Why TextEdit is not saving the file as a html file EVEN if I selected that option?

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Why TextEdit is not saving the file as a html file EVEN if I selected that option?

Hello everyone,

can anyone tell me why if I make a new file in TextEdit and than I save it as HTML file, when I open it in a browser I see the source code instead of the rendered HTML code ?

And the rendered file looks like this in browser:

Anyone knows why EVEN IF I SELECT that option in the Save as dialog, to save the file as HTML webpage, TextEdit app is not saving that file as it should?

This is a bug if there isn't something that I'm missing in the TextEdit app settings.

PS. Please don't recommend to install a different text editor, let's focus on TextEdit app and that option that I have in the SAVE AS dialog.

Thanl you

Mac mini, macOS 15.6

Posted on Oct 21, 2025 8:11 AM

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Answer 1

Top-ranking reply

Niel

Level 10

741,959 points

Oct 21, 2025 8:19 AM in response to ovisopa

Because it's converting the text you put into the document to HTML instead of realizing that it's HTML itself. That option isn't intended for handcoded HTML; instead, save it as plain text and change its extension to HTML in the Finder.

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Answer 2

Niel

Level 10

741,959 points

Oct 21, 2025 8:39 AM in response to ovisopa

1. Choose Make Plain Text from the Format menu.

2. To preserve formatting in the original documents. Some web pages, such as tutorials, may need to display raw HTML code in the browser.

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Answer 3

ovisopa Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 21, 2025 8:52 AM in response to Niel

Thank you.

That is the option I was missing ....

Niel wrote:

1. Choose Make Plain Text from the Format menu.

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Answer 4

ovisopa Author

Level 1

5 points

Oct 21, 2025 8:48 AM in response to Niel

instead, save it as plain text and change its extension to HTML in the Finder

Thank you for the quick reply, can you tell me which one of those is the option you mention as "plain text" ? I tried RTF and changing extension and it didn't work

Because it's converting the text you put into the document to HTML instead of realizing that it's HTML itself. That option isn't intended for handcoded HTML;

But what is the logic behind this? I think it's a bug as TextEdit is only an text editor , is not a WYSIWYG app or a drag 'n'drop visual editor .. is a Text Editor ... why it converts the characters < > even if I select that Web page HTML option?

If that option was not intended for hardcoded HTML can you give me an real example on how you could really use that option (save as webpage html) ?

thank you.

[Edited by Moderator]

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