Markdown Viewer for Mac

MarkView is a free, native macOS app that opens .md files in a clean, readable view — like Acrobat Reader, but for Markdown. Double-click any .md file and it just opens. No editor, no browser extension, no cloud accounts.

Download for Mac See Features

Why a native Mac app for Markdown?

Markdown files turn up everywhere now — AI chat exports from ChatGPT and Claude, GitHub README files, project docs, meeting notes, team handbooks. On Mac, double-clicking a .md file usually drops you into TextEdit, where headings, tables, and code blocks come out as raw text littered with # and pipe characters.

MarkView is a small, focused macOS app that fixes that. It registers as a handler for .md files so they open the way they were meant to look — with proper headings, formatted tables, rendered diagrams, and syntax-highlighted code. You don't have to open a Markdown editor, fire up VS Code, or paste content into a web tool just to read it.

Apple Silicon and Intel both supported

MarkView ships separate native builds for Apple Silicon (M1, M2, M3, M4) and Intel Macs. There's no Rosetta translation involved — you download the build that matches your hardware and you get full native performance and battery efficiency. The app is signed with an Apple Developer ID and notarized by Apple, so Gatekeeper opens it without the "unidentified developer" warning.

How to open .md files on Mac

  1. Download the macOS build — pick Apple Silicon for M1/M2/M3/M4 Macs or Intel for older Macs.
  2. Open the .dmg and drag MarkView into your Applications folder.
  3. Double-click any .md file. It opens in MarkView.

Make MarkView the default Markdown app on Mac

MarkView includes a built-in Set as Default option in its menu that wires this up in one click. If you'd rather do it the manual way:

  1. Right-click any .md file in Finder.
  2. Choose Get Info.
  3. Expand the Open With section.
  4. Pick MarkView from the dropdown.
  5. Click Change All… and confirm.

From then on, every .md file opens in MarkView with a double-click — from Finder, the Downloads folder, attachments in Mail, anywhere else.

What MarkView renders

  • GitHub-flavored Markdown — headings, lists, tables, blockquotes
  • Syntax highlighting for code blocks across 180+ languages
  • Mermaid diagrams (flowcharts, sequence diagrams, class diagrams)
  • LaTeX math equations rendered with KaTeX
  • Auto-generated table of contents and a file browser sidebar
  • Light and dark themes that follow your system appearance

Privacy on Mac

MarkView runs entirely on your Mac. Files you open never leave the machine — no upload, no cloud, no server round-trip. There are no accounts to create. The only network traffic is an occasional check for a new version of MarkView itself, which you can disable in preferences.

Frequently asked questions

Is MarkView for Mac really free?

Yes. MarkView is free to download and use, with no trial limits, no paid tier, and no upsell. If you find it useful, there's an optional "buy me a coffee" link on the home page.

Is MarkView a browser extension or a Mac app?

MarkView at markview.io is a native Mac app — you install it once and it lives in your Applications folder, just like any other Mac app. It is not a browser extension. Browser extensions for Markdown viewing also exist, but they only work inside the browser; MarkView opens .md files directly from Finder, Mail attachments, the Downloads folder, and anywhere else macOS asks "what should I open this with?"

Will MarkView work on macOS Sonoma / Sequoia?

Yes. MarkView is built and tested on current macOS versions (Sonoma, Sequoia, and newer) and supports recent prior versions as well.

Where can I report a bug or request a feature?

Use the contact page — bug reports and feature requests are very welcome.

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