# How do I edit a file in One Clear Reader?

> Edit Markdown and text files safely in One Clear Reader. The source editor, the visual editor, checking changes before saving, version history and safety guards.

Source: https://oneclearreader.com/help/editing · Updated 28 September 2026 · One Clear Reader (Northlight Group Pty Ltd)

> [!answer] To edit a Markdown or text file in One Clear Reader, click **Edit** in the toolbar or press ⌘E. Make your change, then press ⌘S. One Clear Reader shows every added and removed line in **Check the changes** before anything is written, and keeps a copy of the old version in **History**. Editing the Markdown text is free. Editing the formatted page like a document is Pro.

## Which files can I edit in One Clear Reader?

One Clear Reader edits Markdown (.md, .markdown, .mdown, .mkd) and plain text (.txt) files. Changes save back into the same file, so your AI can keep working on it.

Word files have their own editor, covered in [Word files](/help/word-files). PDFs, EPUBs, web pages and spreadsheets are read-only. For a web page, choose **Save this web page as Markdown** in ⌘K to get an editable copy.

## What's the difference between One Clear Reader's two editors?

One Clear Reader's Markdown source editor shows the Markdown symbols, and **Edit like a document** (Pro) hides them so you edit the page as it looks. This table compares the two.

| | Markdown source editor | Edit like a document (Pro) |
|---|---|---|
| Plan | Free | Pro |
| What you see | The raw text with `#`, `**` and `\|` | The formatted page, like a Google Doc |
| How to start | ⌘E on Free and for .txt files. ⇧⌘E on Pro | ⌘E on a Markdown file |
| Tables | Edit the pipes and dashes yourself | Click in a cell and type. Tab moves between cells |
| When the page updates | After you save | As you type |
| Best for | Small fixes, and anyone happy with Markdown | Longer edits, and anyone who finds the symbols fiddly |

When you're editing a Markdown file, the edit bar at the top has **Visual** and **Markdown** tabs. Switch between them any time without losing your change.

The Edit menu has **Edit Original Document** (⌘E) too.

## How do I edit the Markdown text in One Clear Reader?

To edit the Markdown text, use the free source editor.

1. Open the file and press ⌘E (on Pro, ⇧⌘E), or choose **Edit the Markdown source** in ⌘K.
2. Type your change in the text editor.
3. Press ⌘S to review and save.

The formatted page doesn't update while you type in this editor. It updates after you save.

If you're new to the symbols, [how to edit a .md file without breaking it](/guides/edit-md-without-breaking) covers the common traps, like a stray `|` in a table.

## How do I edit a Markdown file like a normal document?

To edit a Markdown file like a normal document, use **Edit like a document** (Pro) in One Clear Reader.

1. Open a Markdown file and press ⌘E, or click **Edit**.
2. Click where you want to type. The page looks the same as when you read it.
3. Use the toolbar at the top:
   - The style menu: **Normal text**, **Title**, **Heading**, **Subheading**, **Small heading**, **Quote**, **Note box**, **Tip box**, **Warning box**, **Code block**.
   - Bold (⌘B), italic (⌘I), strikethrough, inline code, highlight and link (⌘K).
   - Bulleted list, numbered list, checklist, **Insert table** and divider line.
   - Undo (⌘Z) and redo (⇧⌘Z).
4. Press ⌘S to review and save.

Edit like a document saves as clean Markdown. Parts you didn't touch are written back exactly as they were, byte for byte, so your AI's formatting stays put.

> [!scribble] no symbols, still a .md file.

## Can I type Markdown shortcuts in One Clear Reader's visual editor?

Yes. In the visual editor (Pro), type one of these and a space at the start of a line:

| Type | You get |
|---|---|
| `# ` | A heading |
| `- ` | A bulleted list |
| `1. ` | A numbered list |
| `[] ` | A checklist |
| `> ` | A quote |

## How do I edit a Markdown table in One Clear Reader?

In One Clear Reader's visual editor (Pro), click **Insert table** and pick a size from the grid. To change a table that's already there, click in a cell and type. Press Tab to move to the next cell. The table controls let you add or remove rows and columns.

In the source editor, a table is rows of text split by `|`. Change the words between the pipes and keep the same number of pipes on each row.

## What happens when I press ⌘S in One Clear Reader?

When you press ⌘S, One Clear Reader writes nothing yet. First you see **Check the changes**: every line added and every line removed.

- Click **Save to file** to write it.
- Click **Keep editing** to go back.

This catches accidents, like deleting a paragraph you meant to keep.

## How do I undo a save in One Clear Reader?

To undo a save, open **Version history**. One Clear Reader keeps a copy of the file before each save and before each outside change, like your AI rewriting it.

1. Click **History** in the edit bar, or press ⌘K and choose **Version history**. It's also in the More menu (•••).
2. Each version shows when it was made and why. Click **Compare** to see how it differs from the file now.
3. Click **Restore**. The old version opens in the editor. Check it, then press ⌘S to write it back.

Up to 25 versions are kept per file, on your Mac only. Free shows the newest 3. Pro shows all of them. Very large files can push the oldest versions out sooner.

For the very last save only, there's also `Edit › Restore Version Before Last Save`. That works during the current session, until you quit the app.

## How do I stop editing in One Clear Reader without saving?

To stop editing without saving, press Esc, click **Cancel** in the edit bar, or choose `Edit › Cancel Edit`. If you changed anything, One Clear Reader asks "Discard these unsaved changes?" first.

## How does One Clear Reader stop me losing work?

One Clear Reader runs a few guards against lost work on every plan. This table lists them.

| Situation | What One Clear Reader does |
|---|---|
| The file is locked in Finder or read-only | Never overwrites it. You see "This file is locked" and your edit stays open. Unlock it in `File › Get Info` and press Save again |
| Your AI changed the file while you were editing | Blocks the save with "A newer version exists". Cancel your edit to load the newer file, then make your change again |
| You open another file, close a tab or quit with unsaved changes | Asks first. Choose **Keep Editing** to go back |
| You save | A copy of the old version goes into **History** first |

While you edit, outside changes are held back, so the page doesn't jump under you.

## Questions

### Is editing free in One Clear Reader?

Yes. Editing Markdown and text files in the source editor, Check the changes and Version history (newest 3 versions) are all free in One Clear Reader. The visual editor, Edit like a document, is Pro.

### Will editing in One Clear Reader mess up my Markdown?

One Clear Reader is designed not to. The visual editor writes back untouched parts byte for byte, and Check the changes shows every line before it saves.

### Where does One Clear Reader keep old versions?

One Clear Reader keeps old versions on your Mac only, inside the app's own storage. Open them from Version history with ⌘K.

### Can I edit a PDF or an EPUB in One Clear Reader?

No. In One Clear Reader, PDFs, EPUBs, web pages and spreadsheets are read-only. Web pages can be saved as Markdown to edit a copy.

### Why does One Clear Reader say a newer version exists?

One Clear Reader says "A newer version exists" when your AI or another app changed the file while you were editing. Cancel the edit to load the newer file, then make your change again, so nothing gets overwritten.

Related: [keyboard shortcuts](/help/shortcuts).