Preview Renderer for Drive is a Chrome extension that displays Markdown and HTML currently shown in Google Drive as readable static previews without requiring you to download the file.
Install Preview Renderer for Drive from the Chrome Web Store.
Chrome Web Store:
https://chromewebstore.google.com/detail/preview-renderer-for-driv/gcnojcobdagdnibbolkcembjbmmlaajh
After installation, you can pin the extension icon to the Chrome toolbar from the Extensions menu if needed.
From the file list in Google Drive, open the Markdown or HTML file you want to view in a separate browser tab.
To use the extension, the file must be displayed in a separate tab rather than only in the preview shown within the Google Drive file list. The extension may not start in the inline Drive preview.
From the file menu, select “Open in new tab” or the equivalent option. The exact label may vary depending on the Google Drive interface and your Chrome version.
When the extension can verify supported content, it displays the preview in the separate tab. You do not need to download the file or open it in another application.
The original file stored in Google Drive is not modified.
The preview displays content such as:
Headings
Paragraphs
Lists
Tables
Code blocks
HTML layouts that use inline CSS
Depending on the file and its display conditions, the preview may not look exactly the same as the original HTML.
Use the menu in the upper-right corner to switch between the available views.
Displays Markdown or HTML in a readable layout. This is the standard view for reading a file.
Reduces visual styling and emphasizes the document's text content.
Displays the source code in read-only mode.
Source view cannot be used to edit the file or save changes to Google Drive.
Closes the extension preview and returns to the standard Google Drive display.
If an HTML file contains scripts, forms, iframes, external resources, or other content that is unnecessary for static reading, some content may be restricted in the preview.
When restrictions are applied, their number is shown in the header.
Select the display restrictions button to review:
The number of restrictions
The reasons for the restrictions
Identified locations in the source
Items whose locations could not be identified
When a corresponding location can be identified, select “View in source” to review it in the read-only Source view.
Display restrictions apply only to the preview. The original file stored in Google Drive is not modified.
A preview may be unavailable when:
Google Drive cannot display the file contents
The file type or content is not supported
The extension cannot verify that the displayed content is complete
Retrieving or displaying the file takes too long
The Google Drive interface has changed
In these cases, the extension returns to the standard Google Drive view.
For questions about defects, usage, feature requests, or privacy, please use the contact form.
Contact Form:
https://forms.gle/2ksKEDnQZ9WSi4FJA
Do not submit personal information, confidential information, authentication information, Google Drive URLs, file IDs, file names, file contents, or source code. File attachments are not supported.
Related pages:
Options and Settings
Frequently Asked Questions
Privacy Policy