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A file is a single document, like a chapter, a scene, or a note. Each file can hold several pages, and every word you write in it counts toward your battles and streak.
Where to find it: Left sidebar → Writing → Files tab Open in 4TW ↗

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Your file views

Four views sit under Files:
  • All. Every file you own.
  • Favorites. Just the files you’ve starred.
  • Shared. Files you share and files others share with you. See Sharing & Collaboration.
  • Archive. Files you’ve put away. See Archive.

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Creating a file

Click the New File tile at the start of your list. You can also click New file on Writing Home or on the rail beside the file tree. New files start as Untitled and open straight in the editor.
Rather stay on your list after creating a file? Go to Account → Settings and set On New File Created to Leave me where I am.

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The file card

Each card shows the file’s name, its project (or Unassigned), a short excerpt, its tags, when it was last updated, and its words and time.
  • Rename. Double-click the name.
  • Icon and color. Click the file’s icon to pick a new icon and color. Your choice saves when you close the picker.
  • Goal. Click the goal icon to Add goal. Once a goal is set, the icon becomes a progress ring. See Writing Goals.
  • Tags. Click Add tag to label the file. Each file holds up to 8 tags.
Shared files also show their collaborators, your role, and any new comments.

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The file menu

Click ⋯ on a card for:
  • Rename, tags, projects, and favorites. Rename, Add tag, Assign to project, and Add to favorites.
  • Share file. Invite friends to read or co-write.
  • Export. Download this file. See Exporting a file.
  • Versions. See File Versions.
  • Archive. Put the file away without deleting it.

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Finding your files

  • Search. Type in Search files to filter by name. Add # and a tag name, like #fantasy, to search by tag.
  • Sort. Pick Custom (manual), Name A → Z or Z → A, Recently updated, Oldest updated, Most words, Least words, Most time, or Least time.
  • Filters. Narrow your list by Project (including No project), Tags, and Goal (With a goal or Without a goal). In the Shared view, you’ll also find a Sharing filter.
Active filters show as chips under the search bar, with a count of how many files match. Click Clear all to start over.
Want your files in your own order? Pick Custom (manual) from Sort, then drag cards wherever you like.

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Grid or list

Open the ⋮ options menu and switch View between Grid and List. List view shows words, time, and goals for every file at a glance.

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Selecting several files

Choose Select files from the ⋮ options menu, then tick the files you want. From the selection bar you can:
  • Favorite. Star them all at once.
  • Tags. Add the same tags to every selected file.
  • Assign or Unassign. Add them to a project or section, or take them out.
  • Archive. Put them all away.
Files shared with you can’t be selected, because only their owner can move or archive them.

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Moving files into a project

  • Drag and drop. Drag a file onto a project card, or into a project in the file tree.
  • Assign to project. Choose it from the file’s ⋯ menu. Pick a project, then a section if it has any. You can even create a new project or section right there.

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Favorites

Star a file with Add to favorites and it’s always one click away in the Favorites view. Want it at the top of the file tree too? Right-click it there and choose Pin to top.

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Archive

Archiving puts a file away without deleting it. Think of it as your “maybe later” shelf. In Files → Archive you can:
  • Restore. Bring a file back, or click Restore all. Restored files come back as unassigned.
  • Permanently delete. Remove a file for good, or click Delete all.
Permanent deletion can’t be undone. Once you delete a file from the archive, there’s no way to get it back. Files always go to the archive first, so you get a second chance to decide.

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Exporting a file

Choose Export from a file’s ⋯ menu, pick a format, and click Download.
  • Formats. Word, Text, Markdown, and HTML.
  • Keep page names. Keeps each page’s name in your download. It’s on by default.

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Download all files

Back up your whole library at once. Open the ⋮ options menu, choose Download all, pick a format, and click Download files. It can take a few minutes. Your download starts on its own when it’s ready, so close the window and keep writing. Just leave your 4thewords tab open until it finishes.
Download all skips archived files and any file over 200,000 words, and tells you how many it skipped. You can start a new full download every five minutes.

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Frequently Asked Questions

A page is one part of a file, like a scene. A file is a single document, like a chapter. A project groups files into one book, with optional sections and one word goal.
Yes. Every word you type in the editor counts toward your active battle, whether the file is on its own or inside a project.
That depends on your plan. See Plans & Pricing. Archived files don’t count toward the limit.
Open Filters and tick No project under Project.
Check Files → Archive. If it’s there, click Restore. Also check for active filters, and click Clear all if you see any.
You’ve reached your plan’s file limit. Upgrade your plan, or archive files you no longer need to make room.
Switch Sort to Custom (manual). Dragging into your own order only works with that sort.
Organize, write, and share

Projects

Group files into a book with sections and one shared goal.

Pages

Split a file into pages and keep long work fast.

Sharing & Collaboration

Invite friends to read or co-write with you.