Your "File" Menu Isn't 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 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")

Contacts

• "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!