Learn how to reveal the hidden Save As menu option on your Mac to save your documents in apps as duplicates instead of overwriting the existing file.
Around 2011, Apple began hiding the Save As option from the File menu across all Mac apps in preparation of the automatic saving of file versions. But if you’re a power user, the lack of a Save As feature can be frustrating.
We’ll look at several different ways to use the Save As command and bring it back to the File menu. This will let you save and name a new document instead of overwriting the existing file with the standard Save command.
Reveal the Save As command with the Option key
If you only need Save As occasionally, you’re better off with this on-the-fly solution involving a modifier key. Just click the File menu in any app on your Mac, then hold the Option key and the Duplicate option will change to Save As. Click the Save As command to save your document as a new file in a location you choose.
Invoke Save As with a keyboard shortcut
As evidenced by the screenshot above, revealing the Save As command in the File menu also shows the associated keyboard shortcut: Option + Shift + Command + S. Press these keys to invoke the Save As command without clicking the menu. More advanced users will probably prefer this solution over holding the Option key as it’s direct and faster, even if the key combo is tricky to memorize.
To permanently add a Save As option to the File menu, you’ll need to create a custom keyboard shortcut by following the steps in our dedicated tutorial.
1) Open System Settings, select Keyboard in the sidebar, and click the Keyboard Shortcuts button on the righthand side. If you’re on an older macOS version, go to System Preferences > Keyboard instead and select the Shortcuts tab.
2) Select App Shortcuts in the sidebar and hit the plus button (+) on the right side.
3) Perform these operations, then click Done twice to save your shortcut:
- Application: Select “All Applications” in this menu.
- Menu Title: Type “Save As…” into this field. Don’t omit the three periods, this is very important.
- Keyboard Shortcut: Click this section, then press Shift + Option + Command + S together or any other key combination you think would be easier to remember.
The Save As option will now be available in the File menu in supported apps.
Command + Shift + S or Option + Command + Shift + S?
Avoid using keyboard shortcuts already used by apps. For instance, choosing Shift + Command + S as your Save As shortcut would clash with Pixelmator, which uses these keys for the Duplicate command. I suggest sticking with the default Shift + Option + Command + S combo to avoid any issues down the road.
At first, Shift + Option + Command + S didn’t do the trick for me, but Command + Shift + S did. But when I deleted this shortcut and tried again after restarting my Mac, Shift + Option + Command + S started working again. So, make sure to try both. If Save As still won’t appear in the File menu, try force-quitting the app in question, like Pages or Preview.
Other Mac tips: