Have Windows Explorer preview markdown files

The Windows explorer.exe has a previsualization pane (W7+) that let you preview .txt, .docx, .bat, etc. documents.

How can I make it preview markdown .md files ? Rendering just as plain text is kinda ok, but I'd like to render the markdown in the preview as well

Solution 1:

I don't have enough reputation to add a comment, but, the solution to your problem is the correct answer from this thread: Windows 7 - Preview other file types as text in Preview Pane

Edit: Actually, according to this guy in that same thread, using PreviewConfig should be enough.

Edit 2: In order to preview custom or non-standard file-types with actual rendering (eg. color for code, rendering markdown, or images), it seems you need to have a Preview Handler. This thread on another forum adds some useful information to the discussion of developing such a preview handler, particularly this tutorial written in C#. I tried searching for a pre-written .md preview handler, but have come back empty handed. If you know C# I highly suggest looking further into this.

Solution 2:

since a couple of days this is possible with the MS PowerToys.

Microsoft PowerToys is a set of utilities for power users to tune and streamline their Windows experience for greater productivity. Inspired by the Windows 95 era PowerToys project, this reboot provides power users with ways to squeeze more efficiency out of the Windows 10 shell and customize it for individual workflows. A great overview of the Windows 95 PowerToys can be found here.

After you have installed it, you just toggle on the option "File Explorer" on and you get the rendering you want. Links are not clickable yet and images don't show, but apart from that it looks nice.

It comes under an MIT license and can do other useful stuff.

Solution 3:

Bit of an old thread, but this (a bit unstable) extension (warning: I am the author) does the trick for me:

https://github.com/Atrejoe/MarkdownPreview

Installation is a bit of a drag though.