Live Markdown Editor
Write Markdown with live visual editing, Preview, TOC, code blocks, Mermaid, KaTeX, images, and link cards.
Local-first Markdown editor and workspace
A local-first Markdown editor for complete project folders.
Markdown Explorer combines live Markdown editing, rich preview, file-tree navigation, image handling, Mermaid, KaTeX, GitHub sync, and publish-ready export tools in one focused workspace.
docs
features.md
img
sync.md
templates
# Product notes
Preview
A Markdown editor built for projects that grow
Single-file editors are useful for quick notes. Markdown Explorer is designed for complete Markdown projects that also need folder navigation, media paths, live preview, reusable templates, remote sync, and publishing workflows without moving documents away from their existing structure.
Workspace File Explorer
Open a local folder, browse the file tree, manage files, copy paths, and keep project documents in place.
Tabs and Split View
Open multiple documents, pin preview tabs, split panes, and edit while checking the rendered result.
Media Management
Paste clipboard images into predictable folders, resize images, rename assets, and preview YouTube links.
AI Assistant
Send selected text with file context to AI, keep chat history, archive answers, and work with provider settings.
Publish and Sync
Export docs to Nextra, sync with GitHub, and try Google Drive Workspace through Close Beta access.
A calmer workflow
1
Open an existing project folder without changing its structure.
2
Edit Markdown with live preview, TOC, media cards, diagrams, and math.
3
Organize files, images, links, and reusable templates from one workspace.
4
Publish to a docs-site structure or sync files with remote workspaces.
Remote workspace
Close Beta
GitHub Workspace is available for repository-backed Markdown editing and sync. Google Drive Workspace is implemented, but stays in Close Beta until Google OAuth app verification and public approval are complete.
Editor
Live Markdown editing
Code block copy
Mermaid diagrams
KaTeX math
Image resize and rename
Workspace
Local folder access
Tree navigation
File operations
Lazy loading
Relative path copy
Navigation
TOC sidebar
Active heading tracking
Quick file search
Split View sync
Preview scrolling
Remote
GitHub Workspace
Commit and Sync
Remote conflict actions
Google Drive Close Beta
Who it is for
For people whose Markdown is already a project.
Markdown Explorer is most useful when one note has become a connected folder of documentation, research, product decisions, images, diagrams, and publishable pages.
Documentation maintainers
People who keep product docs, handbooks, or knowledge bases as a folder of Markdown files.
Developers and technical writers
Teams that want Git-friendly files, project-wide search, diagrams, math, and publishing in one workspace.
File-first note keepers
Writers who prefer portable files and an existing folder structure over a service-owned document database.
Typical online editor
Start with an empty document.
Paste or upload content, work on one page, then export it when you need the file elsewhere.
Markdown Explorer
Start with the folder you already have.
Keep filenames, relative links, images, and Git history in place while the editor becomes the workspace around them.
A real folder workflow
Open, explore, edit, and save without an import step.
The workspace is built around a directory selected from your own device. Here is the full flow, from permission to a saved project.
product-docs /
docs
getting-started.md
features.md
img
release-notes.md
features.md
# Editor features
Write beside your preview.
```mermaid
flowchart LR
Draft --> Preview
```
1
Choose a folder
Grant access only after selecting a workspace in the system folder picker.
2
Keep the structure
Markdown Explorer reads the existing tree instead of importing files into a separate library.
3
Find and open
Use the Explorer, Cmd/Ctrl + P, or project search to move between related files.
4
Edit with context
Work with live preview, TOC, images, Mermaid, KaTeX, tabs, and Split View.
5
Save back to disk
Changes and local assets remain in the selected folder, ready for Git, backup, or another editor.
Inside the editor
See the source and the rendered result together.
These representative product surfaces show the editing and viewing modes available in the workspace. They use the same quiet, pane-based structure as the application.
Live preview
Split View
# Release checklist
- [x] Write the guide
- [ ] Publish the docs
**Owner:** Documentation
Release checklist
☑ Write the guide
☐ Publish the docs
Owner: Documentation
Mermaid diagram
Rendered
flowchart LR · Draft --> Review --> Publish
Draft
Review
Publish
KaTeX math
Preview
$$ E = mc^2 $$
E = mc²
∫₀∞ e⁻ˣ dx = 1
Image viewer
100%
100%
Local files and privacy
Local-first describes the file workflow—not every optional feature.
The core editor works with files on your device. Remote workspaces, exports, and AI each have a separate, explicit network boundary.
Local workspaces stay local
Opening and editing a local folder does not require uploading its Markdown files to a Markdown Explorer account or document database.
Access starts with your choice
The app requests a folder through the browser, desktop, or mobile system picker. Platform permission rules still apply.
Network features are explicit
GitHub, Google Drive Close Beta, publishing, and other remote actions contact their providers only when you choose those workflows.
AI is not local processing
Submitting an AI message sends the prompt and current Markdown context to the selected AI provider. The provider’s privacy terms apply.
Browsers and platforms
Folder capabilities differ by platform. Chromium desktop is the recommended web experience.
Chrome and Edge on desktop
Recommended for web
The complete browser folder workflow uses the File System Access API available in Chromium-based desktop browsers.
Safari and Firefox
Limited folder workflow
The site can load, but browser folder access and persistent permissions depend on capabilities these browsers do not fully match.
macOS, Windows, and Linux
Desktop builds
The Electron app uses native folder access. Public package availability, signing, and release status can vary by operating system.
Android and iOS
Native implementation
Mobile uses system document providers. Some desktop-only integrations are unavailable, and iOS may require selecting a folder again after relaunch.
An honest comparison
Different editors are best at different jobs.
Markdown Explorer is not intended to replace every writing or coding tool. It is a focused choice for local Markdown folders that need project navigation and rich previews.
Product
Where it is strong
Markdown Explorer difference
Tradeoff to know
Generic online editors
Fast for a pasted note or a single temporary document.
Markdown Explorer opens a real folder, keeps relative paths meaningful, and supports project navigation.
It asks for folder access and has more workspace UI than a one-page editor.
VS Code
A broader code editor with a much larger extension ecosystem.
Markdown Explorer provides a focused Markdown workspace with rich preview and media handling ready to use.
VS Code remains the stronger choice for general software development and deep language tooling.
Obsidian
A mature knowledge-management workflow, graph, and community plugin ecosystem.
Markdown Explorer emphasizes folder editing, Split View, project search, HTML tools, and documentation export.
Obsidian currently has the larger plugin ecosystem and more mature knowledge-graph features.
Typora
A polished, distraction-light desktop writing experience.
Markdown Explorer adds a project file tree, multi-file navigation, remote workspaces, and browser access.
Typora is more established for focused single-document writing.
StackEdit
Quick browser editing with mature cloud and collaboration-oriented workflows.
Markdown Explorer centers local folders and project assets instead of a cloud-first document list.
Markdown Explorer does not currently offer real-time multi-user co-editing.
Markdown Explorer Features
Read step-by-step guides for shortcuts, search, preview, HTML, themes, and plugins.
Ready to work inside your Markdown folder?
Launch the app