Notepad on Mac doesn't have a built-in columns feature

The standard Notepad application on Mac (TextEdit) does not have a native way to create multiple columns within a single document. If you open TextEdit and look through the Format menu, you won't find a columns option the way you would in a word processor like Microsoft Word or Pages. This is by design — Notepad-style editors prioritize simplicity and plain text, not layout features.

If you need actual columns in your document, you have two realistic paths: use a different application that supports columns, or format your text manually using tabs or spacing to create the appearance of columns.

Key Takeaways

  • TextEdit, the Mac equivalent of Notepad, does not have a columns feature in its menu or settings.
  • Pages, Word, and Google Docs all have built-in column formatting that works reliably and adjusts automatically as you type.
  • If you need to stay in a plain-text editor, you can manually create column-like layouts using tab characters or fixed-width spacing.
  • The choice depends on whether you need automatic column formatting or just want text arranged side-by-side.

Using Pages or Word for actual columns

If your document needs real columns that reflow text automatically, Pages (Apple's word processor) is the simplest option on Mac. Open Pages, create a new document, then go to Format in the menu bar. Click Columns, and you'll see options to choose 2, 3, or more columns. The text will flow from one column to the next as you type or edit.

Microsoft Word works the same way. Open Word, go to Layout in the menu bar, click Columns, and select your preferred number. Both applications let you adjust column width and spacing, and both will reflow your text automatically if you add or delete content.

Google Docs also supports columns. Open your document, go to Format, then Columns, and choose how many you want. The advantage of Google Docs is that your document syncs across devices automatically, so you can edit on your phone or another computer without downloading or uploading files.

Creating the appearance of columns in TextEdit

If you want to stay in TextEdit or another plain-text editor, you can manually arrange text to look like columns by using the Tab key. Type your first column of text, press Tab several times to move to where your second column should start, then type the second column. This works best when your text is short and uniform in length — if one line is much longer than another, the alignment will break.

For this method to look clean, make sure TextEdit is set to use a monospace font (where every character takes up the same width). Go to Format in the menu bar, click Font, and choose a monospace option like Courier or Menlo. Without a monospace font, tabs won't line up visually the way you expect.

This approach is tedious for large documents and doesn't reflow automatically if you edit text, so it's only practical for small, static content like simple lists or reference tables.

Why TextEdit doesn't include columns

TextEdit is designed as a basic text editor, similar to Notepad on Windows. Its purpose is to let you write and edit plain text or simple formatted documents without the overhead of a full word processor. Adding a columns feature would require TextEdit to manage complex layout logic — deciding how text flows between columns, how to handle images or special formatting, and how to adjust when you edit. That complexity is why word processors like Pages and Word exist.

If you regularly need columns, switching to Pages or Word is more practical than trying to force TextEdit to do something it wasn't built for. Both are available on Mac, and Word is free through many schools and workplaces.

Alternatives if you're working with data

If your "columns" are actually structured data — like a list of names and phone numbers, or a price list — consider using Numbers (Apple's spreadsheet app) or Excel instead. Spreadsheets are designed for columnar data and make it much easier to sort, search, or format information organized in columns. You can also export from a spreadsheet to a formatted document if you need to print or share it as a PDF.

For simple side-by-side text that doesn't need to be editable or reflowable, you can also create a PDF or image in Preview or another tool, which gives you complete control over layout without being tied to any particular application's formatting rules.

Checking your TextEdit version

TextEdit on modern Mac systems (Monterey and later) does not have a columns feature. If you're using an older Mac, the version of TextEdit you have may be slightly different, but columns have never been a standard feature. The easiest way to check what version you're running is to open TextEdit, click TextEdit in the menu bar, and select About TextEdit. This shows your version number.

Regardless of version, if you need columns, the solution is the same: use Pages, Word, or Google Docs instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I split the TextEdit window into two side-by-side panes?

No. TextEdit does not have a split-pane feature. If you need to view two documents at once, you can open two separate TextEdit windows and arrange them side-by-side on your screen using Mission Control or by dragging the windows manually.

Does Pages automatically convert my columns if I paste text from TextEdit?

No. If you paste plain text into Pages and then apply column formatting, Pages will reflow that text into columns, but the text itself doesn't change — it's just the layout that adjusts. You can undo the columns at any time and the text remains intact.

What if I need columns but don't want to buy Word or Pages?

Google Docs is free and includes column formatting. Open docs.google.com, create a new document, paste your text, and use Format > Columns. You'll need a Google account, but no payment is required. LibreOffice (also free) is another option if you prefer to work offline.

Will my column layout stay the same if I open the file on another Mac?

Only if you save it in a format that preserves layout — like .docx (Word), .pages (Pages), or PDF. If you save as plain text (.txt), all formatting including columns is lost. The other Mac will see only the raw text.