Guide Updated 16 Oct 2026 6 min read
Markdown in Evernote: what it understands, and how to get .md files out
Short answer
Evernote reads Markdown on the way in and never writes it on the way out. Type or paste common syntax like # headings, lists, **bold** and tables and it becomes formatting. But Evernote stores notes as HTML, and its export gives you ENEX or HTML files only. To end up with Markdown files, export to ENEX and run it through a converter such as Yarle.
The Markdown Evernote understands
Evernote’s help center lists the syntax it converts. Anything not in this table stays as the characters you typed.
| You write | You get |
|---|---|
| # Heading, ## Heading, ### Heading | Heading 1, 2 or 3 |
| - item or * item | Bulleted list (nesting works) |
| 1. item | Numbered list (nesting works) |
| **bold** and *italic* | Bold and italic text |
| [text](https://…) | A link |
|  | An image |
| > quote | A blockquote |
| | a | b | rows with a --- separator | A table |
Typing shortcuts on iPhone and Android
The mobile apps add a few shortcuts that go beyond plain Markdown:
| Type | Result |
|---|---|
| 1. (a number and a period) | Numbered list |
| * or - | Bulleted list |
| [] | Checkbox |
| *** or === | Divider |
| ``` (three backticks) | Code block |
| $$ | Formula block |
| > | Quote block |
If a shortcut keeps firing when you don’t want it, switch it off under Profile pictureSettingsNotesAdvanced editing.
Pasting Markdown: the Shift trick
This is where most people get stuck. Copy Markdown from a chat app or an editor, paste it into Evernote, and the # and ** marks sometimes just sit there. The cause is the clipboard, not the Markdown:
- If the copied text is plain Markdown with no formatting, Command-V converts it.
- If the copied text carries any formatting at all, even a font colour, Evernote treats it as HTML and doesn’t parse the Markdown.
- Command-Shift-V pastes as plain text, which strips the formatting and makes Evernote convert the Markdown. On Windows, it’s Ctrl-Shift-V.
What Evernote won’t do with Markdown
- No Markdown view. Once syntax converts, the marks are gone. There’s no source mode to see or edit the raw Markdown again.
- No Markdown storage. Notes are kept as HTML on Evernote’s servers, with copies in the apps.
- No Markdown export. The desktop app exports ENEX (Evernote’s XML format) or HTML. The web app can’t export at all.
None of this matters if you only want Markdown as a typing shortcut. It matters a lot if you want your notes as files other apps can open, which is the next section.
Turn your Evernote notes into Markdown files
Step one: export from the desktop app
- Open the Evernote desktop app on Mac or Windows.
- Select a notebook, or up to 100 notes. Exporting whole notebooks is the quickest way to get everything.
- Right-click and choose Export…
- Pick ENEX, the format converters and other note apps expect. Tick the attributes you want to keep, like tags and created date.
- Click Export. The .enex file is saved to your desktop. This works on Evernote’s free plan too.
Step two: convert the ENEX file
Pick whichever route fits where your notes are going:
- Yarle is a free, open-source converter with a Mac app. It turns each note into a .md file, with attachments in a folder beside it and options for tags and links.
- evernote2md is a free command-line tool that does the same job in one command, if you’re comfortable in Terminal.
- Obsidian’s Importer plugin reads .enex files and writes Markdown into your vault. It uses Yarle under the hood.
- Joplin imports .enex files directly and converts them to Markdown notes, including tables.
Quick answers
Does Evernote support Markdown?
For input, partly. Evernote converts a set of Markdown syntax into formatting: headings, bulleted and numbered lists, links, images, blockquotes, bold, italic and tables. It doesn’t keep notes as Markdown and can’t export Markdown files.
Why doesn’t my pasted Markdown turn into headings?
If the text you copied carries any formatting, Evernote treats it as HTML and leaves the Markdown alone. Paste with Command-Shift-V (Ctrl-Shift-V on Windows) to paste plain text, and Evernote will convert the Markdown.
Can Evernote export notes as Markdown?
No. The desktop app exports ENEX or HTML, up to 100 notes at a time or whole notebooks. Convert the ENEX file with a tool such as Yarle or evernote2md, or import it into an app that converts it for you.
Is there a free way to convert Evernote to Markdown?
Yes. Yarle and evernote2md are free, open-source converters, and Obsidian’s Importer plugin and Joplin both import ENEX files at no cost. Exporting from Evernote is free too, including on the free plan.
Can I turn off Evernote’s Markdown shortcuts on my phone?
Yes. In the mobile app, tap your profile picture, go to Settings › Notes › Advanced editing, and switch off the shortcuts you don’t want.