Brief: New versions of Ubuntu 20.04, 18.04 etc don’t include the option to create a new text document in right-click context menu anymore. Here is how to bring that useful option back.
The other day I was trying to create a new text file in Ubuntu 18.04. While in Nautilus, I right clicked and to my surprise, I didn’t see the option to create a new document. This option in the right-click context menu allowed creating an empty text file.

It’s a small inconvenience because I can always use the terminal to create a new document or I could open the text editor and save an empty text file. But I don’t want to do that. I want that good old right click new document option back.
In this quick tip, I’ll show you how to add the new document option in right-click context menu in Ubuntu 20.04 and 18.04. Doing it in the terminal is a lot easier but I’ll show the graphical way of doing it as well.
Enable new document option in Nautilus File Manager in Ubuntu
If you prefer videos, you can see the tutorial steps in action in the video below:
If you go into your Home directory, you’ll see a folder called Templates. Chances are that you probably never used it. But today is your lucky day as you are finally going to utilize this Template directory.

This Template directory is used to create … templates. What I mean is that the documents saved in this special folder will be available in the right-click menu. For example, if you write letters regularly, you can put a sample letter file in this folder. Now if you right click in any other folder, you’ll see the option of creating ‘Letter’ in the menu. You select that and you’ll have that saved sample letter in the new location. You can edit it and save it with a new name. It’ll save you some of your precious time for sure.
Note
Some readers have noted that their Templates directory is hidden and named as .Templates. If you don’t see Templates directory in your home directory, try to see the hidden files with Ctrl+H keyboard shortcut or ls -la command in the terminal and see if it is named .Templates.
Now, we are going to use this feature of Templates directory here. I’ll show the command line option first.
Method 1: Command line way
Open a terminal and use the following commands:
touch ~/Templates/Empty\ Document
This will create a new empty file named ‘Empty Document’ in Templates directory for you. And now when you right click in the file manager, you’ll see the New Document option.

Recommended Read:
![Resize Images with Right Click on Ubuntu and Other Linux Distributions [Quick Tip]](https://i0.wp.com/itsfoss.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/resize-image-ubuntu-featured.jpg?fit=800%2C450&ssl=1)
Resize Images with Right Click on Ubuntu and Other Linux Distributions [Quick Tip]
A Quick tip that shows how to resize images with right click menu in Linux quickly. The trick should work on any Linux distribution that uses Nautilus file manager.
Method 2: The GUI way
If you are not comfortable with terminal and commands, no worries. I have got your back here. Just for your information, I am using the Ubuntu 18.04 Community Theme and this is why the icons may look different to you in these screenshots.
Press Super/Windows key and search for the text editor. And open the editor.

Now all you have to do is to save this empty file in Templates directory. You can give it any relevant name.

You should see it in the Templates directory.

And now when you right-click in any directory, you’ll see the option to create a new document in Nautilus.

I wonder why Nautilus removed the option of creating new documents from the right-click context menu. It’s a useful feature and should be present by default. What do you think?
Since we are discussing templates, maybe you would want to use templates in LibreOffice to reuse certain types of documents.
Yes the results worked just as you stated and once again it’s useless. The use of accessing or making documents on the fly is for easy one click storing of passwords, addresses, ect. Your directions are perfect as is your method of explanation. It simply doesn’t suite my needs. To make the point I was Using Linux Ubuntu 20.4 and Installed a WiFi on a desktop rarther than write, WiFi address and password i chose to right click and store them in a Document folder. Instead I thought I’d search on how to make document’s folders since they are no longer easily accessible Using UBUNTU 20.4.1.. That was May, 2020 it’s February, 2021 nothings changed. I even set this machine to duel boot UBUNTU 16.4.7 that still has right click desktop accessible Document/make empty document. P.S the story is the same Ubuntu Give-ith and take-eth away on every LTS version somethings got to go but Documents that’s ridiculous
Linux mint 20 still has right click – new document. in all three views, list,icon,compact.
Thanks for posting this. I have a number of templates, and they all work fine. For example, instead of “Empty Document”, I named mine “Text.txt”. The menu option shows up as “Text”. I have another named “Shell Script.sh”, and menu option is “Shell Script”. I even have a “Blender.blend” template to help me create new Blender files. Others I have are “LibreOffice Calc.ods”, “LibreOffice Write.odt”, and “LibreOffice Impress.otp”.
I see you are utilizing the power of templates. Nice :)