How to Convert Markdown to Word (.docx) on Mac

Why you need to convert Markdown to Word

Markdown is everywhere. Obsidian stores your notes in .md files. ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools output Markdown by default. Developers write documentation in Markdown. Academics use it for drafts.

But at some point, someone needs a Word document. Your client wants a .docx. Your professor requires Word format. Your team collaborates in Google Docs. The gap between writing in Markdown and delivering in Word is a daily friction point for millions of people.

Here are the main approaches, with honest tradeoffs for each.

Method 1: Pandoc (command line)

Pandoc is the most established Markdown-to-Word converter. It's a free, open-source command-line tool that handles dozens of document formats. If you're comfortable with the terminal, it's reliable and flexible.

How to install and use Pandoc

1. Install Homebrew if you don't have it: /bin/bash -c "$(curl -fsSL https://raw.githubusercontent.com/Homebrew/install/HEAD/install.sh)"
2. Install Pandoc: brew install pandoc
3. Convert a file: pandoc myfile.md -o myfile.docx

You can customize the output with a reference template (--reference-doc), add a table of contents (--toc), and handle citations. Pandoc handles headings, bold, italic, code blocks, tables, and lists correctly.

Pandoc tradeoffs

• Requires Homebrew and terminal knowledge — not accessible to everyone
• No GUI — every conversion is a terminal command
• Setup takes 5-10 minutes — installing Homebrew, then Pandoc, then learning the syntax
• No Finder integration — you can't right-click a file to convert it

Pandoc is the right choice if you convert files occasionally and already use the terminal. For frequent conversions, the workflow is slower than it needs to be.

Method 2: Online converters

Web-based converters like CloudConvert, Convertio, and Dillinger let you upload a .md file and download a .docx. No installation required. Open a browser tab, upload, and download.

Online converter tradeoffs

• Your files leave your machine — the conversion happens on someone else's server
• Limited formatting — many online tools struggle with complex tables, nested lists, and code blocks
• File size limits — free tiers typically cap at 10-25 MB
• Slow for batch work — uploading and downloading one file at a time adds up

Online converters work for one-off conversions where privacy isn't a concern. They're not practical for daily use or sensitive documents.

Method 3: Copy and paste into Word

The most common approach — and the worst. You open the .md file, select all, copy, and paste into Word or Google Docs. The result is raw Markdown syntax displayed as plain text.

Your headings show up as # Heading instead of formatted headings. Bold text appears as **bold**. Tables are a mess of pipes and dashes. Code blocks lose their monospace formatting.

You then spend 5 to 20 minutes manually reformatting. For a single document, this is annoying. For regular conversions, it's a significant time sink.

Method 4: Native Mac app (MarkDrop)

MarkDrop is a macOS app that converts Markdown to Word from your Finder right-click menu. Select any .md file, right-click, and choose "Convert to Word." The .docx file appears next to the original in about two seconds.

How it works

1. Right-click any .md file in Finder (or drag files onto the app)
2. MarkDrop converts it — headings, tables, code blocks, lists, and block quotes become native Word styles
3. Open in Word or Google Docs — choose to open in Word, show in Finder, or upload to Google Docs with Pro

What gets preserved

• Heading hierarchy (H1 through H6 as Word heading styles)
• Bold, italic, and inline code
• Ordered and unordered lists (including nested lists)
• Tables with proper borders and alignment
• Code blocks with monospace formatting
• Block quotes
• Horizontal rules

MarkDrop tradeoffs

• macOS only — no Windows or Linux version
• Free tier is limited to 5 conversions/month — Pro ($9.99 one-time) unlocks unlimited

MarkDrop is the fastest option if you convert Markdown files regularly on a Mac. No terminal, no uploading files to a server, no manual reformatting.

Which method should you use?

If you're comfortable with the terminal, Pandoc is a solid tool. For a one-off conversion, an online tool works. For regular Mac users who want the fastest workflow, MarkDrop saves the most time.

Common scenarios

Converting Obsidian notes to Word

Obsidian stores every note as a .md file in a folder on your Mac. To convert one, navigate to your vault folder in Finder, find the note, and convert it using Pandoc or MarkDrop. Be aware that Obsidian-specific syntax like [[wikilinks]], callouts, and dataview queries won't convert in most tools — they'll appear as raw text. Standard Markdown elements (headings, lists, tables, code blocks) convert normally.

Converting AI output to Word

ChatGPT, Claude, and other AI tools format their responses in Markdown. If you need that output in Word, save or copy the response as a .md file and convert it. This is common for AI-generated reports, drafts, and analysis that need to be shared with non-technical colleagues.

Converting documentation to Word

Development teams write docs in Markdown (README files, wikis, specs). When stakeholders, legal, or clients need Word versions, you need a converter that preserves code blocks and tables accurately. Pandoc and MarkDrop both handle these well.