Computer Basics · Files & Folders · Lesson 2 of 5

Saving & Finding Your Work

Save your work where you can find it, then find it again fast.

The Save as box

When you write something in an app, it is not kept until you save it. To save means to store your work as a file, so you can open it again later.

The first time you save, a Save as box appears. This box is a small window that asks you two things:

1. Where should the file go? Look at the folder it shows, often Documents. You can click a different folder on the left.
2. What should it be called? Type a clear name in the File name space.

Then click the Save button. Your work is now a file in that folder.

The most common mistake is clicking Save without looking. The file still saves, but you may not know where it went. Take two seconds to read the folder name first.

After the first save, you can save again with the keyboard. Hold Ctrl and press S. This updates the same file with your newest changes. Do it often, so you don't lose work if something goes wrong.

On a Mac, hold Command and press S.

On the practice computer, click Save and look at where the file will go. Name it Shopping list, save it, then find it with File Explorer's search box.

Finding a file again

Sooner or later, everyone loses track of a file. That is normal. There are two easy ways to find it.

Search. Open File Explorer. Near the top right is a search box. A search box is a space where you type what you are looking for. Type part of the file name, like shopping. Files with that word in the name will show up.

Search looks in the folder you are in, and in the folders inside it. If nothing shows up, click This PC on the left and search again. That looks through the whole computer.

You don't need the whole name. One word is usually enough.

You can also click the Start button, the Windows logo on the taskbar, and type the name there.

Recent files. Open File Explorer and look at the Home page. It shows a list of Recent files, the ones you opened or saved lately. Many apps have a recent list too, when you click File and then Open.

On a Mac, open Finder and use the search box at the top right. Or click Recents on the left side.