Preview Markdown in Finder with Quick Look
macOS shows .md files as plain text. Magzdown for Mac adds a Quick Look preview, so pressing Space shows a typeset page with rendered diagrams, math and images. Double-click to open files in the viewer app.
Free, macOS 14 or later. Signed and notarized by Apple.
- Quick Look preview: select a .md file in Finder and press Space
- Viewer app that reloads when you save the file in your editor
- Mermaid diagrams, KaTeX math, syntax-highlighted code and footnotes
- Images saved next to the file show up, not only web images
- Follows your system light or dark appearance
- Renders on your Mac with no network connection. Files are never uploaded
How it works
- 1
Download and install
Open Magzdown.dmg and drag Magzdown to Applications. The app is signed and notarized by Apple, so it opens without security warnings.
- 2
Open it once
Launching Magzdown registers the Quick Look preview with macOS. After that, pressing Space on any .md file in Finder shows the Magzdown page.
- 3
Make it the default viewer (optional)
Select a .md file, choose File > Get Info, set "Open with" to Magzdown and click Change All. Double-clicking Markdown files then opens them in Magzdown.
Frequently asked questions
Does macOS preview Markdown files by default?
No. Quick Look shows .md files as plain text, with the raw # and ** characters. Magzdown for Mac adds a Quick Look extension that renders them instead.
Is Magzdown for Mac free?
Yes. The app, the Quick Look preview, seven styles, two light themes, two dark themes and three fonts are free. A Magzdown Pro license, the same one used on the web, unlocks the rest.
Which macOS versions are supported?
macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later, on Apple silicon and Intel Macs.
Are my files uploaded anywhere?
No. Files are rendered on your Mac. The app only goes online to check a Pro license key, and to load images that your file links from the web.
Space still shows plain text. What do I do?
Open Magzdown once so macOS registers the preview, then try again. If another Markdown Quick Look app is installed, turn it off in System Settings > General > Login Items & Extensions > Quick Look.
Why isn't it on the Mac App Store?
Showing images that sit next to a Markdown file needs file access the App Store sandbox doesn't allow. The app is distributed directly instead, signed and notarized by Apple.
Ready to read?
Free, macOS 14 or later. Signed and notarized by Apple.
Download for Mac