Your "File" Menu Isn't About Files

# Your "File" Menu Isn't About Files Source: [https://adam.farkas.pro/your-file-menu-isnt-about-files/](https://adam.farkas.pro/your-file-menu-isnt-about-files/) What is up with calling the first app menu item "File" even though the items do nothing related to actual files? 💡 tl;dr – Please consider opting for something better than calling your first menu item "File"\. Let's dive into a couple of apps on my MacBook and have a look at the actual things you can do in those "File" menus, and probably settle on a better alternative name for it\. Sit back, as I have a total of 35 apps to go through\. At the very end, there are some[honorable mentions](https://adam.farkas.pro/your-file-menu-isnt-about-files/#:~:text=Honorable%20Mentions,-Here%27s)which either use "File"**correctly**or**break this pattern**and name the first menu what the items actually imply\. ## 1Password - "File" – You could argue that Items are files, but are they? You import and export files, ok, but what am I actually importing and exporting? Right, passwords\! - Suggestion – "Password" ## Automator - "File" – You are creating and opening files, so I guess this passes, but anyway, I think we can improve this\. - Suggestion – "Automation" ## Calendar - "File" – Are you handling files by creating events or reminders? I think not? Import and Export pass, but what's the app about again? - Suggestion – "Event" ## Chrome - "File" – At least one item refers to files… - Suggestion – "Browse" ## Claude - "File" – Not even close, but ok, it was probably vibe\-named, and there are a decent amount of apps calling the first menu item "File", so it must be the logical prediction…right? - Suggestion – "Interact" \(or "Chat"\) - "File" – Again, just because import and export are handled here, you are not really doing anything file\-related… - Suggestion – "Card" ## DaVinci Resolve - "File" – Where do I even start? - Suggestion – "Project" ## Dictionary - "File" – At least you can print it, right? - Suggestion – Just get rid of it altogether; other native Apple apps do that… ## Find My - "File" – There is not a single app/window state where the options are actually active… - Suggestion – Delete ## Firefox - "File" – If one item on a list accounts for naming something, I guess we need to reconsider naming meals\. - Suggestion – "Browse" \(could this be a browser naming convention?\) ## HandBrake - "File" – Meh, not really\. - Suggestion – "Source" ## Home - "File" – Nope\. \(I am already getting lazy\) - Suggestion – "Add" ## Mail - "File" – No, not really\. - Suggestion – "Message" ## Maps - "File" – Apple is especially rigorous about staying to the tradition\. - Suggestion – Delete ## Mela - "File" – Again, if import and export are the reasons we name this "File" we need to reconsider everything\. - Suggestion – "Recipe" ## Messages - "File" – Nope\. - Suggestion – "Message" ## Notes - "File" – Hmm, not really\. - Suggestion – "Note" \(which is awkward besides Notes, but Apple, you are to blame for this for naming your standard apps so lazily\) ## Parcel - "File" – Why? - Suggestion – "Delivery" ## Passwords - "File" – I keep repeating myself\. - Suggestion – "Password" \(this one's on you Apple, again\) ## QuickTime Player - "File" – Those are technically file\-related items, but we can do better\. - Suggestion – "Media" ## Reeder - "File" – Haha\. - Suggestion – Delete ## Reminders - "File" – … - Suggestion – "Reminder" ## Safari - "File" – We are in browser land\. - Suggestion – "Browse" \(again\) ## Shortcuts - "File" – It's not funny anymore, but it wasn't from the beginning\. - Suggestion – "Shortcut" \(I'll send you the check later, Apple\) ## Spotify - "File" – Lazy mode on, for both, them and me\. - Suggestion – "Playlist" ## Stocks - "File" – Whoa, no\. - Suggestion – "Watchlist" ## SuperDuper\! - "File" – Technically, out of any other example, here you are handling the most files\. - Suggestion – "Copy" ## Weather - "File" – Oh, Apple… - Suggestion – Delete ## WhatsApp - "File" – Hmm? - Suggestion – "Chat" ## Word - "File" – This passes theoretically, but I like mine better\. - Suggestion – "Document"  --- ## Honorable Mentions Here's an \(unfortunately short\) list of apps that either use "File" correctly or opted for a better alternative\! ## Finder - That's the easy one\! Since this is the root app where "File" was born, here it actually makes sense and describes what every user expects\. ## Terminal - You are handling shells, thus the menu item is called "Shell"\. Nice\! ## Photoshop 2026 - Almost every single item refers to a "File"\! ## TextEdit - All files related, nice\. Also, Apple is indeed able to come up with better app names\. ## Visual Studio Code - You are handling files in the menu items, so "File" makes sense\!