For when someone sends you a .md file
Markdown files are ordinary text, so double-clicking one usually opens a text editor showing raw syntax: pound signs before headings, asterisks around emphasis, pipes forming tables that no longer line up. Readable, technically. Unpleasant, definitely.
This page exists for that moment. Drop the file onto the editor — or use Open file — and it renders on the right the way the author intended, with proper headings, working tables and formatted code blocks.
Opening a file
Three ways, whichever suits:
- Drag the file from your desktop or file manager onto the left pane
- Click “Open file” and pick it from the dialog
- Paste the text directly if you already have it on the clipboard
It handles .md, .markdown, .txt and .html. The file is read by your browser using the FileReader API and never sent anywhere — which also means this page works with your connection switched off.
What you can do once it’s open
Reading is usually the point, but the file is now loaded and editable:
- Read it comfortably in the rendered pane
- Fix a typo before passing it on — edit on the left, watch the right update
- Export it to PDF for someone who does not want a
.mdfile either, or to DOCX if they need to edit it in Word - Check what it will look like on a platform that renders Markdown
Why not just open it on GitHub
You can, if the file is already in a repository and you are happy to put it there. Plenty of Markdown arrives by email, Slack or a shared drive, and belongs in none of those places — a draft contract, an exported set of notes, a CV. Uploading a private document to a public service to read it is a poor trade when your browser can render it locally.
Related tools
If you want to write rather than read, the Markdown editor is the same engine with a writing toolbar. If the file’s formatting is a mess, the Markdown formatter will normalise it.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I view a Markdown file online? +
Open the viewer, then paste the contents of your .md file into the input pane. The formatted version appears immediately on the right. You can then export it to PDF, DOCX, or HTML.
Is the Markdown viewer free? +
Yes, it's completely free with no sign-up and no limits. It runs in your browser, so you can use it as often as you like.
Is it safe to view confidential Markdown here? +
Yes. Rendering happens entirely on your device — your content is never sent to a server — so it's safe for private or sensitive files.
What can I do with the rendered document? +
Besides reading it, you can copy the generated HTML or download the document as a PDF, Word DOCX, or HTML file with one click.