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Local Markdown Viewer Chrome extension

Local Markdown Viewer opens .md files from your computer and renders them with GitHub-style formatting instead of showing raw text. It's best for developers and writers who read Markdown files often and want a quick, local preview. The catch: it only handles files you open in the browser, not a full editor.

PriceFree
CategoryDeveloper Tools
Works inChrome, Edge, Brave (desktop)
✓No account needed

Last checked September 26, 2026 against the Chrome Web Store listing · Independent, not affiliated with Google

Add to Chrome See alternatives

Pros

renders local .md files with clean GitHub-style formatting
works directly from Chrome's file:// URLs
no account or sign-up needed
lightweight and focused on one task

Cons

no editing capability
limited to files you open locally
formatting options are basic compared to dedicated Markdown apps

Best for

previewing local README and notes files
developers who read Markdown documentation often
quick GitHub-style rendering without opening an editor

Skip it if

editing Markdown files (it's a viewer, not an editor)
viewing Markdown hosted on remote servers you can't open as a local file

Key features

GitHub-style Markdown rendering
renders local .md files without uploading them
table of contents style navigation for longer files
works on file:// URLs in Chrome

What Local Markdown Viewer does

Local Markdown Viewer takes a .md file stored on your computer and displays it as formatted HTML, similar to how GitHub renders README files, instead of showing plain Markdown syntax. You open the file directly in Chrome using a file:// URL, and the extension applies the formatting automatically.

Is Local Markdown Viewer safe?

The extension needs permission to read file URLs so it can access the local Markdown file you open, which Chrome disables by default for extensions. You enable this manually in the extension's settings. It processes the file locally in your browser rather than sending it elsewhere.

Featured in

Best markdown viewer Chrome extensions

Local Markdown Viewer: FAQs

Is Local Markdown Viewer free?

Yes, it's a free extension with no listed paid tier.

Is Local Markdown Viewer safe to use?

It only needs file URL access to read the Markdown file you open locally; it renders the file in your browser.

How do I use Local Markdown Viewer?

Install it, enable file URL access in chrome://extensions, then open any local .md file in Chrome to see it rendered.

Why isn't Local Markdown Viewer rendering my file?

Check that 'Allow access to file URLs' is enabled for the extension in chrome://extensions, since this is off by default.

Can Local Markdown Viewer edit Markdown files?

No, it's a viewer only; you'll need a separate editor to change the file content.

What are Local Markdown Viewer alternatives?

MDView and Markdown Viewer are similar extensions with theme and syntax highlighting options.

Does Local Markdown Viewer upload my files?

No, it renders the file locally in your browser rather than uploading it to a server.

Does Local Markdown Viewer support GitHub Flavored Markdown?

Yes, it renders files using GitHub-style formatting.

Can I use Local Markdown Viewer for remote Markdown files?

It's designed for local files opened via file:// URLs, not remote-hosted Markdown pages.

Does Local Markdown Viewer add navigation for long files?

For longer .md files, Local Markdown Viewer adds table-of-contents style navigation so you can jump between headings instead of scrolling the whole document. That's aimed at long README-style files with several sections rather than short notes.