How to Convert Word DOCX to Markdown (.md) and Keep Tables and Images

What is preserved when converting Word to Markdown?

Markdown uses plain-text notation for headings, lists, links, tables and similar structures.

Document to Markdown converts supported headings, body text, lists, tables and links from Word. If you use styles such as Heading 1 and Heading 2 in Word, their hierarchy is easier to carry over.

However, the tool does not reproduce the original Word layout. Fonts, margins, page numbers, page breaks and the precise placement of shapes will not stay the same.

Some information, including comments and tracked changes, may not transfer to Markdown. Keep the original Word document when the source file needs to be preserved.

What to check before converting

The supported Word format is .docx. Open older .doc files in Word or compatible software and save them as .docx first. Password-protected files are not supported.

If headings are formatted only with a larger font or bold text, they may not convert into the intended heading levels. Applying Word heading styles in advance can reduce the amount of editing needed afterward.

Convert Word to Markdown: 1. Import a DOCX file

Open Document to Markdown on Browser Kitty and choose the DOCX file you want to convert. On a computer, you can also drag and drop the file.

Conversion starts automatically when you add a file. Select a completed file to see the generated Markdown.

You do not need to install any software or register for an account.

2. Check the Markdown and preview

After conversion, switch between Markdown and Preview to inspect the content.

The Markdown view shows the converted text, including # markers for headings and - markers for list items. Preview shows how headings and tables look when rendered.

Merged cells and complex Word tables may not appear exactly as they did in the original document.

Document information also separates the converted content into Converted, Check recommended, Not converted and Partial failure.

If an item is marked Check recommended or Partial failure, compare it with the original Word document. You can edit the saved Markdown directly where necessary.

Pay particular attention to these details:

• Headings: Are their levels preserved?
• Lists: Are the numbering and nested items intact?
• Tables: Are columns, blank cells and merged-cell contents preserved?
• Links: Do the destinations still point to the right place?

3. Save the Markdown

Once you have checked the content, choose Copy or Save Markdown.

For a text-only document, a regular .md file is usually enough.

If the document contains images, there are two other ways to save them.

Keep images from Word: Save a ZIP with images

Save ZIP with images puts the Markdown and extracted pictures together in a single ZIP file.

Images in the Markdown are referenced by relative paths, such as images/image-001.png.

After extracting the ZIP, keep the .md file and images folder together. Moving only the Markdown file can cause images to disappear from the rendered document.

This is generally the easier option for a README or wiki.

Embed images directly in the Markdown

Embed images in Markdown includes the pictures as Base64 data inside the .md file.

This lets you carry the document as one file without managing a separate image folder.

However, many images can make the Markdown file large and difficult to edit in a text editor. Whether embedded images are shown also depends on the Markdown viewer.

Unless you specifically need everything in one file, the ZIP with images is usually the safer choice.

Convert several Word files together

Document to Markdown can also convert several files in one session.

You can add up to 20 files, with a limit of 100 MB per file and 300 MB in total. The files are processed in sequence.

After conversion, inspect each file's result and use Save all as ZIP to download them together.

You can also retry failed or cancelled files without selecting the source files again.

Can I convert Word on a phone?

The tool also works in supported mobile browsers.

On a phone, use the Files, Markdown, Preview and Info tabs at the bottom of the screen.

Large documents or files with many images may fail if the phone runs out of memory. Try splitting the file or using a computer.

Is the Word file uploaded to a server?

Document to Markdown reads the file, converts it, extracts images and saves the results inside your browser.

It does not send your chosen Word file or converted output to Browser Kitty's servers.

The web version downloads the app's HTML when you open it, but that is separate from uploading document contents. You can also save the standalone HTML version for local use.

If you upload the converted Markdown to another cloud or AI service, check how that service handles the information.

Summary

Converting Word to Markdown makes it easier to reuse procedures and notes in a README or wiki.

Headings and lists are generally easier to carry over, while complex tables and Word-specific layouts need extra care.

Check the preview and document information after conversion. If the document includes pictures, saving a ZIP with images is usually a good choice.

Tips and limitations

• Apply real Heading styles in Word rather than only making text larger and bold to help transfer document structure.
• Keep the image directory with the .md file when using a ZIP with images, or the relative image links may break.
• Compare Check recommended, Not converted and Partial failure items with the original Word document before relying on the result.