How to open a .md email attachment on Android

Updated: 2026-10-29

Someone sent you a .md file: meeting notes, a README, a report. On your phone, tapping the attachment shows raw text full of symbols, or says there's no app to open it.

Gmail

1. Open the email and tap the attachment.
2. If Gmail shows a preview, tap ⋮ (top right) → Open with and choose MD Reader.
3. If there's no "Open with" option, tap the download icon on the attachment. Then open Files → Downloads, tap the file and choose MD Reader.

Get it on Google Play

Outlook and other mail apps

1. Tap the attachment.
2. Tap Share or Open in another app.
3. Choose MD Reader.

If the app only offers to save it, save it to Downloads and open it from there. See how to open a .md file on Android.

Editing an attachment

Mail apps usually pass a read-only copy. You can still read, search and edit in MD Reader. When you're done, use Save as… to keep your version as a new file, which you can then attach to a reply.

The attachment is called .txt or has no extension

Some mail systems rename unusual attachments. If the content is markdown (you see # headings and **bold**), open it from inside MD Reader with Open file, or copy the text and use Paste from clipboard.

Is it safe to open?

A .md file is plain text. It can't run code. MD Reader doesn't request internet access, so opening the file doesn't contact any server, and links inside it only open if you tap them.

Still not opening? See fixing "No app can open this file".