Having trouble finding saved files in Bug Sur

[coopermon]

My mid 2011 iMac died and I replaced it with a new Intel Mac that came loaded with Big Sur.

I have been in the habit of creating my own folders and subfolders and organizing my files by topic. I am finding this exceedingly difficult to do in Big Sur. The OS seems to place the files where it wants to and I have no way to group them according to my way of using them.

I also had the habit (good or bad) of saving files to the desktop until I had finished with a particular set of tasks and then organizing them into folders of my choosing. I don't seem to be able to even save files to the desktop.

Also Spotlight seems completely unable to find some files.

I am so unpleased with this change I am considering on replacing OS 11 and reinstalling OS 10. I'm sure there are advantages to this new way of saving files but shouldn't I get to chose where I save my files?

Please help!

 

[hg.wells]

Are you able to provide some screenshots of when you are saving a file. Big Sur hasn’t changed the way files are saved.

You can put files and documents wherever you want.

 

[Clix Pix]

Organize files in folders on Mac

In the Finder on your Mac, organize files in folders. As you create documents, install apps, and do other work, add new folders to stay organized.

support.apple.com

 

[HDFan]

I replaced it with a new Intel Mac that came loaded with Big Sur.

I am considering on replacing OS 11 and reinstalling OS 10.

If your new iMac came with Big Sur you may not be able to install an earlier OS version.

The OS seems to place the files where it wants to and I have no way to group them according to my way of using them.

Can you give some examples? I have seen no difference in file handling (other than system files) in Big Sur.

I don't seem to be able to even save files to the desktop.

If you can't create or save to your desktop something is wrong. Have you checked the folder permissions?

 

[AlteMac]

No difference here in file handling either. Files go wherever I want them to go, folders can get created, etc.

 

[coopermon]

 

[coopermon]

This is what I'm taking about. I create a new note. I click on "FILE" and this is what I get. What happened to "Save As" which then opened directory and allowed me to save anywhere I want just by selecting the preferred folder? And then finding it later because I saved it where I wanted it.

Was that just too simple?

 

[Apple_Robert]

This is what I'm taking about. I create a new note. I click on "FILE" and this is what I get. What happened to "Save As" which then opened directory and allowed me to save anywhere I want just by selecting the preferred folder? And then finding it later because I saved it where I wanted it.

Was that just too simple?

You are in the Notes app. By default, it saves your files in the Notes folder in iCloud. If you want to save your notes in the Notes app to a specific place in iCloud, you can create different folders in Notes. That would allow you to create notes under different subjects.

 

[coopermon]

What if I don't want to save in the Notes folder and/or iCloud?

I ask again, What happened to "Save As". I give up.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

 

[Apple_Robert]

What if I don't want to save in the Notes folder and/or iCloud?

I ask again, What happened to "Save As". I give up.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

Notes hasn't had a "save as" option that I can remember.

If you want to save the notes to your Mac, go to Notes > Preferences > enable the on my Mac account option.

 

[0128672]

What if I don't want to save in the Notes folder and/or iCloud?

I ask again, What happened to "Save As". I give up.

Thanks everyone for your responses.

On Mac Notes, you can also Export as PDF and save the PDF wherever you'd like on your Mac. When you do that, it's a file independent of the Notes app.

Are there some other file saving and finding questions we can help you with?

 

[hg.wells]

The purpose of notes saving to the cloud is if you make a shopping list on your Mac it’s on your iPhone for when you’re in the store. This app has always saved like this.

If you want to save lists in the standard way and organize those files, use either TextEdit, Pages or Microsoft Word.