Markdown Reader for Mac

## What Is a .md File?

Plain text with formatting built in

A .md file is a Markdown file — a simple text document that uses symbols like # for headings and ** for bold text. Think of it like a Word document, but simpler and universal. Developers love it, but anyone can read one — with the right app.

You’ll find .md files everywhere: GitHub README files, Obsidian note exports, project documentation, API guides, meeting notes, and technical specifications. They’re the universal format for structured text — and all you need is a proper reader to make sense of them.

Want the full explanation? Read our guide to .md files. Or jump straight to our Markdown cheat sheet.

## The Problem

TextEdit makes Markdown unreadable

Double-clicking a .md file on Mac opens it in TextEdit by default. Instead of a nicely formatted document, you see raw syntax — hash marks, asterisks, brackets, and dashes everywhere. The content is there, but it looks like code.

You don’t need a code editor. You don’t need to learn Markdown syntax. You just need to read the document. Learn how to open .md files on Mac the right way, or set ShowMeMyMD as your default .md app.

## The Solution

ShowMeMyMD turns .md files into readable documents

ShowMeMyMD is like Preview.app, but for Markdown. Drop in a .md file and it renders instantly — headings, bold text, lists, code blocks, tables, all formatted exactly as the author intended. No setup. No learning curve.

Set it as your default .md app once, and every Markdown file you open will just look right. Built with native SwiftUI — not Electron — so it launches instantly and feels like a real Mac app.

## Built for Reading

Features designed for comfortable reading

ShowMeMyMD is purpose-built for people who need to read Markdown, not write code.

## Who It’s For

A markdown reader for everyone, not just developers

You don’t need to be a programmer to encounter .md files. Here’s who uses ShowMeMyMD every day:

## Why Native?

A real Mac app, not a web wrapper

Many Markdown tools are Electron apps — web browsers disguised as desktop software. They use hundreds of megabytes of RAM and take seconds to launch. ShowMeMyMD is different.

Built with native SwiftUI, ShowMeMyMD launches in under a second, uses minimal memory, and runs natively on Apple Silicon without Rosetta. It respects your Mac’s appearance settings, supports standard keyboard shortcuts, and integrates with Finder just like any other native macOS app.

See how it compares to popular alternatives: vs VS Code · vs Typora · vs MacDown · vs Marked 2

## Copy & Share

Share Markdown without the syntax

Need to share the content of a .md file with someone who doesn’t use Markdown? Copy it as rich text with one click and paste it into emails, Google Docs, Slack, Notion, or any app that accepts formatted text. Headings, bold, lists, and links all come through perfectly.

No more copying raw syntax. No more reformatting by hand.

Popular use cases: Paste Markdown into Gmail · Markdown to rich text email · Markdown to Outlook

## FAQ

Frequently Asked Questions

## Learn More

Explore more about Markdown on Mac