Artifact Desk Get launch access
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MARKDOWN VIEWER

A local Markdown viewer for people who do not want an IDE

Open a .md file and read the document it describes, not a screen full of punctuation.

Get launch access

Artifact Desk Free can open and display Markdown locally with no account, watermark, file cap, or project cap. Editing, saving, printing, and conversion require the 14-day Pro trial or a Pro license.

Why Markdown often looks wrong when you open it

Markdown is plain text with formatting instructions. A basic text editor shows the instructions. Some note apps paste only part of the formatting. Developer editors can preview it, but they bring sidebars, source controls, terminals, and project concepts that are irrelevant to someone who only needs the document.

Artifact Desk gives Markdown a document-first view while keeping the source available for people who need exact control.

What the Markdown view supports

  • Headings, paragraphs, emphasis, links, lists, block quotes, code, tables, and common Markdown document structure
  • A rich reading surface for Free users
  • Rich editing and source editing during the Pro trial or with Pro
  • Local Save As, compatible export, and printing with Pro
  • Normal file opening from Finder, File Explorer, a pasted path, drag and drop, or the app's Files area

Can Artifact Desk be the default app for .md files?

Yes. After installation, macOS and Windows can associate Markdown files with Artifact Desk. A coding agent can also use the operating system to open an absolute Markdown path in Artifact Desk when local command permissions allow it.

Which Markdown flavor does it use?

Markdown has many dialects and extensions. Artifact Desk is designed to preserve source and render common Markdown structures, but it does not promise lossless conversion between every private or application-specific dialect. When exact syntax matters, Source remains the authority.

Artifact Desk or MarkText?

If your entire job is writing Markdown in a focused open-source editor, MarkText remains an excellent free option. Artifact Desk is a broader desktop workspace for the mixed files that arrive from AI workflows. Read the factual Artifact Desk and MarkText comparison.