Open a TXT file online, edit it and save it back
Pick a .txt file from your computer, read it, change it and download it again. No upload, no signup, no software.
A .txt file is just plain text, so you should not need to install
anything to open one. Classic Notepad opens text files straight in your
browser: the file is read on your own device, shown in the editor, and saved
back out as a download when you are done. It works on Windows, macOS, Linux,
ChromeOS, iOS and Android.
The file is not uploaded. It is read by your browser on your device. Nothing is sent to a server, so it is safe to open a text file with private contents.
How to open a .txt file online
- Open Classic Notepad.
- Choose File › Open, or press Ctrl+O (Cmd+O on a Mac).
- Select the
.txtfile on your computer. - Edit the text. Use Find and replace or Go to line for longer files.
- Choose File › Save to download the changed file as a
.txt.
What it is good for
- Reading a text file you received without a text editor installed, for example on a Chromebook or a locked-down work computer.
- Quick edits to a README, a log excerpt, a list or a config snippet.
- Cleaning text. Plain text carries no formatting, so it is a clean way to strip styling from copied content.
- Several files at once. Each opened file gets its own window on a desktop screen.
Limits to know about
This is a plain-text editor, so it is meant for text files. Formats such as Word documents, PDFs and spreadsheets are not text and will not display as readable content. Very large files, such as multi-hundred-megabyte logs, depend on how much memory your browser can use and are better handled by a desktop tool. A file that uses an unusual character encoding may show garbled characters.
Saving works as a download, so the edited file lands in your downloads folder rather than overwriting the original. Move or rename it afterwards if you want to replace the old copy. If you only want the broader picture of using the notepad as a text editor, see the online TXT editor page.
Frequently asked questions
How do I open a TXT file online?
Open Classic Notepad, choose File › Open and pick the
.txt file from your computer. It appears in the editor straight
away.
Is my file uploaded anywhere?
No. The file is read locally by your browser and never sent to a server.
Can I edit the file and save it?
Yes. Make your changes and choose File › Save to
download the updated .txt file.
Does it open other file types?
It is built for plain text. Word documents, PDFs and spreadsheets are not plain text, so they will not show as readable content.
Do I need to create an account?
No. There is no signup, no install and no ads.