This markdown viewer shows a .md file as formatted text in your browser. Paste the file’s contents into the editor above, switch to Preview, and read it with headings, tables, code blocks and diagrams rendered. There is nothing to install and no account.
A markdown file is plain text with formatting marks: # for headings, | for tables, backticks for code. In a text editor those marks get in the way of reading. A viewer turns them into the layout the author intended, so a README, a changelog or a long answer from an AI model reads like a document instead of source code.
How to view a markdown file
- Open the .md file in any text editor, select everything and copy it.
- Paste it into the editor on this page, replacing the example.
- Switch to the Preview view to read the rendered document. Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+P cycles between Editor, Preview and Split.
- If the document has three or more headings, use the generated table of contents to jump between sections.
- If someone else should read it too, press Share and send the read-only link.
What the viewer displays
- Headings with anchors, emphasis, strikethrough, links and smart typography.
- Tables, task lists (
- [ ]and- [x]) and footnotes. - Code blocks highlighted for JavaScript, TypeScript, Python, HTML/XML, CSS, JSON, SQL, Bash, YAML, Go, Rust, Java and C++. Other languages appear as plain monospaced code.
- Mermaid diagrams written in
```mermaidblocks, and KaTeX math in$...$or$...$. - A frontmatter block at the top of the file is hidden from the view; its
titleis used as the document title.
The view follows your system’s light or dark theme, and you can switch it manually from the menu. Raw HTML inside the file is not rendered and appears as text, so files that rely on HTML tags for layout will look different from how they look on a code hosting site.
When you want someone else to see it
Viewing happens in your browser. Nothing is stored on sharemd.net until you save (Cmd/Ctrl+S) or press Share; until then, an unsaved draft is kept only in your browser. Share creates the document and gives you a read-only link to send and a separate write link that lets anyone holding it edit, so keep that one to yourself. The shared document is not indexed by search engines and expires 15 days after it is created. To learn what changes once a file is shared, see share markdown online.
If you are writing markdown rather than reading it, the online markdown editor page covers the editing side, and the markdown renderer page lists exactly which syntax renders and which does not.
Frequently asked questions
Can I view a markdown file without uploading it?
Yes. The text you paste is rendered in your browser. It is sent to sharemd.net only when you save the document or press Share.
Why does part of my README show HTML tags as text?
Raw HTML inside markdown is not rendered here. Tags such as image alignment wrappers or details blocks appear as plain text. Standard markdown syntax renders normally.
Is there a size limit?
Yes. A document can be up to 500 KB, which covers most READMEs, reports and documentation pages.
Do I need an account to view or share?
No. Viewing, sharing and exporting work without an account or signup.