Documents conversion
Convert DOC to Markdown
Updated Jul 2026
DOC is the old binary format Word used before 2007, and Markdown is the plain text format used for READMEs, wikis, and notes. To convert DOC to Markdown, open the file in a converter and export it as Markdown. Doing this on your own computer means the document, and whatever is saved inside it, never gets uploaded anywhere.
- Extension
- .doc
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Old Word documents
- Metadata
- Carries EXIF
- Extension
- .md
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Docs, READMEs, notes
Convert DOC to Markdown on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert DOC to Markdown
- Open Morphjet and drag in the old .doc files you want to convert. Add one file or a whole folder at once.
- Choose Markdown as the output format.
- Convert. The .md files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
DOC vs Markdown: what actually changes
| DOC | Markdown | |
|---|---|---|
| File size | Larger, binary format with formatting overhead | Much smaller, plain text |
| Formatting kept | Full, fonts, colors, tables, embedded images | Basic only, headings, bold, italic, lists, links, simple tables |
| Opens everywhere | Needs Word or a compatible app, and modern Word may ask to convert it first | Yes, any text editor, and renders directly on wikis, note apps, and code hosting sites |
| Metadata | Yes, author, company, edit history, comments | No, plain text only |
| Images | Embedded in the file | Not embedded, linked out to separate image files |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert DOC to Markdown when you're moving old Word documents into a wiki, README, static site, or a note app that stores everything as plain text, or when you want the content to sit cleanly in version control.
Keep the DOC (or convert it to DOCX instead) if the document relies on its formatting, embedded images, tables, or tracked changes, since Markdown only keeps the basics and drops the rest.
Why not just use an online converter?
Old .doc files often carry more than the visible text. The author's name, their company, how long the document was edited for, and any comments or tracked changes can all be stored inside the file. An online converter would receive all of that along with the document. Converting on your own computer means none of it ever leaves your machine.
Questions
Does converting DOC to Markdown lose formatting?
Yes, some of it. Headings, bold, italic, lists, links, and simple tables carry over fine, but fonts, colors, page layout, and embedded objects don't, since Markdown is plain text with a limited set of markup.
What happens to images in the document?
They aren't embedded in the Markdown file itself. Morphjet pulls them out as separate image files and links to them from the text, so you'll end up with the .md file plus an images folder.
Will comments or tracked changes carry over?
No. Markdown has no concept of comments or track changes, so both are dropped during conversion. If you need to keep a record of edits, hold onto the original DOC.
Does the converted file keep the author and edit history metadata?
No, and that's generally a good thing. The Markdown output is plain text with just the content, so any author name, company, or edit history stored in the DOC doesn't carry over.
Can I convert an old .doc file without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so it never travels over the internet. You could disconnect from wifi and it would still work.
Morphjet converts DOC, Markdown, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.