10+
Office & Docs
Local Document Previews
Read DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT files directly inside your workspace with local timestamp caching.
Private by default • Free and open source
Markdown
Explorer
Turn Markdown folders, agent memory, technical docs, and project notes into a private workspace you can search, navigate, and actually enjoy reading.
- Private by default Local parsing, indexing, search, and rendering.
- Open source Free to use under the MIT license.
- Use it everywhere Browser, VS Code, Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Your documentation becomes an app
Open a folder. Search everything. Jump to the exact answer.
Open a folder. Search everything. Jump to the exact answer.
Built for
- AI-generated project knowledge
- Engineering documentation
- Research and technical writing
COMPLETE DOCUMENTATION TOOLKIT
Engineered for agent memory, runbooks & dense docs
Markdown Explorer transforms local Markdown and document folders into an interactive, searchable documentation app.
3
Search Scopes
Multi-Scope Workspace Search
Search current file, active workspace, or across all open desktop tabs. Excerpts show context and jump directly to exact clicked matches.
Keyboard First
Sidebar Cursor & File Jump
Navigate the file tree without touching the mouse using Alt+S, arrow keys, Enter, and Esc. Highlight and locate current file with Ctrl+Q.
Desktop Workspace
Multi-Workspace Tab View
Keep multiple project folders open simultaneously in desktop tabs. Switch between Tab view and distraction-free Focus view instantly.
1000+
Data Rows
Interactive Tables & Charts
Sort, filter, and multi-select values across dense datasets. Convert suitable numeric table columns into interactive Bar, Line, or Pie charts.
Offline Render
Mermaid Diagrams & LaTeX Math
Render flowcharts, sequence diagrams, ER models, git graphs, and mindmaps offline. Display LaTeX formulas inline with document text.
Modal Zoom
Fullscreen Media Inspection
Click any image or Mermaid diagram to open a backdrop-blur modal. Focus on complex architecture details with mousewheel zoom and drag panning.
Rich Content
HTML Sandboxes & Video Embeds
Run isolated HTML previews for interactive code examples. Embed local video files or YouTube and streaming video links inside Markdown docs.
Personalization
Theme Remix & Hotkey Editor
Customize colors, density, line spacing, layout style, and background images. Export, import, and share reading presets across team members.
25+
Code Fences
Syntax Highlighting & Copy
High-contrast syntax highlighting across 25+ programming languages with line numbers, language badges, and quick code block copy buttons.
100%
Local & Private
Zero Telemetry & Offline Indexing
100% local parsing, indexing, and rendering with zero telemetry and no file uploads. Live auto-refresh detects filesystem updates instantly.
Desktop Engines
Tauri & Electron Builds
Choose lightweight Tauri builds for minimal memory footprint and fast launch, or Electron builds for maximum battle-tested OS stability.
Built for agent-era Markdown
Features & capabilities
Explore the powerful tools built into Markdown Explorer to make local documentation interactive and comfortable.
HTML documents
Preview, convert, or open HTML in your browser
Switch each HTML tab between an isolated local-first preview and converted Markdown, open the original file in the system browser, and keep code-block preview defaults independent.
CSV & TSV
Turn delimited code fences into data views
CSV and TSV code fences can switch from highlighted source to sortable, filterable tables with wrapping, generated column labels, delimiter detection, and chart controls.
Workspace control
Open locations, recover workspaces, and cancel scans
File, folder, workspace-tab, and document-tab menus expose native location actions. Long scans can be cancelled without leaving stale loading state, and missing workspaces can be replaced safely.
Workspace history
Reopen recent workspaces
Manage saved folders and return to recent workspace locations. Run Markdown Explorer on Windows, macOS, and Linux.
Workspace viewer
Your docs become an app
Markdown Explorer keeps files local while making big Markdown and document workspaces easier to scan, search, understand, and present. Support multiple languages.
Search
Find content across every open workspace tab
Search current file, current workspace, or all desktop tabs. Results show focused excerpts and jump to the exact clicked match.
Document previews
Read DOCX, PDF, Office, web, and text files
Enable local conversion for DOCX, PDF, HTML, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT files. Markdown Explorer converts on open, caches repeat previews, and clearly marks best-effort rendering quality.
Keyboard navigation
Move through the sidebar with Alt+S
Enter Sidebar Cursor mode, move with Up and Down, press Enter to expand folders or open files, and exit with Esc, Alt+S, or an outside click.
Theme Remix
Build custom reading themes
Create, duplicate, edit, import, and export custom themes with colors, density, spacing, layout style, and optional background images.
Tables
Large tables stay usable
Sort and filter real rows, use multi-choice filters, and keep long tables collapsed while exploring filtered results.
Charts
Turn Markdown data into charts
Switch suitable tables into Bar, Line, or Pie views when numeric columns are detected.
Diagrams
Mermaid diagrams render cleanly
Flowcharts, timelines, git graphs, architecture diagrams, and more render inside your local Markdown reader.
Media
Markdown can carry video too
Embed local video or supported streaming links without turning your documentation into a separate website.
Media Viewer
Zoom and inspect images & diagrams
Click any image, flowchart, or architecture diagram to open a premium fullscreen backdrop-blur modal. Focus on complex details, pan across large graphics, and click anywhere to close.
Fresh screenshots
A viewer made for dense docs
Use Markdown Explorer for agent memory folders, engineering runbooks, release notes, diagrams, demos, and knowledge bases.
Private by default
Markdown Explorer does not upload Markdown content. It scans and renders locally, making it useful for private notes, agent memory folders, engineering docs, runbooks, and project knowledge bases.
Zero Cloud Uploads
Your files never leave your machine. All parsing, indexing, and rendering happens 100% locally — no accounts required.
Zero Telemetry & Tracking
No analytics, no crash reporters, no usage data collection. Markdown Explorer respects your workspace as your own.
Agent & Runbook Ready
Point at agent memory folders, engineering runbooks, or knowledge bases. Works offline and air-gapped, no internet dependency.
Live Auto-Refresh
Native filesystem watcher detects file changes instantly and re-renders without manual reload — no polling, no cloud sync.
Get Markdown Explorer - Current version - v1.6.0
Install the extension or download the desktop app
The desktop app goes beyond the VS Code extension with Tabs view, multiple workspaces open at the same time, more keyboard shortcuts, and extra features. Lightweight variants are powered by Tauri for a minimal resource footprint and faster performance, while standard builds use Electron for battle-tested stability across all platforms.
Windows desktop
Use the NSIS installer for Start Menu and desktop shortcuts, or the portable `.exe` to run directly without installation.
Linux desktop
Use `.AppImage` for portable launch, or `.deb` on Debian and Ubuntu-based systems.
macOS desktop
Download a `.dmg` for your chip. Use `arm64` for Apple Silicon and `x64` for Intel Macs.
VS Code Marketplace
Best choice for VS Code users. Launch the docs viewer directly inside your editor.
Open VSX Registry
Use this for VSCodium and VS Code-compatible editors that rely on Open VSX.
Chromium extension
Run Markdown Explorer directly in your browser. Install unpacked extension from the latest release.
Latest release page
Every GitHub Release includes file descriptions so you can pick the right package for your OS.
View latest releaseChecking latest release assets...
Global & Accessible
Documentation in your native language
Markdown Explorer is built for global teams. The entire reader interface is fully localized, allowing you to seamlessly navigate, search, and manage your documentation workspaces in your preferred language.
English
Tiếng Việt
Français
Español
中文
Norsk
日本語
한국어
Русский
FAQ
Common questions
Is Markdown Explorer free?
Yes. The project is MIT licensed and the GitHub repository is public.
Does it work without internet?
Yes. Rendering and searching happen locally. The website download buttons use GitHub only to find the latest release files and public download totals.
What document formats can I preview locally?
In addition to Markdown (.md), Markdown Explorer supports local previews of DOCX, PDF, XLSX, PPTX, HTML, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT files directly inside your workspace with local caching.
What is the difference between Tauri and Electron builds?
Lightweight Tauri builds offer a minimal resource footprint and fast startup, while Electron builds provide maximum cross-platform stability and battle-tested OS compatibility.
Does Markdown Explorer collect any telemetry or user data?
No. Markdown Explorer is 100% private and offline-first with zero telemetry, no tracking scripts, and no remote file uploads.
How do interactive tables and Chart.js visualization work?
Standard Markdown tables automatically gain row sorting and multi-select filters. When numeric columns are detected, you can switch the table into an interactive Bar, Line, or Pie chart with one click.
Which desktop file should I download?
Windows users can choose the NSIS installer (`Setup *.exe`) for Start Menu integration or the portable `.exe` to run directly. Linux users can choose `.AppImage` or `.deb`. macOS users should choose `.dmg`, with `arm64` for Apple Silicon and `x64` for Intel.