MarkdownLive — View & Edit Markdown, developed by Payne Brain, gives Chrome users a convenient space for opening, creating, and editing Markdown documents. Its split-screen workspace keeps the source text and rendered output side by side, making it easier to review changes without switching between separate tools.

File access, formats, and exports

The extension supports several common ways of working with Markdown. Users can open local files, view raw Markdown files from GitHub, start a document from scratch, or drag an existing file into the viewer. Supported formats include .md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkdn, and .mdx.

Saving and exporting are handled within the same workspace. Edited files can be downloaded to the device, while export options for HTML, plain text, and PDF make the finished content easier to share or use elsewhere.

Live editing and display tools

MarkdownLive updates the rendered preview as changes are made, which makes formatting errors easier to spot while writing. Its support for GitHub Flavored Markdown covers tables, task lists, and fenced code blocks, while syntax highlighting keeps code samples readable across dozens of programming languages.

The formatting toolbar is useful for those who do not want to memorize every Markdown command. It includes shortcuts for bold text, italics, code, links, headings, lists, and tables, alongside keyboard commands for common formatting, opening, and saving actions.

The layout can also be adjusted by resizing the divider between the editor and preview. Light and dark themes are available, with automatic detection and a manual toggle for users who prefer more control over the appearance.

Private local processing

Documents are processed entirely within the browser, and file data is not sent to an external server. This gives users more control over private notes, drafts, and technical documents. However, the local workflow is limited to solo editing, without shared workspaces, comments, or real-time collaboration.

A capable Markdown workspace

MarkdownLive works well for individual users who need a browser tool for writing and reviewing Markdown. Its responsive preview, accessible editing tools, and local file processing create a capable workspace without the added complexity of a full desktop editor.