The Problem: No "New File" in Finder
If you have ever right-clicked in a Finder folder expecting to see a "New Text Document" or "New File" option, you already know the frustration. On Windows, creating a new file from the context menu is a basic feature that has existed for decades. On Mac, it simply does not exist.
Apple's philosophy is that you should create files from within apps (open TextEdit, then save). But in practice, developers, writers, students, and anyone who works with files regularly needs to quickly create empty files in specific folders. Here are all the ways to do it.
Method 1: Use the Terminal touch Command
The fastest built-in workaround is using Terminal. The touch command creates an empty file instantly.
Steps:
Open Terminal (search "Terminal" in Spotlight or find it in Applications > Utilities).
Navigate to your target folder: cd ~/Desktop (replace with your folder path).
Create the file: touch myfile.txt (use any filename and extension you want).
Pro tip: You can drag a folder from Finder into the Terminal window to paste its full path, avoiding the need to type it manually.
Limitations
You need to switch between Finder and Terminal every time. There is no visual integration. You have to remember the folder path or type it out. For occasional use it works, but it breaks your workflow if you create files regularly.
Method 2: Create an Automator Quick Action
Automator lets you build a custom Quick Action that appears in the right-click menu. This is the closest you can get to a native solution without installing anything.
Steps:
Open Automator (search in Spotlight) and choose Quick Action as the document type.
Set "Workflow receives" to files or folders in Finder.
Add a Run Shell Script action. Set "Pass input" to as arguments.
Enter the script: touch "$1/NewFile.txt"
Save the workflow with a name like "New Text File". It now appears in the right-click > Quick Actions menu.
Limitations
The Quick Action is buried under the "Quick Actions" submenu, which requires an extra click. It only creates one file type per workflow (you would need separate workflows for .txt, .html, .md, etc.). There is no template support, and if you right-click on empty space instead of a folder, it does not work. Apple is also phasing out Automator in favor of Shortcuts.
Method 3: Use TextEdit and Save As
The simplest approach that requires no setup at all.
Steps:
Open TextEdit (search in Spotlight).
A new document opens automatically. Leave it empty or type content.
Press Cmd+Shift+S (or File > Save), navigate to your target folder, name the file, and click Save.
Limitations
This is slow. You have to open an app, wait for it to load, navigate to the correct folder in the Save dialog, and deal with TextEdit's default Rich Text format (which saves as .rtf, not .txt). You also cannot create non-text files like .html, .py, or .md without extra steps.
Method 4: Use a Finder Extension (Best Solution)
The cleanest way to add "New File" to the right-click menu is with a dedicated Finder extension. New File from Right Click is a lightweight Mac app that does exactly this, integrating directly into the native context menu.
Steps:
Download New File from Right Click from the Mac App Store.
Open the app once and enable the Finder Extension in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Extensions > Added Extensions.
Right-click anywhere in Finder. You will see a "New File" option in the context menu.
Choose from multiple file types (text, HTML, Markdown, Python, and more) or create custom templates.
Why This Works Best
The option appears directly in the right-click menu, not in a submenu. It supports multiple file types out of the box and allows custom templates. It works when you right-click on empty space, on folders, or on the desktop. It is a native Finder extension, so it feels like a built-in feature. No Terminal knowledge required, no workflow setup, and it updates automatically with new macOS versions.
Method 5: Use a Keyboard Shortcut with Shortcuts App
With the Shortcuts app (available since macOS Monterey), you can create a shortcut that creates a file in the current Finder folder and trigger it with a keyboard shortcut.
Steps:
Open the Shortcuts app and create a new shortcut.
Add a Run Shell Script action with: touch "$(osascript -e 'tell app "Finder" to POSIX path of (insertion location as alias)')"/NewFile.txt
Assign a keyboard shortcut to the Shortcut via its settings (click the info icon).
Limitations
This requires some scripting knowledge to set up. You need to remember the keyboard shortcut. It only creates one file type unless you build a more complex shortcut with a menu. There is no right-click integration, and the AppleScript call to get the current folder can be slow.
Which Method Should You Use?
| Method | Setup Time | Right-Click | Multiple Types | Ease of Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terminal | None | No | Any | Technical |
| Automator | 10 min | Submenu | One per workflow | Moderate |
| TextEdit | None | No | Text only | Slow |
| Finder Extension App | 2 min | Direct | Many + custom | Easiest |
| Shortcuts | 5 min | No | With setup | Moderate |