextEdit
4. Reopen TextEdit

Other than the fact it wouldn't delete the note when you're done, it sounds as if using the Quick Note feature might do exactly what you want:

Create a Quick Note on Mac - Apple Support

dialabrain wrote:

etresoft wrote:

Somewhat. The problem here is iCloud. There is no way to avoid this if you want to use iCloud with TextEdit. But if iCloud doesn't matter for you, go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive > and turn off TextEdit.

I was hopeful this might be the issue but TextEdit isn't listed in "System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive" on any of the Macs I've tested.

I thought etresoft had nailed it, too... but in my mac, TextEdit is listed, and checked, and I do not have the problem...

etresoft wrote:

Somewhat. The problem here is iCloud. There is no way to avoid this if you want to use iCloud with TextEdit. But if iCloud doesn't matter for you, go to System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive > and turn off TextEdit.

I was hopeful this might be the issue but TextEdit isn't listed in "System Settings > Apple Account > iCloud > Drive > Apps syncing to iCloud Drive" on any of the Macs I've tested.

Not what you ask, but maybe what you want?

Might a quick note work for your needs here, pending the clipboard history feature arriving in macOS 26?

Now: Create a Quick Note on Mac - Apple Support

Soon: macOS Tahoe 26 makes the Mac more capable, productive, and intelligent than ever - Apple

Actually I just checked our iMac still running macOS Ventura and TextEdit does the same thing. Apparently it changed after macOS Monterey.

Just to add, I checked 4 different Macs running Ventura and above, they all do the same thing. It shows this window.

The only Mac I have that doesn't is a 2015 iMac running Monterey.

dialabrain wrote:

1. Just to make sure we're on the same page…

Open TextEdit

2. Click the red close button to close the TextEdit window

3. Quit TextEdit

4. Reopen TextEdit

Exactly.

“ There's a new behavior in TextEdit which I'd love to be able to turn off. It used to be that, when I created a new .txt file, TextEdit wouldn't ask me where I wanted to save it until I was ready to save it.

 However, now, it asks me where I want to save the file before I've even created the file “ 

I can open a New Document, be it  .txt or .rtf format in TextEdit 

Can leave the Empty File open for as long as I wish 

At no time am I asked to choose a location  nor am I asked to save the empty document 

“ Often, I just use TextEdit as a temporary clipboard to paste something I want to remember, then delete the file without saving it. “

If as you have mentioned in above.

The normal behaviours would be, TextEdit would specifically ask if you what to “ Save  or “ Revert “

 Save documents in TextEdit on Mac

TextEdit automatically saves your documents as you work on them. If you want, you can save a document to name it, save it in a certain location, or save a particular version.

The implications being.

If the document is Blank ( empty ) Yes you can close the document immediately without it being saved 

FWIW, TextEdit does not ask where to save a document before it's created. If you start TextEdit with no previous file open, or by double-clicking on a text file, it opens a dialog window so you can choose a file to open or create a new document.