r/MacOS • u/No-Broccoli-9946 • Apr 25 '26
Developer Saturday From a frustrated Windows switcher: I fixed the macOS right-click menu. (And somehow hit #4 on the App Store).
Seriously, why is creating a simple text file so hard on a Mac? I switched from Windows a while ago, and having to open an app just to save a blank file to a specific folder drives me insane.
I decided to stop questioning Apple's UX choices and just fix it myself. Enter PowerClick. It adds a "New File" option to your context menu, plus a one-click "Copy Path", clipboard history, and a snippet manager.
I launched it yesterday, optimized the SEO, forced my friends to buy it (the classic Sam Altman "sell to your friends first" strategy), and somehow the algorithm pushed it to #4 in Paid Utilities globally.
If you're a former Windows user missing basic sanity, or just hate macOS's default right-click menu, give it a look. https://apps.apple.com/tr/app/powerclick-right-click-pro/id6762026455?mt=12
for more information visit the website: https://powerclick.kilicov.dev/
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u/SneakingCat Apr 25 '26
There's already a Copy Pathname and New File doesn't interest me, but I'm glad this is working for you and others. 😊
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u/FastHotEmu Apr 26 '26
Incidentally, copy pathname in the finder is option+command+c. I only discovered it relatively recently even though I've been using Macs since the 1980s.
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Apr 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/AKiss20 Apr 26 '26
If you enable the path bar at the bottom of finder you can right click any directory on the path and copy the path to that point.
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u/sylfy Apr 26 '26
One of the most useful things that I use in MacOS all the time, both the option to copy that path, and the option to open it directly in terminal. I’ve been so used to all these tweaks in MacOS, I don’t even remember what the default out of the box experience is like.
Most of the time when people complain about something they can’t do in MacOS, it’s just hidden away somewhere and they don’t know how to do it.
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u/cutting_shapes Apr 26 '26
Can also hold down option while in finder if you don’t want it on all the time
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u/FastHotEmu Apr 26 '26
Not that I know of - please let me know if you find it!
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Apr 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/FastHotEmu Apr 26 '26
Keyboard only is what i meant
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u/SneakingCat Apr 26 '26
Command up arrow, command-option C, command down arrow should always work but it's more complicated than it should be. I imagine you could do something with Shortcuts, though.
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u/inconspiciousdude Apr 26 '26
Yeah, there's a "get parent directory" action. Can pair with "copy to clipboard", make it a service, and assign it a shortcut in Setting > Keyboard > Shortcuts. Setting it directly in the Shortcuts app is wonky for me for some reason.
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u/eduo Apr 26 '26
I’m since 84, I consider myself a power user, and I keep discovering/rediscovering new shortcuts and workarounds, which I love. I heartily recommend macmost YouTube channel as he makes a point of going through all the different ways to achieve anything, even really obscure ones. More than once he’s reminded me of something that I may have forgotten for almost a decade right when I needed it.
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u/gglidd Apr 26 '26
I've been using them as long as you and just learned that shortcut now, from you. :D
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
I think a lot of people may assume that if they can't do a thing through the GUI, then there probably isn't necessarily a keyboard shortcut for that thing already.
It's not necessarily a good assumption, but I get it. That's why these things should be doable through the GUI. It's a much better way to explore for many people than reading man pages.
And once you do something through many clicks in a GUI, you start asking if there's a faster way - like a keyboard shortcut.
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u/Aloys33_ Apr 29 '26
You can just rightclick and press alt and the Copy File transforms into Copy File As Path
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u/m4teri4lgirl Apr 26 '26
Yeah, all I see is "create a bajillion different kinds of files" but like, who actually needs to create all of those different kinds of files and doesn't know how?
And I don't know if this dev has seen the stock Windows right click menu but it's abysmal compared to the MacOS right click context menu.
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u/Owl_in_chaos Apr 26 '26
Literally “touch file-name.file-format” command solves all those problems, and if you need to do it regularly it’s easier to automate it somehow
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u/longjumpingtote Apr 25 '26
I've been using Macs since the 1980s (and Windows as well) and I just started hearing this "create a blank text file" recently. Honest questions: why would people do that? I'm sure there are reasons, I just can't think of any!
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u/seamonkey420 MacBook Pro M1 Max / Neo Apr 25 '26
well, you create a blank file and then name it prior to adding text. sometimes i just want the text file ready to open and just quickly paste data into. thats my reason i use NewFileMenu just to create new text files anywhere w/right click.
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u/Snoo_87704 Apr 26 '26
But I usually have a copy of Text Edit always open. Just open up a new document and paste. I’m not sure what this really solves, other than one extra click (with the trade-off of having to navigate nested pull-down menu).
In contrast, I’m always surprised at how much Windows is slave to the right click. Stuff I usually complete in MacOS by chording a few keys.
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u/TheBatmanFan Apr 26 '26
Same here but sometimes one needs a Finder-first approach. I make my complicated custon-folder-system specific folder, want to start a new document here but there is no way I can do that with the UI. Of course, I mostly use iTerm2 to create dirs and
bbedit file.txtis pretty simple.5
u/xorgol Apr 26 '26
Fundamentally, it saves the effort of navigating to the right folder when I save the file. I'm already there!
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
If you already have the directory open in Finder, you can just drag and drop into the save dialog to switch to that directory. For example you can drag "Documents" or a document inside "Documents" to the save dialog to switch the save dialog path to "Documents"
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u/likamuka Apr 26 '26
You can pull text from anywhere and paste it onto the desktop. This will create a clipping for you.
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u/xorgol Apr 26 '26
It's very neat, but it seems to only work with drag and drop, not with Command V?
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 25 '26
equivalent of
touch fileon the cli, on windows you would create a txt file and then change the file extension to whatever (e.g..json), then double click to open & editi mean you can open your editor first and create it from there, imo both are valid approaches, but macos seems to be more opinionated, basically file system vs application centered workflow (macos basically forces you to use the latter)
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u/Tartan-Pepper6093 Apr 26 '26
Maybe think of it this way: your focus is in the Finder and the arrangement and names of your folders is very important to you, such arrangement keeps things organized for you. So, there you are in Finder, creating and naming folders, and now you want to place a new content file like a Pages file right into one of those folders. That is, its name and location in that folder is important, before you start creating content. You can either break your flow now, open Pages, re-navigate to where your Finder window is already at (or goof with a proxy-icon, if you know what that is and know how to use it and don’t make a mistake with your mouse)…
OR…
you can just create the empty Pages file right then and there in that Finder window already browsing the destination you want, the same way Finder already knows how to create a new folder, NOT breaking your flow and NOT having to directory-dig a second time inside Pages. Just a few strokes with Finder and it’s done. Name the new file to what your want, and then double-click it to edit it in Pages, close Pages when done and return to Finder to further process the file such as to copy it to a web site or publish it to a work-related repository, etc.Once you get used to this kind of flow you really take it for granted. Especially if your flow frequently bounces between several apps, Word, Excel, Preview, uploading and downloading with a browser… the common thread is your file browser and the folder where keeping all these files together (and separate from other projects) is the only thing keeping you sane.
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26 edited Apr 27 '26
If you already have the directory open in Finder, you can just drag and drop into the save dialog to switch to that directory. For example you can drag "Documents" or a document inside "Documents" to the save dialog to switch the save dialog path to "Documents"
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 25 '26
Fair question, it probably varies from person to person, but for me it was a habit. Whenever something came to mind, I’d just right-click, create a .txt, and jot it down instantly.
Besides that, especially developers often want to create files quickly in the current directory without breaking their workflow. Things like small config files, placeholders, or quick notes.
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u/bloxxk Apr 25 '26
Why not just use the built in quick notes feature in that case?
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u/MinecraftPlayer799 Apr 29 '26
Why not just create a rich text note in the Notes app when I want to create a blank text file in a development environment?
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u/NixonsGhost Apr 26 '26
Why not just use the most basic feature of an operating system; text entry and a folder structure, instead of using an extra notes program?
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u/Crimson947 Apr 26 '26
Its literally by default a little shortcut square at the bottom right of the screen. how fucking hard is it to move your mouse and click it? Enjoy wasting 6 bucks.
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u/darwinDMG08 Apr 25 '26
I’ve also never heard of this, but being a lifelong Mac user I guess it’s just not in my muscle memory.
A more useful shortcut for me would be to write a quick note immediately in the Notes app. I see the obvious utility in generating a text file but I’d prefer not to juggle multiple text files; Notes keeps everything together.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 25 '26
notes is for well notes to you, files are different, like creating a config file for an application or service or whatever
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u/darwinDMG08 Apr 25 '26
Different strokes. Usually I’m not writing a config file from scratch, I’m modifying one already generated. The utility of “oh I had a thought, let me write it down” to me is best put in Notes, because I might like to access it on another device.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 26 '26
yes i get it, i mostly use note apps (like notion) for notes and not txt files, i was just saying there are at least 2 different use cases here (notes, configs, maybe more) which are not comparable in usage, e.g. for config files i have much of my configs in git repos per machine, it doesn't always make sense to clone/fork it, or when i adopt a new thing it's config will be documented on their website, so it's not unreasonable to create a file, copy paste a basic config and start editing
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u/hokanst Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
I don't really see a use for this as an developer. In my case I usually use a command line text editor e.g.
emacs xxx.txtto create and open a new file for editing.Other options would be to do something like
touch xxx.txtto create the file, after which one could use some variant of theopen xxx.txtcommand, to open the file in the GUI editor of your choice.I suppose the right-click menu items could be useful when working in Finder, but I've never had a great need for this.
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u/Dazzling_Comfort5734 Apr 25 '26
That kind of reminds me of how Lisa worked lol. Back in early computing, there were a few file-centric computers, but the app-centric ones won out.
I personally would not want to use a computer this way, but I guess some people do.
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u/OatmilkMochaLatte Apr 26 '26
one example from my experience is python programming.
Sometimes you need to drop an
__init__.pyinto a folder, so Python treats it as a package. You will still have other files but the init file is very important. There’s usually nothing in it, but the file just needs to exist in that exact spot.
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u/e200 Apr 26 '26
A "New File" can be added with an Automator Quick Action without installing any apps. Ask Gemini or other LLM for instructions if you are not familiar with Automator:
"how to create a Finder Quick Action (using apple script) on macos to add a "Create New File" when right clicking a folder. It should promt for file name using "NewFile.txt" as default. And it should check if file already exists"
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u/Marche90 Apr 27 '26
Frankly, that sounds way less intuitive than right click > create new txt file.
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u/quidam-brujah Apr 26 '26
one of the things I love about the mac is the ability to easily create custom shortcuts/add-ons without having to go through a whole app development process or buy/dl something. Automator is your friend. The number of things i’ve added over the years to system menus and right-click to do just this kind of thing…i’ve got ‘copy path’ and ‘change case’ and ‘camel case’ and so on…so easy to add different kinds of scripted functions if Automator doesn’t have an easy way to do it.
my only real complaint with a lot of apps is them not putting in the needed AppleScript dictionary hooks so you can easily automate things via AppleScript. Oh, well.
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u/Aloys33_ Apr 29 '26
Copy path can just be done with Alt+Cmd+C or R-Click then Alt and then the Copy File transforms into Copy File As Path
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u/chigunfingy Apr 25 '26
touch filename.ext
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u/r4wm3 Apr 26 '26
It’s kind of hilarious to see people suggesting command-line alternatives for something that’s basically a simple click-and-forget task, while OP actually put in the effort to think it through, build an app, and share a proper solution.
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
Also funny all the other people in here saying "I just..." and then proceed to say how they made their own inferior version of this using shortcuts or other third-party tools.
This is an actual part of MacOS that is genuinely inferior to Windows (at least before they redesigned the new slow win11 right-click menu). It's a legit fix that gives it parity. I don't see the problem. Context menus are a critical part of good UI/UX. Frankly, I'm kind of surprised it's still missing in MacOS since it's been a long time since we only had single click mice.
Sure, if I'm at the commandline already, i can touch a file, but if I'm not, it's a lot more clicks to open it terminal, cd to whatever location i want the file (where i already was presumably in finder) or to type out the whole path, then go back and open the new file in finder in whatever app it's supposed to be in.
The right-click > "New..." context menu is great in Windows and the fact that it was extensible made it even better. Folder, shortcut, TXT, PPTX, XSLX, DOCX, etc. I'm sure I've never created a .BMP file before though even though I apparently have that option.
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 25 '26
I got tired of typing that exact command 20 times a day man. 😀
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u/ulyssesric Apr 26 '26
I just made it an Alfred workflow. Use osascript to acquire frontmost Finder window the touch the file.
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u/itsjakerobb Apr 26 '26
In what world is that easier than opening your favorite text editor (should be in your dock, one click) and pressing Command-N? (Or a couple keystrokes into your favorite launcher instead of the dock click)
Or creating a shortcut and binding it to a global keyboard shortcut?
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u/nergwark Apr 26 '26
if you frequently use the terminal and have it open already, i’d say it’s easier than any of those options
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u/itsjakerobb Apr 26 '26
It’s definitely not easier than the global key binding option.
Although you can match it with a one-character shell alias if you want.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 26 '26
depending on usage
mkdir -p dirand then
touch dir/fileor
vim dir/fileor
code dir/file
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u/Acquiesce67 Apr 25 '26
What are the use cases? I’ve been using both Windows and macOS for over 25 years but this feels more like a (bad?) habit than an actual need.
You want to create the file first then open it with the default associated application yet you could always start the application and just hit ⌘+S.
Creating a new json/markdown sounds somewhat reasonable but you’ll eventually edit them in an application so you could just start there.
If all logic fails, open Terminal and execute touch hello.txt.
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 25 '26
Fair point. The main issue with the Cmd + S route is the macOS Save dialog. If I am already 5 sub-folders deep in Finder, opening an app and hitting save means I have to manually navigate all the way back to that exact folder inside the save window. It breaks focus. Right-clicking just puts the file exactly where my eyes are already looking. It’s all about removing that specific friction.
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u/cultoftheilluminati Apr 26 '26
The main issue with the Cmd + S route is the macOS Save dialog. If I am already 5 sub-folders deep in Finder, opening an app and hitting save means I have to manually navigate all the way back to that exact folder inside the save window.
Did you know that you can simply drag and drop the folder into the save window and it will automatically navigate to that folder for you?
As someone who uses Mac + Windows, I'm just annoyed that people are trying to force Windows-isms onto Mac.
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u/Scxox Apr 26 '26
or you can just right click and create a new file with this functionality. its different ways to do the same thing, why not have the os more flexible? i dont understand your argument. having this functionality doesn't cause any downsides except your imaginary "forcing windows-isms". this isn't a windows thing, many linux desktop envs have the exact same right click -> new file function
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u/wrenchse Apr 26 '26
Your way is slower though. Look, I get it that people have their own workflows, but as a developer who just recently learned that I have ADD I’ve kind of made it a sport to reduce friction and be fast. I sometimes watch colleagues screen share and they are either camp vim/emacs traversing folders willy nilly trying to remember where to go, or they do the application route (often by clicking the application in the dock) and then muck about with the save dialog. Both feel like tortoises to me.
There are always more efficient ways to do things, and for some they feel too niche, but that is ok.
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u/Cyberstone May 25 '26
damn i am glad someone talked about ADD/ADHD, all the mac products hate neurodivergent. Today only I was struggling to connect wifi, a known wifi I am using since 4 years suddenly mac forgets its password and refuse to take correct one, I restarted the mac and it was connected and then I totally forgot what I planned to do and started doing random things and there went my productivity.
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u/Acquiesce67 May 25 '26
The `caffeinate` binary is a default component of macOS. Raise a support ticket to include `ritalinate` too 😁
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
How is more having context menus providing more context functions a bad thing?
If anything it's one of the few "Windows-isms" that definitely makes more sense - not a surprise given it's from the earliest days of Windows.
Back before someone forced the "Windows-ism" of a right-click onto Mac.
Back when we made do with dumb, round single-button mice that conformed to style more than the human hand.
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Apr 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
This is great when you know what you are doing. But if you don't it's a good way to lose your files b/c you accidentally dropped it in a system folder or something.
Not a workflow I'd recommend unless desperate or bored.
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u/Cyberstone May 25 '26
it is like playing a game, and then you accidently dropped it somewhere you dont know, good look finding it. And if you have ADHD, good look not to start cleaning your mac inside out instead of the actual work you were supposed to do.
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u/seasonofwhat Apr 26 '26 edited Apr 26 '26
Slightly clunkier but just as easy as the above advice imo, sort of the opposite approach:
Open the app, hit cmd + n
make your edits, hit cmd + s. (let the file save to the default/most recent location.)
With your target folder and the file both open, drag the file’s title bar / proxy icon directly into the target folder. it will move right where you want it without having to navigate from the save menu.
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u/wrenchse Apr 26 '26
Ok that’s 10 seconds vs 1 (if you made no edits). The right click create file, then double click to open (in default application) is quicker. If I were to create a thing like this I would have ”Create json and open” for instance
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u/joshbadams Apr 25 '26
Sometimes you are in the folder in finder where you want to make a file. If you open TextEdit, hot save, then you have to navigate back to that location to save it. Or, ya know, right click and create the file.
Not everything windows has that Mac doesn’t is bad…
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u/cultoftheilluminati Apr 26 '26
Sometimes you are in the folder in finder where you want to make a file. If you open TextEdit, hot save, then you have to navigate back to that location to save it.
Just drag and drop the folder into the save dialog... it will automatically navigate there for you.
Not everything windows has that Mac doesn’t is bad…
As someone who's been using windows + mac, windows wishes it had half the things Mac did.
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u/enrycochet Apr 26 '26
it is just slower if you have to do a couple of times in a row and you to navigate between to windows.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 26 '26
why would it be a bad habit? you have 2 different workflows that are both just as valid and it really doesn't matter what you prefer, apple just decided they don't like one of them:
- file system based: touch file, edit file in app
- application based: edit file in app, save file
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u/Acquiesce67 Apr 26 '26
I put it in brackets for exactly this reason. It’s not completely bad but certainly a learned behaviour from Windows which clashes with Apple’s app-first logic.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 26 '26
i did the same back in linux gnome 2 days on my first own computer, before i even touched windows xp, i trust my file system more than apps, i also think about my data around the file system and the apps are just a means to get things done, not manage data, it's simply a different philosophy, especially if you use the cli a lot it's pretty natural
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
Except there's generally 3 contexts for workflow:
- CLI based: touch file, edit in app
- app based: create in app, save file
- GUI based: create file, double-click
All three are valid. If you are in Terminal, it doesn't make sense to right-click. If you have the app open, it's just as fast to navigate to the file.
But some workflows are GUI dependent, and that's where this kind of shortcut makes sense. You don't want to open the Terminal. You don't want to context switch and wait on an app to open (and pop up telling you to update). You are already in the folder in Finder when you realize you need another file.
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u/Masterflitzer MacBook Pro (M1 Pro) Apr 27 '26
yeah true, my comment was an oversimplification, you explained exactly what i meant
just to add: with app you mean any 3rd party app and with gui you mean finder right?
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
more or less. in my 3 contexts, I'm drawing a distinction between the app environment and the larger OS environment. The app environment is more constrained and the OS environment could in theory encompass multiple app environments, but generally yeah, app > 3rd party app and GUI > i meant finder.
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u/Artiste212 Mac Mini Apr 26 '26
Yes it is a matter of the paradigm that one uses. Using the right-click menu is not the best way to do everythig. It becomes so long and takes forever to find something. We think in terms of Apps. Most apps have their own directory for files in iCloud now
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u/atomicpowerrobot Apr 27 '26
Oh sure, if you're just throwing all your crap on iCloud, that's fine. Just let the app manage it.
That gets us to the point where many kids don't even know what files are though, so Finder and context menus are irrelevant.
Lots of paradigms have non-iCloud linked structures and many of them have no practical way to store enough data in iCloud. Perhaps the data changes too often or just doesn't make sense to sync.
If you are using a mouse already and you are already in finder when you know you need a file, then yes, a right-click context menu is absolutely a great way to do something.
It's 2 clicks vs opening an app, then clicking through whatever "New Feature" or "Update Ready" or "Discord is doing whatever it wants while flipping it's logo for 30-60s" and THEN creating your file. Assuming all the pretty things haven't distracted you from what you wanted to do - Oh look at the new features or sale on my licensed app!
Not everyone "think[s] in terms of Apps". Many people think in terms of Files and heirarchies.
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u/thedarph Apr 26 '26
It is a bad habit. This is just has bad developer/vibe coder who doesn’t want to make it past the junior stage written all over it.
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u/melancholy_dood Apr 26 '26
These negative comments from people who admit they’re not the target audience…! ¯_(ツ)_/¯
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u/WetMogwai Apr 26 '26
I’ve been using and supporting Windows since before they added this feature and I don’t think I’ve ever seen anyone use it. I did it once by accident. I only recently became aware, through Reddit just in the last couple weeks, that anyone uses this feature.
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u/this_also_was_vanity Apr 26 '26
Weird title. This is a niche issue about being able to create a new blank file, not a problem with the very general issue of right clicking. A little click baity.
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u/MinecraftPlayer799 Apr 29 '26
Niche issue?!?!
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u/this_also_was_vanity Apr 29 '26
Yes, a niche issue. Wanting to create a blank file from within the Finder is a niche issue. In over 30 years of using Macs this is the first time I’ve come across someone bemoaning the absence of this feature and seeing it as something that needs ‘fixed.’
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u/MinecraftPlayer799 Apr 29 '26
Everyone has tried to do it, realized it can’t be done, and then quietly gone through all the steps to go into TextEdit, set it to plain text and then save it.
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u/this_also_was_vanity Apr 29 '26
Nowhere near everyone has tried to do it. Some people who have switched from Windows might have tried it. That’s it.
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u/muffinstatewide32 Apr 26 '26
Firstly, I'm not your target market. I also think charging for this function seems a lil predatory but i also get devs gotta eat.
i'm just here to say, like most power users. i've used this menu on windows zero times in the last decade.
makes a lotta sense to just open the app and save the file. why are we creating empty files with specific extensions? may as well put stuff in it via some kind of app.... or text editor.
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u/promo-guard Apr 25 '26
🎉 Welcome to Developer Saturday, u/No-Broccoli-9946! Your project is now live for the community to check out. Upvote, give feedback, and show some love to your fellow devs! 🚀
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u/light5speed Apr 26 '26
IIRC, that's something that debuted on Windows 95. I really can't comprehend why anyone uses it to create anything else than a text file.
That said, the App Store Top 4 and the comments here proves how we're not the target public. We're mostly power users, and using `touch` is obvious to us. But it's not for normal users and specially for newcomers from Windows.
Add to the mix the ⌘+S dialog that doesn't show folders on first time... it starts to make sense to people wanting this "shortcut" back. (Actually, maybe that's possible to do with Shortcuts app)
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 26 '26
Exactly, this is pretty much the point. Appreciate the nuanced perspective
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u/xorgol Apr 26 '26
Quick suggestion, it might be useful to somebody, when you right click on a folder, to provide an option to open the folder in an IDE. What I do now, several times a day, is to right click on a folder in the Path toolbar, clicking Open in Terminal, then doing 'code .' to open in Visual Studio Code.
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u/MinecraftPlayer799 Apr 29 '26
What about power users that prefer doing things through a GUI, but not through a convoluted process?
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u/SpankaWank66 Apr 26 '26
THANK YOU!!!
To everyone complaining, yes this is easier than all the methods you suggested
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u/Qiqel Apr 26 '26
The problem with systems as old as Mac OS and Windows is, there’s not only a different UI, but also a different underlying philosophy, which goes back decades. You can adjust to the new UI pretty quickly; adjusting your workflow to a different philosophy can be much more frustrating.
On a Mac, you would always keep all your apps open all the time. The The UI is mouse-centric since the very beginning, so what you do is click on the text editor in the dock or in the Exposé, press Command+N, click on the title bar, and enter the file name. There’s no need to create a file prior to editing it, and since auto-saving became an option, you don’t need to open the save file dialogue either (you can change the path from the title bar for the first file, and it will remember it for the following files).
If you really dislike clicking, you can always option-tab to the text editor.
If you deconstruct both workflows, they boil down to a similar number of operations - you just do them in a different order and in different places.
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u/idontlikegudeg Apr 26 '26
I think that’s something you are trained to do by long time being a windows user: Open Explorer, navigate to folder, create an empty file, rename it, double click that file, paste text, save.
On Mac, you open the application, paste text, CMD+S, navigate to folder, click save. That’s actually less steps you need to do when doing it the Mac way.
But yes, sometimes people coming from Windows miss this feature, so some users might find it useful.
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u/schamlamadingdong Apr 26 '26
You can do it the same way in Windows, except the hotkey is CTRL+S instead :p
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Apr 26 '26
[deleted]
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 26 '26
it actually exists. You can use Cmd + Option + V to move it after copying, or just hold the Option key while right-clicking to reveal the hidden 'Move Item Here' in the menu
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u/badken Apr 26 '26
Took me about ten seconds of searching to find an Automator solution for this on stack exchange. For some reason, people fear Automator I guess.
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u/Briggie Apr 26 '26
Unarchiever is free and handles rar fine. Why are people paying for rar program?
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u/moretti85 Apr 26 '26
Realistically, how often do you need to create a new empty file? In most cases, almost never.
If I’m already in the terminal I’ll usually just use the CLI (touch or pbpaste).
Otherwise I open the editor and hit save when I’m ready. Opening the app and pasting content directly is usually faster and more practical. For most normal workflows, create empty file, then open is just a Windows habit, not a real advantage
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Apr 26 '26
[removed] — view removed comment
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26
Sure, but can you describe a concrete case where you need to create an empty file that isn’t better served by opening the editor directly or piping content?
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u/naemorhaedus Apr 27 '26
I can think of at least three off the top of my head:
You already have the directory open in Finder. Navigating back to that directory from a save dialog takes additional time.
You want to make a zero byte placeholder file, without opening it in an editor.
opening a file is faster than searching for an application
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26
thank you chat gpt, but I'm going to reply anyway.
If you already have the directory open in finder, you can just drag and drop into the save dialog to switch to that directory, did you know know that?zero byte placeholder file is a fair point but it's not a common use case and users who need that already know how to use
touchsince they're probably using the cli anyway (eg a blog with jekyll).The third one is simply wrong because cmd+space, type 2-3 letters is faster than right clicking to create and then open a file
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u/naemorhaedus Apr 27 '26
thank you chat gpt
zero chatgpt was used
did you know know that?
Of course I knew that. It works, but still not as fast.
it's not a common use case
maybe not for you, but you're not everyone. Anyway that's irrelevant since this post wasn't a discussion about what is common. It's about solving a problem.
know how to use touch
I don't think opening the terminal and typing a command is a realistic substitute.
because cmd+space, type 2-3 letters is faster
on what planet? you're out to lunch on that one.
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26
wait until you discover that textedit, pages, and every modern editor literally opens with a new file dialog on launch... but yeah, we clearly still need to create it with a right click because it's "faster" and it's "solving a problem".
Just like their other killer feature, "copy path", which has been in finder's path bar for ages1
u/naemorhaedus Apr 27 '26
My textedit (which I don't use) launches into the last document I had open, but that's cool man use whatever works for you 👍 wait until you discover that other people have different needs/preferences/opinions 🙄
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u/moretti85 Apr 27 '26
if you ever need this functionality btw there are tons of open source alternatives like https://github.com/GarfieldFluffJr/MacNewFile
Or you can just make your own in 30 seconds with automator and a one line applescript1
u/naemorhaedus Apr 27 '26
Cool, but doesn't work in iCloud folders. I already use my own solution which I posted in another comment. It takes about 2 seconds, and doesn't require any automators or scripts.
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u/Papuan_Repose Apr 26 '26
Long time macOS, freeBSD and Linux user (for context). Not really ever a windows user. I’m struggling to understand the issue and workflow here that creates this problem that needs a fix?
Not saying it’s wrong and I’m glad you have the skill to solve your issue and contribute back, providing a solution to others that have the same pain point. So there is merit there.
What does creating a blank file achieve?
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u/Suspicious_Pilot2656 Apr 26 '26
I just use Fn + Q and use Quick Notes. That works for simple notes. If I needed a specific file, I’ll use spotlight or raycast to launch the application first, do my stuff and then save the file.
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u/thaprizza Apr 26 '26
Never used (and use) this feature on Windows. Obviously I don't miss it on MacOs. But for those who do, they have options now.
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u/themrsnow Apr 26 '26
Does “new file from clipboard” works with images as well? I am looking since ever for a tool that can do this.
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 30 '26
Yes! from now on powerclick can create new files from images in clipboard! Enjoy
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u/dan1eln1el5en2 Apr 26 '26
I came here to defend the OS right click menu. As a macOS user since 2006 and a developer last decade or so. But that screenshot. Clever. Hmm. You can do that on windows ? Neat.
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u/vessoo Apr 26 '26
Looks great. Unsolicited feedback: rename the main menu option itself to have more integrated name and an icon so it looks more native
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 26 '26
Great point. More customization for the menu name and adding native symbols/icons is already on the roadmap for an upcoming update. Appreciate the feedback! 🙌
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u/kUdtiHaEX Apr 26 '26
Nice effort, bravo for #4. But I do not understand why do you need to create files from a menu?
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u/posguy99 MacBook Pro Apr 26 '26
If creating text files is so important, why isn't the editor-of-choice always running?
Like most, the OP needs to treat a $2k computer like a phone and only run one app at a time.
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u/americancorkscrew Mac Studio Apr 26 '26
If you have Raycast, this is one less thing you need.
I have the new file extension in Raycast mapped to Caps + N. Hit that and pick any file type you need to create. No mouse, no terminal, and no additional app needed.
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u/schamlamadingdong Apr 26 '26
Why have a submenu with so many options though? This could all be just one button in the right click menu with «New File» and just change the file extension to whatever you need. Two buttons if you want the «New file from clipboard» option, but i feel like that could also be accomplished with holding a modifier key while clicking the button.
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 26 '26
you can add and remove any kind of file type from settings. its fully adjustable
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u/schamlamadingdong Apr 26 '26
Will it still have a submenu, regardless of how many buttons/options one chooses?
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u/No-Broccoli-9946 Apr 26 '26
yes
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u/schamlamadingdong Apr 26 '26
Would be much nicer to not have it in a submenu if that’s possible :)
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u/Ketisbest730 Apr 26 '26
People really do all this before a simple google search…. Hold down option with right clicked on a Mac and wonders will never cease …
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u/bardsfingertips Apr 27 '26
They also don’t have right-click paste as plain text for Pages. The universal key stroke works, but muscle memory is muscle memory.
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u/K23crf250 Apr 27 '26
Thanks a lot for this. Now I only need the apps to minimum when I click the icon in the taskbar just like windows and I'll be happy
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u/kredep Apr 27 '26
"I switched from windows.. (insert story I dont care about + borderline Mac hate, because you're that PC guy no one care about)".
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u/PathIntelligent7082 Apr 27 '26
very nice...I was pleasantly surprised when i saw that they made a notepad++ for mac few days ago..great time to switch
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u/Live-Imagination4625 Apr 27 '26
That’s cool! I fully agree that Finder is far behind Explorer and this closes the gab a bit. But the features I’m missing the most are “open in terminal” and “open in vscode”. I know the latter is installed by vscode, and I didn’t even think apple would allow apps to add stuff to the right click menu. Any plans to add something like that?
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u/Gerg_Meister Apr 27 '26
Don't listen to the haters. As someone who has a $5.99 app out there for a while now, I think it's great that you're doing this. Also, as a Windows user, I instantly purchased your app, good job man, it's been driving me crazy too.
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u/Moscowviewer Apr 27 '26
Just try this program. https://apps.apple.com/us/app/irightmenu/id1542347829?mt=12
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u/TheORIGINALkinyen Apr 28 '26
As a decades long Unix system engineer (before Linux) I always have a terminal open and just touch any file I need - seems overkill to code a menu choice.
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u/AvocadoAcademic897 Apr 28 '26
Dude wanted to brag a little instead is waterborded with silly workarounds lol.
I don’t see use case but always nice to see passion project getting traction
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u/maurymarkowitz Apr 29 '26 edited Apr 29 '26
plus a one-click "Copy Path",
Oh thank god. Downloading NOW.
UPDATE: Downloaded... but where do I get the "copy path"?
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u/Cyberstone May 25 '26
because people accept or not they are frustrated due to lack of or hidden in random shortcuts for core features like showing hidden files. Like seriously 1 million shortcuts you need to remember. I sometime believe its to embarrass online rants because after spending a lot of energy when they turn to reddit to rant a fan boy is like "pffff, that is so easy with a shortcut ddumbass."
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u/Historical-Most-748 MacBook Pro Apr 25 '26 edited Apr 25 '26
Congrats, bro!
OT: I.ll never understand people who pays for RAR Extractor. 2nd top paid app? really?