MD Factory converts RTF files to Markdown on your Windows PC. Headings, bold and italic text, lists, tables, links, footnotes, and PNG and JPEG pictures carry over. Each file gets its own .md next to it, and your RTF originals stay unchanged.
Renaming report.rtf to report.md does not work. An RTF file is text full of formatting codes, and it starts with {\rtf. Open one in Notepad and you see those codes mixed into your words. A converter has to read the codes and write the matching Markdown.
Where RTF files come from
RTF is a format for passing formatted text between programs, and many programs can still write it. Common sources:
- WordPad could open and save rich text (.rtf) files. Microsoft removed WordPad from all editions of Windows starting with Windows 11, version 24H2.
- Microsoft Word can save to Rich Text Format, a format other applications can read.
- TextEdit on a Mac saves a document as a
.rtffile when you choose Format > Make Rich Text. - Older tools and exports often offer RTF as a save or export option.
Microsoft says Windows no longer has a built-in, default RTF reader and recommends Word for .rtf files. If you want to read old files and do not own Word, you can convert them to Markdown, which any text editor opens. See how to open an MD file on Windows.
What carries over to Markdown
| In the RTF file | In the Markdown result |
|---|---|
| Paragraphs, bold, italic | Kept as Markdown paragraphs and emphasis. |
| Headings | Converted to Markdown headings. |
| Bulleted and numbered lists | Converted to Markdown lists. |
| Tables | Converted to Markdown tables. |
| Links | Web (http and https) and email (mailto) links are kept. |
| Footnotes | Kept. |
| PNG and JPEG pictures | Saved in a <name>_images folder next to the Markdown file. |
| WMF and EMF pictures | Not exported. The file is marked Needs review. |
| Headers and footers | Skipped. |
Fonts, colors, and page layout do not exist in Markdown, so they are not part of the result. Text in older code pages, such as Cyrillic Windows-1251, is read correctly.
Convert your RTF files
- Add one RTF file, several files, or the whole folder to MD Factory. Dragging them into the window works too.
- Conversion starts right away.
- Review each file marked Needs review. Statuses are Completed, Needs review, and Failed.
- Open the finished
.mdand compare it with the original.
The Markdown file appears next to its RTF. If you convert the same file again, MD Factory replaces its own earlier result only when you have not edited it; otherwise it saves a numbered copy such as report (2).md. When you move the Markdown file into your notes, move its images folder with it.
For a folder with hundreds of old files, see converting documents in batches.
What to check in the result
Compare the first and last pages with the original, then look at anything that is not plain text.
- Missing pictures: if the original showed a chart or logo that is not in the images folder, it was probably a WMF or EMF picture. Export it from the source program as PNG and add it to the Markdown by hand.
- Headers and footers: they are not in the result, so copy over anything in them that matters, such as a page title or a note.
- Tables: check that the columns line up and no cell moved into the wrong row.
- Headings: check that each title became a heading. Where one did not, add the
#marks yourself. - Special characters: scan names, quotes, and accented letters.
When the file is not RTF
If the file is .docx, use the Word to Markdown guide. If it is a plain .txt file with no formatting at all, see TXT to Markdown. Once the files are converted, preparing documents for AI agents explains how to organize them.
MD Factory converts files locally; nothing is uploaded. The MD Factory Privacy Policy explains how the app handles your documents.