Markdown Explorer

Markdown files are built for AI agents. Markdown Explorer makes them pleasant for humans.

It turns .md and .mdx folders into a private, searchable documentation app inside VS Code, with workspace navigation, rendered diagrams, math, videos, highlighted code, interactive tables, charts, and a real reading layout. A standalone desktop app is also available for Windows, Linux, and macOS.

Homepage: https://the-long-ride.github.io/markdown-explorer/

Why It Feels Different

• Read workspaces, not loose files: file tree, table of contents, section cards, copy buttons, and polished document navigation.
• Preview more document types: opt in to local conversion for DOCX, PDF, HTML, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT files, with a clear note that converted previews may lose layout or formatting quality.
• Search where you need: current file or current workspace in VS Code, with content excerpts and exact jump-to-result behavior.
• Stay keyboard-first: use Sidebar Cursor mode to move through folders and files with Alt+S, arrow keys, Enter, and Esc.
• Shape the workspace: file tabs, Scope Focus, Theme Remix, and settings import/export keep large doc sets personal without changing project files.
• Render rich Markdown: Mermaid, LaTeX math, images, streaming video, MDX, HTML sandboxes, callouts, frontmatter, and code blocks.
• Use data inside docs: sort, filter, multi-select table filters, collapse large tables, and switch tables into Bar, Line, or Pie charts.
• Stay private: rendering and indexing are local. No telemetry, no file uploads.

Install

Recent Feature Guide

Recent releases from v1.4.5 onward focus on faster navigation, safer workspace flow, and richer local previews.

• Workspace links: links that start with /, ./, or ../ navigate to files inside the current workspace and stay in back/forward history.
• Reading polish: table Wrap/Unwrap controls, code gutter selection highlighting, compact Markdown chrome, and clearer string interpolation make dense docs easier to scan.
• Theme Remix: create, duplicate, edit, import, and export custom themes with color, density, spacing, and optional background image controls.
• Content File Tabs and Scope Focus: keep opened docs in tabs and narrow the sidebar to selected files/folders for the current workspace.
• Converted document previews: enable best-effort local previews for DOCX, PDF, HTML, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT.
• Sidebar Cursor mode: press Alt+S, move with Up/Down, press Enter to expand folders or open files, and press Esc or click outside the sidebar to exit.

Search Modes

Find the exact content you need, then jump to the exact clicked match.

Tables That Stay Useful

Markdown tables become real data views: search rows, sort columns, multi-select filter values, keep large datasets collapsed, and switch to charts when numeric data is detected.

Diagrams, Math, Code, Media

Mermaid diagrams render offline, LaTeX math is readable, code blocks are highlighted, and Markdown can include local or streaming video.

HTML And Media Tools

Use isolated HTML previews for interactive examples, and inspect images or diagrams in a zoomable media modal.

Workspace And Desktop Screens

The same renderer is available in the desktop app, with workspace selection, recent folders, and a welcome page for getting started.

Converted Document Previews

Turn on Read DOCX, PDF, Office, and text files in Settings to scan and preview DOCX, PDF, HTML, XLSX, PPTX, ODT, ODP, ODS, RTF, and TXT files. Conversion is local, runs only when a file is opened, and is cached by file timestamp and size for repeat views.

Shortcuts

Privacy

• No telemetry.
• No file upload.
• Local parsing, indexing, rendering, and search.
• MIT licensed public source.

Links

• Website
• VS Code Marketplace
• Open VSX
• Latest GitHub Release
• Changelog
• Issues

Report Issues

Bug reports and feature ideas are very welcome. Clear reports make fixes faster, and screenshots or tiny sample Markdown files are especially helpful.

Before opening a new issue, please take a quick look at the existing issues so we can keep related reports together.

When you open an issue, include what you can:

• Short title: one clear sentence, such as Search result opens wrong match.
• App surface: VS Code extension or desktop app.
• Version: app or extension version, plus OS.
• Steps to reproduce: the smallest click/key sequence that triggers the problem.
• Expected behavior: what you thought should happen.
• Actual behavior: what happened instead.
• Screenshot or screen recording: useful for layout, theme, zoom, and interaction bugs.
• Minimal Markdown sample: helpful for parser, Mermaid, math, table, video, or code-block issues.
• Console or log output: include errors from VS Code Developer Tools, Electron Developer Tools, or the terminal when available.

No need to make it perfect. A small reproducible example is already a huge gift to the project.