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# The easiest way to read Markdown files in Chrome
- URL: https://www.narendravardi.com/the-easiest-way-to-read-markdown-files-in-chrome/
- Published: 2026-05-30T10:30:35.000Z
- Updated: 2026-05-30T10:30:34.000Z
- Description: In this article, I talk about a simple Chrome extension that makes reading AI-generated Markdown files easier without opening an IDE.
- Author: Narendra Vardi
- Tags: ai, 2026, ai-assisted, Tools

AI tools create a lot of `.md` files. They are excellent for writing, but not always pleasant to read.

These days, I keep seeing files like `README.md`, `PLAN.md`, `NOTES.md`, and draft articles generated in Markdown.

Opening them in an IDE feels like overkill. IDEs assume that I want to edit the file, search through code, or make changes. But most of the time, all I want is simple: open the file and read it comfortably.

> Open a Markdown file directly in Chrome and read it like a formatted article.

The flow is simple:

1. AI tools create `.md` files.
2. Chrome opens the local file.
3. Markdown Viewer renders it like a readable article.

## The solution

Install [Markdown Viewer](https://github.com/simov/markdown-viewer?ref=narendravardi.com), a browser extension that renders Markdown files inside Chrome.

**Before:** Raw Markdown text with symbols like `#`, `-`, and backticks everywhere.

**After:** Headings, lists, code blocks, tables, links, and images rendered like a normal article.

## Setup

1. Install [Markdown Viewer from the Chrome Web Store](https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/markdown-viewer/ckkdlimhmcjmikdlpkmbgfkaikojcbjk?ref=narendravardi.com).
2. Open `chrome://extensions`.
3. Locate the Markdown Viewer extension and click the `Details` button.

![Open the Details page for the Markdown Viewer extension.](https://i.imgur.com/kzullaI.png)

Next, turn on `Allow access to file URLs`.

![Allow access to file URLs setting enabled for Markdown Viewer.](https://i.imgur.com/VVcPv0T.png)

## Open .md files in Chrome by default

To make this even smoother, set Chrome as the default app for `.md` files.

1. Right-click any `.md` file.
2. Choose `Get Info` on macOS, or `Open with` on Windows.
3. Select Google Chrome.
4. On macOS, click `Change All...`. On Windows, enable `Always use this app`.

Now you can double-click a Markdown file and read it directly in Chrome.

## Small note

If the file still opens as raw text, check whether `Allow access to file URLs` is enabled. That is the setting people usually miss.

Reference: [Markdown Viewer GitHub repository](https://github.com/simov/markdown-viewer?ref=narendravardi.com)