Documents conversion
Convert Markdown to RTF
Updated Jul 2026
Markdown is plain text with symbols like # and ** that stand for headings and bold, while RTF is a rich text format most word processors render directly, formatting already applied. To convert, open the Markdown file in a converter and export it as RTF. Doing this on your own computer means your notes never have to leave your machine.
- Extension
- .md
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Docs, READMEs, notes
- Extension
- .rtf
- Type
- Documents
- Typically
- Cross-app rich text
Convert Markdown to RTF on your own computer. Nothing uploads.
How to convert Markdown to RTF
- Open Morphjet and drag in the Markdown file, or a whole folder of them, that you want to convert.
- Choose RTF as the output format.
- Convert. The RTF files are written next to your originals, and nothing leaves your machine.
Markdown vs RTF: what actually changes
| Markdown | RTF | |
|---|---|---|
| Opens everywhere | Only in apps that understand Markdown syntax | Yes, in nearly any word processor on Mac or Windows |
| File size | Small, plain text | Larger, since formatting is stored as markup |
| How formatting looks | Shown as symbols like # and ** until rendered | Displayed as real headings, bold, and italics |
| Editing | Any plain text editor, on any device | Best edited in a word processor |
| Quality | Exact, nothing to lose since it's plain text | Formatting carries over cleanly, with no loss on conversion |
When to convert, and when not to
Convert Markdown to RTF when you need to open notes or a README in a word processor, share formatted text with someone who doesn't use Markdown, or paste rendered text into a document instead of raw symbols.
Keep the Markdown original if you're still editing the file, tracking changes to it over time, or plan to publish it somewhere that expects Markdown, since converting to RTF turns it into a format built for word processors, not plain text workflows.
Why not just use an online converter?
Markdown files often hold drafts, private notes, or work still in progress that isn't ready to be seen. Uploading one to a browser-based converter means that text sits on someone else's server, if only briefly. Converting on your own computer means the notes stay exactly where you left them.
Questions
Does converting Markdown to RTF lose any formatting?
No. Headings, bold, italics, links, and lists all carry over as real formatting instead of symbols. Anything Markdown never supported in the first place simply won't appear, because it was never there.
Will the RTF file open in a word processor?
Yes. RTF is designed to open in effectively any word processor on Mac or Windows, which is one of the main reasons people convert to it.
Can I still edit the file as plain text after converting?
Not really. Once it's RTF, it's meant to be edited in a word processor, not a text editor. Keep the original Markdown file around if you'll be editing the content later.
Can I convert Markdown to RTF without uploading it anywhere?
Yes. A desktop app like Morphjet converts the file on your own computer, so the text never travels over the internet.
What happens to code blocks and tables?
Markdown's code blocks and tables convert into their RTF equivalents, formatted text and an actual table, rather than staying as plain-text syntax. The content is preserved, just the raw markup disappears since it's no longer needed.
Morphjet converts Markdown, RTF, and 1,800+ other formats, all on your machine. Launching this July.