När hon uppdaterar sin dator, sparar hon alltid filerna först.

När means when. It introduces a time clause, also called a subordinate clause:

När hon uppdaterar sin dator = When she updates her computer

This clause gives the time or situation for the action in the main clause:

sparar hon alltid filerna först = she always saves the files first

So the sentence has two parts:

• subordinate clause: När hon uppdaterar sin dator
• main clause: sparar hon alltid filerna först

Uppdaterar is the present tense of uppdatera = to update.

Many Swedish verbs that end in -a in the infinitive form the present tense with -r:

• uppdatera → uppdaterar
• spara → sparar

So:

• hon uppdaterar = she updates / she is updating
• hon sparar = she saves / she is saving

Unlike English, Swedish does not change the verb for I / you / she / we / they. The same present-tense form is used for all persons.

This is a very common and important point.

Sin is a reflexive possessive. It is used when the owner is the same as the subject of the clause.

Here, the subject is hon = she, and the computer belongs to that same person:

• hon uppdaterar sin dator = she updates her own computer

If you said hennes dator, it would usually mean her computer belonging to some other woman, not the subject herself.

Compare:

• Hon uppdaterar sin dator. = She updates her own computer.
• Hon uppdaterar hennes dator. = She updates that other woman’s computer.

This is because of the Swedish V2 rule in main clauses.

In Swedish main clauses, the finite verb normally comes in the second position. When a subordinate clause comes first, it takes the first position, so the verb of the main clause must come before the subject.

So:

• first position: När hon uppdaterar sin dator
• second position: sparar
• then subject: hon

That gives:

När hon uppdaterar sin dator, sparar hon alltid filerna först.

If the main clause came first, you would say:

Hon sparar alltid filerna först när hon uppdaterar sin dator.

Then the normal order is hon sparar.

Because in this sentence the main clause begins with the verb due to inversion:

sparar hon alltid filerna först

In a normal main clause without inversion, a frequency adverb like alltid usually comes after the finite verb:

• Hon sparar alltid filerna först.

When inversion happens, the subject moves after the verb, and alltid still usually comes after the subject:

• sparar hon alltid filerna först

So the pattern becomes:

• verb
• subject
• sentence adverb/frequency adverb

Filerna is the definite plural form of fil:

• en fil = a file
• filer = files
• filerna = the files

Using filerna suggests specific files, not just files in general. In this sentence, that makes sense: she saves the files first, meaning the relevant files on the computer.

This is very common in Swedish, where definiteness is often shown by adding an ending to the noun.

Först means first.

Here it means that saving the files happens before the updating:

• sparar hon alltid filerna först = she always saves the files first

So the order of actions is:

1. save the files
2. update the computer

Placing först at the end is very natural in Swedish.

In this sentence, it can feel like whenever, because the main clause includes alltid = always.

So the overall meaning is habitual:

• Whenever she updates her computer, she always saves the files first.

But Swedish still uses när here, not a separate word meaning whenever in this kind of structure.

So a good way to understand it is:

• literal structure: When she updates her computer, she always saves the files first
• natural sense: Whenever she updates her computer, she saves the files first

In Swedish, the present tense is often used for habits and general routines, just like in English.

So:

• hon uppdaterar = she updates
• hon sparar = she saves

This does not have to mean it is happening right now. It can describe what she generally does.

The sentence expresses a repeated habit: whenever that situation happens, this is what she does.

The comma after the initial subordinate clause is common and helpful:

När hon uppdaterar sin dator, sparar hon alltid filerna först.

It makes the structure easier to read. In Swedish, commas around subordinate clauses are often less strict than in English, especially in shorter sentences, but this comma is perfectly natural and very common in teaching materials and standard writing.

So:

• with comma: very clear and natural
• without comma: also possible in some contexts

Yes, absolutely.

That version is also correct:

Hon sparar alltid filerna först när hon uppdaterar sin dator.

The meaning is basically the same. The difference is mainly in emphasis and structure:

• När hon uppdaterar sin dator, sparar hon alltid filerna först.
  • starts by setting the time/context
• Hon sparar alltid filerna först när hon uppdaterar sin dator.
  • starts with the main statement about what she does

This is a useful way to see how Swedish word order changes depending on what comes first.

Swedish does not use an extra auxiliary like do/does for ordinary present-tense statements.

English:

• She updates
• She saves

Swedish:

• Hon uppdaterar
• Hon sparar

The main verb itself carries the tense. So Swedish is simpler here than English in some ways.

Yes, when the possessor is the same as the subject of the clause, Swedish often uses reflexive possessives:

• sin for common gender singular nouns
• sitt for neuter singular nouns
• sina for plural nouns

Examples:

• Hon uppdaterar sin dator. = She updates her own computer.
• Hon säljer sitt hus. = She sells her own house.
• Hon sparar sina filer. = She saves her own files.

In your sentence, dator is a common-gender noun, so sin is the correct form.