How to Open a .md File on Windows
A .md file is a Markdown document. Windows does not render Markdown by
default, so the best way to open one depends on whether you want to read the raw text
or see the formatted result. These five options cover quick edits, development work,
and dedicated reading.
1. Notepad
Notepad is already on Windows. Right-click the file, choose Open with, and select Notepad. It opens the file as plain text, which makes it useful for a quick look at the source or a small edit.
Good for: quick text changes and checking the raw Markdown. Tradeoff: headings, lists, tables, and code blocks stay unformatted, so a longer document is harder to read.
2. Visual Studio Code preview
Open the file in Visual Studio Code and press Ctrl+Shift+V to open the
Markdown preview. The editor shows the source beside or next to a rendered view, which
is useful when you are writing and reading at the same time.
Good for: editing a README while checking the result. Tradeoff: VS Code is an editor first. The preview is a tab inside a larger development tool, and it is more than you need if you only want to read a file.
3. A web browser
You can drag a .md file into a browser window. Most browsers display the
file as plain text rather than rendering the Markdown. Some extensions add a rendered
view, but that is extra setup and another thing to keep updated.
Good for: reading the raw contents without installing anything. Tradeoff: no rendered headings, no folder tree, and no reading position to restore.
4. An online Markdown viewer
An online viewer lets you paste or upload a file and see the formatted result without installing an app. It is convenient for a one-off document or a quick preview on a machine you do not control.
Good for: a fast preview when you already have a network connection. Tradeoff: the document leaves your computer. Avoid online viewers for private repositories, internal notes, or anything confidential.
5. Glance
Glance is a Markdown viewer for Windows built for reading rather than editing. It opens a single file or a whole folder, renders GitHub-style Markdown, follows links, and keeps your place between launches. It also includes search, a contents rail, light and dark themes, live reload, and session restore.
Glance is source-available and free for noncommercial use. The current Windows build is unsigned, so Windows SmartScreen may warn on first launch. It is one option among the five here, and it is the most useful one when you want to read a repository of Markdown files instead of one file at a time.
Comparison
| Method | Renders Markdown | Best for | Tradeoff |
|---|---|---|---|
| Notepad | No | Quick text edits | Raw text only |
| VS Code preview | Yes | Editing and previewing at once | Large editor for a reading task |
| Web browser | Usually no | Reading raw text quickly | No rendered view or folder tree |
| Online viewer | Yes | One-off previews | Requires a network and sends the file out |
| Glance | Yes | Reading files and folders on Windows | Windows only; unsigned build |
Which method should you use?
Use Notepad or a browser when you only need the raw text. Use VS Code when you are already editing the document. Use an online viewer for a quick preview that does not contain private information. Use Glance when you want a dedicated Windows reader for README files, documentation folders, and long Markdown documents.
Read Markdown on Windows.
Glance is free for noncommercial use.