TextEdit is a highly capable, lightweight word processor built directly into macOS. For decades, it has served as the default application for jotting down quick notes or viewing raw text files. However, Apple recently changed its default behavior in modern versions of macOS.
Now, when you click the TextEdit icon in your dock, the application automatically bypasses the standard file picker and instantly creates a brand new, blank document labeled “Untitled.” If you were opening TextEdit specifically to browse your iCloud Drive and open an existing note, you are forced to close the useless “Untitled” window before you can access the Open dialog via Cmd+O.
If you prefer to be greeted by the file picker so you can choose between creating a new file or opening an existing one, you can revert TextEdit to its classic behavior.
How to Stop the Automatic “Untitled” Document
You can change this behavior in the macOS System Settings, as it is tied to Apple’s iCloud integration.
- Open the System Settings (or System Preferences on older OS versions) via the Apple Logo in the top-left menu bar.
- Scroll down the left sidebar and click on Desktop & Dock (or just “General” on older macOS).
- Scroll down the right pane until you find the section labeled “Windows.”
- Look for a toggle switch (or checkbox) labeled Ask to keep changes when closing documents. Just below that, look for Close windows when quitting an application.
- However, the specific fix for TextEdit requires a Terminal command because Apple removed the direct GUI toggle in recent updates. Open the Terminal app.
- Paste the following command exactly as written and press Return:
defaults write com.apple.TextEdit NSShowAppCentricOpenPanelInsteadOfUntitledFile -bool true
- Quit and restart TextEdit.
Now, when you launch TextEdit, it will present you with the standard iCloud file picker window, allowing you to gracefully open your existing files without having to fight a blank “Untitled” document every single time.