You are viewing the macOS 26 version of this guide, recorded on macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro) on 4 October 2026. It is kept as it was and not updated. See the macOS 27 version.
howtosimply.com/guides/how-to-make-a-mac-ask-before-saving-changes/ · Checked 4 October 2026 · MacBook Pro · macOS Tahoe 26
In this guide
Open System Settings, click Desktop & Dock, scroll to Windows and switch on Ask to keep changes when closing documents. By default, unsaved changes are saved automatically when you close a document. With the switch on, the Mac asks whether to save them.
3 of 3 steps with real screenshots · 3 official sources below
- Device
- Mac
- Shown on
- macOS Tahoe 26 (MacBook Pro)
- App
- System Settings
- Real screenshots
- 3 of 3 steps
- What we did
- Performed: we made the change on our device and show the result
- Checked
- 4 October 2026
- Sources
- 3 official, linked below
Step by step
Tap the picture to see it full size Open System Settings
Click the Apple menu in the top left corner of the screen and choose System Settings.
Tap the picture to see it full size Click Desktop & Dock in the sidebar
It is below Appearance. You may need to scroll down in the sidebar.
Tap the picture to see it full size Scroll to Windows and switch on Ask to keep changes when closing documents
It is the second row of the Windows group. In the picture it is off.
About this guide
Many Mac apps save your changes automatically when you close a document. If you opened a file only to try something out, the changes are kept anyway. Apple offers a switch for people who prefer to be asked.
The screenshots show System Settings on macOS Tahoe 26.
Good to know
Prefer tabs when opening documents, the row above, decides when documents open in a tab and not in a new window: Never, Always or In Full Screen.
In short: Apple menu > System Settings… > Desktop & Dock > Windows > Ask to keep changes when closing documents on.
Links checked in October 2026. Menus and features can change after software updates. These steps match the version named at the top.
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