Pressing Space in Finder shows Markdown as plain text
Selecting a file in Finder and pressing Space is a handy Mac habit. For a .md file, though, you get plain text: headings and tables show up as raw #, | and - characters. This article explains why, and how to keep using Space and still read the rendered result.
Why it shows plain text
Finder's preview (QuickLook) knows how to draw each file type. It can draw images and PDFs, but it treats Markdown as a text file and shows the markup as it is. A diagram written in a ```mermaid code block is no different: you see the code, not the diagram.
Plenty of the time you only want to read. An AI-generated design doc, a README you just downloaded, a note on your disk. Launching an editor or a browser each time is a detour.
Keep Space, get the rendered view
QuickLook accepts extensions, and befold ships one. Once it is installed, selecting a .md or .mmd file in Finder and pressing Space shows it rendered.
- Download befold and put it in your Applications folder
- In Finder, select a
.md/.mmdfile and press Space
Headings, tables and code blocks are formatted, and Mermaid blocks are drawn as diagrams. No app window opens.
Good to know
- QuickLook renders only the one file you selected. It cannot read other files in the same folder, so images referenced by relative path may not appear there.
- Large text files are limited to 2 MB. Open anything bigger in the app.
- befold is for reading. It does not edit.
The full list of what befold does is on the features page.
Try befold
Requires macOS 14 (Sonoma) or later. Free to use.