Google adds native Markdown support to Docs and Drive

Google has introduced native support for Markdown files in Google Docs and Drive, allowing users to view, edit, and collaborate on Markdown documents directly within its word processor app. This new feature eliminates the need to import and convert Markdown files, which often led to formatting issues, stripped comments, and fragmented files.

With this update, users can work with Markdown files in Google Docs using either the traditional WYSIWYG editing mode or raw Markdown syntax, all while leveraging the app’s collaboration and commenting tools. Google Drive now also supports fully formatted, rendered Markdown documents, complete with clickable links and structured tables.

The change is rolling out automatically to users with Google Workspace and personal Google accounts, starting today, though it may take up to two weeks for everyone to receive the update. Google highlights that Markdown is a widely used text format, particularly by Large Language Models (LLMs), for preserving structured content without the bulk of heavier file formats.