Frequently asked questions
The short answers about Markdown Peek for macOS.
What is Markdown Peek?
A fast, native Markdown viewer for macOS. It opens .md, .markdown, and .txt files in clean GitHub style, and previews them in Finder with Quick Look.
How much does it cost?
It is free on the Mac App Store. Open a file and read.
Which version of macOS do I need?
Markdown Peek runs on macOS 15.5 and later.
Which file types does it open?
It opens .md, .markdown, and .txt files.
Can I save a file as a PDF?
Yes. Press Command-P to print the open document or save it as a clean PDF, from either the rendered or the raw view.
What does the spacebar do?
It flips between the rendered page and the raw Markdown source, and back again, so you can see exactly what a file says.
Does it work with Quick Look in Finder?
Yes. Select a Markdown file in Finder and press Space to read it formatted, without opening the app. Launch Markdown Peek once after installing so macOS registers the preview.
Can I edit files in Markdown Peek?
Markdown Peek is a viewer made for reading, so it stays fast and never risks your originals. The one thing it writes is a PDF, when you ask with Command-P. Edit in your usual editor and Markdown Peek reloads the changes on its own.
Does it render LaTeX math and Mermaid diagrams?
Yes. Inline math written $like this$ and display math written $$like this$$ render as real formulas, and a fenced mermaid code block is drawn as a diagram. Both work in the app window and in Quick Look, and both render offline on your Mac.
Can I search inside a document?
Yes. Press Command-F to find text in the open document. Every match is highlighted, you get a count, and Command-G or Shift-Command-G steps through them.
How do I see the word count and reading time?
Press Option-Command-I for Document Info: words, characters, and lines, an estimated reading time, the heading structure of the document, and the file's own details.
Is my data private?
Yes. Markdown Peek is sandboxed, collects no data, and has no accounts, no telemetry, and no setup. Images from the web are off by default, so a document you open does not reach the internet unless you choose to show them. Your files never leave your Mac.
How do I set it as my default Markdown app?
In Finder, select a .md file, choose File then Get Info, pick Markdown Peek under Open with, and click Change All. The Help page walks through it step by step.
Which languages is it available in?
Nine: English, Danish, German, Spanish, French, Japanese, Korean, Polish, and Simplified Chinese. The app, its Quick Look preview, and this site are all available in every one of them, and the app follows the language your Mac is set to.