Open this page in Chrome, type or paste your text in the editor below, and download it as a .txt file. To find it, open Downloads in Chrome or look in your phone's file manager. If you create text files often, a dedicated editor is handy for keeping and revising local copies.
Method 1: Download a TXT in Chrome
1. Open the editor in Chrome
Open the editor on this page and enter the text you want to save. You can paste a paragraph from a chat, a list of filenames, or a set of notes. For a task list, put one item on each line so it remains readable on a small screen and when opened in another app.
2. Download the TXT
Enter a filename such as shopping-list.txt. Keep UTF-8 if your text includes accented letters or emoji. Choose LF or CRLF if the receiving program specifies a line ending, then tap Download. If Android or Chrome offers a location picker, choose a folder that you can find again. A separate name for each revision makes it easier to identify the right copy when attaching it.
3. Find the downloaded file
In Chrome, tap More › Downloads. If your address bar is at the bottom, Google also documents reaching downloads by swiping up on the bar. To access the file from other apps, open the phone's file manager, such as Files by Google if it is installed, and look for the Downloads category or the Download folder. Tap the filename to see which app can open it.
If the file is missing
Check that the download finished. The browser's download list is a good place to look first because it shows the files saved through that browser. Search the file manager for the full filename if you changed the location. If you downloaded several copies, check the date and preview the contents before sharing the file.
Method 2: Use a text editor app
- Choose an editor that can create and save ordinary files with a
.txtextension. Some note apps organize writing in their own database, so confirm that the app can produce a file you can find and share. The open-source Markor project is one example of a local editor that supports plain text. - Create a document in the editor. If it asks for a format, choose plain text. Type a few words, choose a distinct filename, and save in a folder you can access.
- Find the result in the file manager and open it. If the editor keeps its files in a private location, use its export or share function to put a copy in a folder available to other apps.
This workflow makes sense if you need to edit the same file across several sessions. For example, keep a travel-checklist.txt in a local document folder and add a line each time you remember something. Check the editor's save behavior before closing it for the first time. Some editors save as you type, while others require you to save manually.
Can the built-in file manager create an empty TXT?
Android phones ship with different file managers, and file creation varies by app and version. If yours offers an explicit action to make a file, use it in the destination folder and give the file a .txt extension. If it offers to make only a folder, use a plain text editor instead. A folder named notes.txt is still a directory. Downloading or saving from an editor also gives you a file you can move or rename in the file manager afterward.
Method 3: Export a Google Docs document as TXT
- In the Google Docs Android app, open the document whose text you want to share, or create one and enter the text.
- Use the document's export controls and select plain text (
.txt) from the available formats. Google lists TXT as an export format for the Android app. - Save or share the exported file. Open the resulting copy to verify the text, especially if the source contains a table, image, or layout that a text file cannot carry.
This method works well for a document already in Google Docs. For a small list that belongs in a local folder, it can be simpler to download the file in the browser or save from a dedicated editor. The plain text export is a separate copy, so editing it does not update the original Google document.
How to open .txt files on Android
Open the downloaded file from the file manager. If there is no viewer available, open it from a compatible editor using the system file picker. To edit without touching the original, open the file in the editor below, change the text, and save a new copy with a different filename. If the text has unexpected symbols, check the encoding of the original. The TXT format guide explains why the same bytes can display differently when decoded incorrectly.
FAQ
How do I share the TXT as a file?
Choose it from your app's attachment picker, or use Share from Chrome's Downloads list or the file manager. Pasting the text into a message sends the content as a message. Selecting the file preserves its name and lets the recipient download it.
Why do I see another filename after downloading?
If a file with that name already exists, the browser may give the new download a distinct name. Verify the content and rename it if your recipient needs a specific filename.
Can I read the same file on an iPhone or Windows PC?
Yes. A UTF-8 plain text file can move between platforms. See the iPhone TXT guide or the Windows TXT guide for the steps to find and open it there.