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Open the .md file in Visual Studio Code and press Ctrl+Shift+V on Windows/Linux or Shift+Command+V on macOS. To keep the source and rendered document side by side, press Ctrl+K V on Windows/Linux or Command+K V on macOS. VS Code includes Markdown preview without a separate application.
Open the built-in Markdown preview
VS Code supports Markdown files out of the box, so the basic workflow needs no extension. Create or open a file whose name ends in .md, then use one of these methods:
- Toggle the preview: with the Markdown editor active, press Ctrl+Shift+V (Windows/Linux) or Shift+Command+V (macOS).
- Open beside the editor: press Ctrl+K, release both keys, then press V on Windows/Linux. On macOS use Command+K, then V.
- Use the tab menu: right-click the Markdown editor tab and choose Open Preview.
- Use the Command Palette: press Ctrl+Shift+P (Windows/Linux) or Command+Shift+P (macOS), run Markdown: Open Preview to the Side, or choose Markdown: Toggle Preview.
The side-by-side command is generally the most useful while writing: the source remains editable on the left and the rendered document appears on the right.
Keep the editor and preview synchronized
The preview normally follows the active Markdown document. As you scroll or edit, VS Code maps the corresponding location between the two panes; the selected editor line is marked in the preview. This makes it practical to inspect a long document without repeatedly searching for the same heading.
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Lock a preview to one file
If opening another Markdown file keeps changing the preview you are inspecting, open the Command Palette and run Markdown: Toggle Preview Locking. A locked preview stays attached to its original document while you work elsewhere. Toggle the command again to return to the normal active-file behavior.
Preview a Markdown diff
Markdown changes shown in a source-control diff can be reopened in the Markdown Preview editor. This is useful for checking the rendered result of a proposed change rather than reading only the line-by-line diff. VS Code also exposes separate association settings for ordinary Markdown files and diffs.
Useful Markdown rendering features
Mermaid diagrams
Put a diagram in a fenced code block labeled mermaid:
```mermaid
flowchart LR
A[Write Markdown] --> B[Open preview]
B --> C[Review rendering]
```The built-in preview can render Mermaid diagrams and provides pan and zoom for larger diagrams. Mermaid support is delivered through VS Code’s built-in Mermaid Markdown Features extension; VS Code 1.121 release notes describe its support for Markdown previews, notebook cells and chats.
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Use single dollar signs for inline mathematics and double dollar signs for a displayed equation:
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- SMOOTH ACTION WITH ADAPTIVE-SYNC: Adaptive-Sync technology ensures fluid action sequences and rapid response time. Every frame will be rendered smoothly with crystal clarity and without stutter
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Inline: $a^2+b^2=c^2$
$$
int_0^1 x^2,dx=frac{1}{3}
$$VS Code’s Markdown preview uses KaTeX to render these expressions. If an expression appears as plain text, check the delimiters and whether the installed VS Code build includes the relevant Markdown features.
Images, links and code
Standard Markdown syntax works in the preview:
[Project documentation](https://example.com)
```javascript
console.log('Rendered as a code block');
```Prefer relative paths for images stored with the project. A moved file, incorrect capitalization, or a path that is relative to a different folder will produce a broken image even though the Markdown syntax is valid.
Configure the preview when the defaults are not enough
Custom CSS
A workspace can load additional preview styles through the markdown.styles setting. In Settings, search for Markdown: Styles, or edit settings.json:
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"markdown.styles": [
"./docs/markdown.css"
]
}The path can point to a workspace file or a URL. Keep project-specific styles in the repository when teammates need the same appearance, and review remote styles before allowing them.
Default editor associations
The workbench.editorAssociations setting can make the preview the default editor for .md files. Use workbench.diffEditorAssociations when you want a special association only for Markdown diffs. These settings change how files open; they do not remove the normal preview commands.
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- In-Plane Switching (IPS): See excellent color accuracy and consistency across wide viewing angles with In-plane Switching (IPS) technology.
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Extensions
Extensions can add preview styles and scripts through markdown.previewStyles and markdown.previewScripts. Open the Extensions view from the Activity Bar or press Ctrl+Shift+X. Marketplace listings expose publisher information, ratings, Q&A and update behavior, but installing an extension is a trust decision: an extension host can read and write files, make network requests, run processes and modify workspace settings.
- Check the publisher identity and repository.
- Read the license and support information.
- Review requested permissions and recent update history.
- Install only what the built-in preview cannot provide.
Why images or scripts are blocked
Markdown preview is deliberately isolated. Its strict security mode disables script execution, loads only trusted content and blocks images served over plain http. A local image or an https image can therefore render while an otherwise valid HTTP image does not.
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Allow insecure content
If you control the document and must display an HTTP resource, open Settings and find the Markdown preview security setting, or use the Command Palette to locate the Markdown preview security commands. Allow insecure content permits HTTP resources but continues to disable scripts. This is the safer choice when the only problem is an old image URL.
Disable protection only for trusted content
The Disable option removes additional preview protections and permits scripts. Use it only for Markdown files and workspaces you fully trust; do not use it merely to make an unknown README render. Restore strict mode after inspecting a trusted document.
Workspace Trust is separate
For an unfamiliar repository, VS Code may open in Restricted Mode. That boundary helps prevent automatic code execution by VS Code and extensions until you trust the folder. Preview security and Workspace Trust address different risks, so changing one does not eliminate the other.
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Troubleshoot a blank or incorrect preview
The shortcut does nothing
- Click inside the Markdown editor first; the command acts on the active editor.
- Confirm the file ends in
.mdand that VS Code identifies its language mode as Markdown. - Open the Command Palette and run Markdown: Toggle Preview to bypass a keyboard-layout or shortcut conflict.
- Check Keyboard Shortcuts for another command assigned to the same keys.
The preview shows old content
Save the file, check that the preview is not locked to another document, and verify that you are editing the file whose tab is being previewed. A second open copy of a file can also make the active document unclear.
An image is broken
- Resolve the path from the Markdown file’s folder, not from the workspace root unless the path actually starts there.
- Use forward slashes and match filename capitalization, especially in repositories checked out on case-sensitive systems.
- Confirm the file is inside the workspace or otherwise readable by VS Code.
- For remote images, use HTTPS or deliberately choose the less-protective setting for a trusted document.
Mermaid or math is plain text
Check the fence label (mermaid must be lower-case in the usual form), closing fences and math dollar signs. Update VS Code if the built-in Mermaid Markdown Features extension is missing or disabled, and inspect the Problems or developer console output for malformed diagram or KaTeX syntax.
Scripts do not run
That is expected in strict mode. Do not enable scripts to preview ordinary Markdown. If a trusted document genuinely requires script-based rendering, review its source and workspace trust status first, then use the least permissive setting that meets the requirement.
Preview versus exporting a final artifact
VS Code preview is an interactive development view. It is ideal for checking headings, links, images, diagrams and equations while you edit, but it is not automatically a pixel-identical PDF or website build. If you need a deliverable, use the project’s documented Markdown-to-HTML or PDF tool and inspect that output separately. Differences can come from custom CSS, fonts, page breaks, unsupported extensions and security restrictions.
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If your goal is a shareable screenshot of a rendered page rather than an interactive editor preview, ScreenshotNeo provides a website screenshot API and MCP server. A single request returns PNG, JPEG, WebP or PDF. It accepts cookie and consent banners before capture and removes more than 60 known consent platforms, newsletter popups and chat widgets; each step can be turned off. Bot checks, CAPTCHAs, blank pages, timeouts, failed loads and cache hits are not billed, and response headers identify the page verdict and whether it was billed.
After publishing your Markdown as a web page, capture it with cURL:
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Quick reference
| Task | Windows/Linux | macOS |
|---|---|---|
| Toggle preview | Ctrl+Shift+V | Shift+Command+V |
| Open preview to the side | Ctrl+K V | Command+K V |
| Open Extensions view | Ctrl+Shift+X | Command+Shift+X |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Markdown preview extension in VS Code?
No. Standard Markdown preview is built into VS Code; extensions are optional for extra styling, scripts or specialized syntax.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsCan I preview Markdown without opening a second window?
Yes. Use the side-by-side preview command so the rendered document occupies an editor group inside the same VS Code window.
How do I stop another file from changing my preview?
Run Markdown: Toggle Preview Locking from the Command Palette to attach the preview to its current document.
Is VS Code preview suitable for untrusted README files?
Use strict preview security and keep unfamiliar repositories in Restricted Mode. Do not enable scripts or trust a workspace just to render a document.
The Bottom Line
For everyday editing, open the .md file and use Ctrl+Shift+V/Shift+Command+V; use the side-by-side shortcut when you need live source-and-rendered feedback.
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