Convert RTF to Markdown
To convert RTF to Markdown, upload your .rtf file and choose MD as the target. Bold and italic text become ** and * markers, lists become “-” and “1.” items, tables become GitHub-flavored tables and links are kept. RTF files written in WordPad or TextEdit usually have no heading styles, so titles that are only large or bold may come out as bold paragraphs instead of # headings.
- Free, no sign-up
- Files deleted within 30 minutes
- Up to 100 MB
Files are permanently deleted from our servers within 30 minutes.
How to convert RTF to Markdown
Upload your RTF file
Drag your RTF file onto the upload area or browse for it (up to 100 MB).
Keep Markdown as the target
Markdown is already selected in the menu; you can pick another format if you need one.
Convert and download
Press “Convert” and the download of the converted file starts automatically.
What is preserved?
Kept
- Bold and italic text
- Bulleted and numbered lists
- Tables (GitHub pipe syntax)
- Hyperlinks
Changed
- Large or bold titles without a heading style may become bold paragraphs
- In tables without a header row, the first row becomes the header
Not carried over
- Fonts, colors and sizes
- Page layout and margins
When to use it
Moving old notes into Markdown apps
Notes kept as RTF in TextEdit or WordPad for years can be converted to Markdown and moved into Obsidian, Logseq or a Git repository, with text, lists and links carried over rather than retyped.
Adding RTF documents to a docs site
Release notes or user manuals delivered as RTF can be converted to Markdown and used in static site generators or README files without reformatting; you only need to review the headings.
Limitations to know
- Images are embedded as base64 data, which some platforms such as GitHub may not display.
About the formats
What is RTF?
RTF (Rich Text Format) is a document format published by Microsoft in 1987 that stores formatted text as plain text with control codes. It can carry bold and italic text, fonts, alignment, lists, tables and images. Its main strength is compatibility: RTF opens in WordPad on Windows, TextEdit on macOS, LibreOffice and Word. It is less capable than DOCX for complex layouts, and its appearance can vary between the programs that open it.
What is Markdown (MD)?
Markdown is a lightweight markup language designed by John Gruber in 2004. Formatting is written as simple symbols inside plain text: # for headings, ** for bold, - for list items and | for tables. Markdown (.md) files are everywhere in GitHub READMEs, technical documentation, note-taking apps and AI assistant output. The most widely used flavour is GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM), which adds tables, task lists and strikethrough.
Frequently asked questions
Why did my headings come out as bold text instead of #?
A Markdown heading is produced only when the line is marked with a heading style in the RTF. WordPad and TextEdit don't use heading styles; their headings are just larger or bold text, so they may become **bold** paragraphs. You can fix this after conversion by adding # at the start of those lines.
Can I use the Markdown in GitHub or Obsidian?
Yes. The output is GitHub-flavored Markdown: tables use pipe syntax, lists use “-” and “1.”, and lines that could be mistaken for list items are escaped. Obsidian and other Markdown editors read this syntax as well.
What happens to images in the RTF?
Images are embedded in the Markdown file as base64 data; no separate image files are created. Some editors display them, but platforms such as GitHub may not. In that case save the images as separate files and reference them with relative links.
Is converting RTF to Markdown free?
Yes, completely free. There is no account, subscription or watermark — just upload your file and convert it.
Is my file safe and when is it deleted?
Your file is transferred over HTTPS and stored on our server under a random code. The upload and the output are permanently deleted within 30 minutes, and the download link only works for whoever holds your unique code.