Markdown Viewer for Windows

Glance is a desktop Markdown viewer for Windows 10 and Windows 11. It opens single files and whole folders, renders GitHub-style Markdown, and keeps your reading session between launches. It is source-available and free for noncommercial use.

What Glance does

Folder mode. Open a repository and browse every Markdown file from a tree. The root README.md opens automatically when it exists.
Live reload. Edit a file in your editor and Glance follows the change on disk while keeping your place in the document.
Search and contents. Jump by heading, find text in the current document, or search across the folder and the files you have open.
Themes. Follow the Windows theme or switch between light and dark by hand. Prose, code, tables, and diagrams change with it.
Session restore. Glance reopens the last document and the files you had open. Close any file from the sidebar when you are done with it.
Open with Glance. Double-click a Markdown file, use the Explorer context menu, or drop a file on the app icon. It opens in the existing window.

Glance is a reader, not an editor. Keep writing in your editor and use Glance for the formatted document, the folder tree, and a calmer reading window.

System requirements

Operating system: Windows 10 or Windows 11, 64-bit
Installer: 83.8 MB for the current release
Version: v0.1.3
License: Free for noncommercial use. Glance is source-available under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. Commercial use requires a separate license.
Build: Unsigned. Windows SmartScreen may warn on first launch.

Download Glance

The current release is v0.1.3. The installer is 83.8 MB.

Download for Windows

You can also see the release details on the homepage download section.

Windows may show a SmartScreen warning because this build is unsigned. Choose More info → Run anyway if you trust the source.

SHA-256 52C0BE36B17CDDB21C76C1B60CCA5CC5731154E5D167626DD6D1A49812551945

Frequently asked questions

Is Glance free?

Glance is free for noncommercial use. Commercial use requires a separate license. The source is available under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0.

Does Glance work on macOS or Linux?

No. Glance is a Windows desktop app for Windows 10 and Windows 11.

Can Glance open a whole folder?

Yes. Folder mode shows the Markdown files in a tree and opens the root README.md automatically when it exists.

Does Glance render GitHub-style Markdown?

Glance renders GitHub-style Markdown, including tables, task lists, code blocks, links, and alerts. It also supports Mermaid diagrams and KaTeX math.

Is Glance source-available?

Yes. The source is available under the PolyForm Noncommercial License 1.0.0. Commercial use requires a separate license.

Why does Windows show a SmartScreen warning?

The current build is unsigned. Choose More info and then Run anyway if you trust the source. The SHA-256 checksum above can help you verify the installer.

Read Markdown files and folders on Windows.
Glance is free for noncommercial use.

See the download options