How to preview Markdown files in Finder

Start with a saved Markdown document

Choose a local Markdown file you recognize, such as a short README or note. Make sure you are selecting the saved document rather than a screenshot, a web page or a similarly named copy. Unsaved changes in an editor and the file Finder reads are different states.

For a useful first check, save a heading, a short list and a paragraph in a test document. These are simple features to recognize in both source and rendered form. Using a small document makes it easier to notice a missing heading or list before checking a larger file.

Open Quick Look from Finder

Apple documents selecting a file and pressing the Space bar to open Quick Look. FlowMD’s 1.1.2 release notes explicitly add rendered Markdown previews through that Finder action. Select your document once, then press Space and inspect the result.

If you see plain text or another preview, confirm the installed FlowMD version and whether its preview extension is available to macOS. Do not assume changing the default editor also proves which Quick Look extension is handling the file. Use the current app and system guidance rather than running unverified reset commands.

Check the content you depend on

The preview supports common Markdown features including headings, lists, tables, task lists, links and code blocks. Check the parts your document actually uses. A preview that looks good for a short note is not proof of identical rendering in a website, repository viewer or another Markdown application.

Local images are supported too. Keep a relative image and its Markdown document in the expected folder arrangement when checking it. A remote or unavailable image may not appear, and very large documents or attachments can be limited. Missing imagery does not necessarily mean the text file itself is empty.

1. Save the document and any intended local images.
2. Select the Markdown file in Finder.
3. Press Space and inspect the rendered content.
4. Open the source in an editor if something important differs.

Return to the editor for changes

Use FlowMD’s side-by-side editor and live preview when you want to revise the document. Finder Quick Look helps you inspect saved content without first entering that editing workflow. Keep those purposes separate so you do not mistake a view for a saved edit.

For example, preview a project note to locate the right file, then open it to correct a heading or image reference. Save the change and preview the file again. That small loop checks the result you need without claiming that every Markdown dialect or embedded feature is supported.

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