How to open a .md file on a Mac

Your AI gave you a .md file and you're on a Mac. Double-clicking it opens TextEdit, which shows you raw Markdown syntax (the asterisks, hashes, and backticks) instead of the formatted document the AI intended. Here are the three ways to fix that.

Fastest: drop on Vela Docs (no install)

Open docs.vela.partners in Safari, Chrome, or Arc. Drag the .md file from Finder onto the page. It renders as a clean document. Click Share to send a link if you need to.

Free, no signup needed for viewing. The file stays in your browser until you click Share.

Free desktop app: Obsidian

obsidian.md is the standard for personal Markdown vaults on macOS. Install, create a vault folder, drop your .md file in. Heavy for a single file but great if you'll accumulate hundreds.

Paid: Typora

typora.io, $14.99, the most polished single-pane Markdown editing experience on macOS. Worth it if you write Markdown daily; overkill for a one-off AI file.

Developer fallback: VS Code

If you already have VS Code installed, open the file and press ⌘⇧V for a side-by-side preview. Free, heavy install for non-developers.

Common gotchas

• "This file's extension is unrecognized"warning when you double-click. macOS doesn't have a registered default for .md by default. Right-click, Open With → Other, and pick an app, or just use the browser path above.
• Quick Look (spacebar) shows raw text.macOS's preview pane has no built-in Markdown renderer. There's a free QuickLook plugin called QLMarkdownthat adds one, if you want to keep the workflow native.
• iCloud Drive sync conflicts happen when you edit the same file in two apps simultaneously (Obsidian + iA Writer, etc.). Stick to one editor at a time or commit to a folder-based vault.

One short takeaway

For viewing once: drop on Vela Docs. For an ongoing Markdown habit: Obsidian or Typora. For developers: VS Code preview pane.