How to open and read a Markdown file

The quick answer

Open the Markdown reader, choose Open file, and select a .md file. Switch to Read for a focused document view. The file is read on your device; it is not uploaded to a conversion server.

Read a local document

Markdown is a plain text format. Its punctuation describes headings, links, lists, and code. A reader turns that source into a formatted document. Drag a file into the workspace or use the file picker, then use the outline to move between sections.

In compatible browsers, Open file grants a file handle so Save can write back to disk and live reload can follow external edits. Other browsers open a snapshot and download an edited copy. You can also use Save as to choose a new local file.

Keep images private

Files can reference images on other websites. Those images are blocked by default in this reader. Enable “Load document images” only if you trust the document and want your browser to request those URLs. Relative image paths cannot be resolved from a single uploaded file.

When the preview looks different

Markdown has several dialects. This reader uses the extension’s rendering engine: sanitized HTML, tables, tasks, alerts, footnotes, emoji, front matter, syntax highlighting, KaTeX math, and Mermaid diagrams. Repository relative assets need a source URL and explicit image loading. MDX JavaScript is not executed.