Install & Update Guide

This guide covers how to download, install, and update the MD Editor desktop app on macOS, Windows, and Linux. Depending on the build, your OS may show security warnings on first launch (for example if a build is not notarized/signed yet). The steps below show the quickest safe way to proceed.

Downloading the Latest Build

1. Go to https://mdedit.ai/desktop-app (opens in a new tab) (recommended).
2. Download the file for your platform.
3. (Optional) Verify the download using checksums.txt: https://releases.mdedit.ai/desktop/checksums.txt (opens in a new tab)

macOS: Bypassing Gatekeeper

If macOS blocks the app on first open, use one of the options below.

Installation steps

1. Open the downloaded .dmg file and drag MD Editor into your Applications folder.
2. Double-click MD Editor in Applications. macOS will show a dialog:

   "MD Editor" cannot be opened because the developer cannot be verified.

3. Click OK to dismiss the dialog (do not move to Trash).
4. Open System Settings → Privacy & Security (or System Preferences → Security & Privacy on older macOS).
5. Scroll down to the Security section. You should see:

   "MD Editor" was blocked from use because it is not from an identified developer.

6. Click Open Anyway.
7. In the confirmation dialog, click Open.
8. MD Editor will launch and you will not see the warning again on this machine.

Alternative: right-click to open

You can also right-click (or Control-click) the app icon in Applications, choose Open, and then click Open in the security prompt. This skips the System Settings step.

Windows: Bypassing SmartScreen

Some Windows builds can trigger Microsoft Defender SmartScreen.

Installation steps

1. Run the downloaded mdedit-*-win-x64-setup.exe.
2. Windows SmartScreen will show a blue dialog:

   Windows protected your PC

3. Click More info (below the warning message).
4. Click Run anyway.
5. The installer will proceed normally. Follow the on-screen prompts to complete the installation.

Note: SmartScreen only appears on the first run of a new unsigned build. After installation, launching MD Editor from the Start menu or desktop shortcut will not trigger the warning.

Linux: AppImage Setup

MD Editor ships as an AppImage (opens in a new tab) on Linux — a self-contained, portable executable that does not require installation.

Prerequisites

Some distributions do not include FUSE 2 (required to mount AppImages). Install it if needed:

# Ubuntu / Debian
sudo apt install libfuse2
 
# Fedora
sudo dnf install fuse
 
# Arch Linux
sudo pacman -S fuse2

Running the AppImage

# 1. Make the file executable
chmod +x mdedit-*-linux-x64.AppImage
 
# 2. Launch it
./mdedit-*-linux-x64.AppImage

Optional: integrate with your desktop

To add MD Editor to your application launcher, you can use appimaged or manually create a .desktop entry. Most distributions also support right-clicking the AppImage in a file manager and choosing Properties → Permissions → Allow executing as program.

Updating the App

1. Download the latest build from https://mdedit.ai/desktop-app (opens in a new tab)
2. macOS: Open the new .dmg and drag MD Editor into Applications, replacing the previous version.
3. Windows: Run the new installer; it will upgrade the existing installation in-place.
4. Linux: Replace the old .AppImage file with the new one and re-run the permission step (chmod +x).

On Windows and Linux, the app may also offer in-app updates depending on your build and connectivity.

Need help?

If you run into any issues, contact us: https://mdedit.ai/contact (opens in a new tab)