Markdown in Confluence Cloud: what works without an app

Confluence Cloud understands Markdown while you type, but it does not keep your text as Markdown. Here is what it does on its own, and when a Markdown macro is the better tool.

Based on Atlassian's documentation and Atlassian Community posts read on 15 and 16 October 2026. Confluence changes often, so check the linked pages for the latest.

What Confluence Cloud does on its own

1. Typing shortcuts

The editor converts Markdown as you type. According to Atlassian's page on keyboard shortcuts and autocomplete, these work:

You type	You get
`#` to `######`, then a space	Headings 1 to 6
`text`	Bold
`text`	Italic
`~~text~~`	Strikethrough
`text`	Inline code
`1.` then a space	Numbered list
`*` then a space	Bulleted list
`>` then a space	Quote
``` then a space	Code snippet
`---` then a space	Divider
`[title](https://example.com)`	Link
`[]` then a space	Action item

2. Inserting Markdown converts it to rich text

Atlassian's documentation says Confluence Cloud supports inserting Markdown, such as the contents of a README file. The content is converted to the editor's rich text format, and after that you can no longer edit it as Markdown. The route the page describes, Insert → Markup, is available in the legacy editor only; the page says the new editor doesn't support markup.

3. Pasting Markdown into the new editor

The Atlassian help pages above do not describe what happens when you paste Markdown straight into a page in the new editor. Posts in the Atlassian Community report mixed results: pasted Markdown can be converted into formatted text, but people also report that it stays as a code snippet, and that the result differs from one browser to another. If you rely on it, try it on a test page first.

When conversion is enough

If you import a README or a set of notes once and plan to keep editing them in Confluence from then on, converting them to Confluence's own formatting is the simplest option, and it needs no app.

When you need the Markdown to stay Markdown

Conversion is one-way. Once the Markdown is converted, the source is gone, so you can't edit the content as Markdown later or paste a corrected version over it without redoing the conversion. If the Markdown is your source of truth, keep it inside a macro that stores the Markdown and renders it each time the page is shown.

Searchable Markdown for Confluence

Searchable Markdown is our Confluence Cloud macro. It keeps your Markdown as Markdown, inside the page, and renders it with Confluence's own renderer.

Your Markdown stays editable as Markdown. Confluence stores it as part of your page, and you change it from the macro's configuration panel.
Found by Confluence search. The text you write in the macro is added to the search index, so a word that appears only inside the macro can find the page. Documents of up to about 4,000 words are searchable end to end. Search results show the Markdown as written, including its symbols.
Looks like Confluence. Headings, tables, task lists, quotes and highlighted code blocks follow the reader's theme, including dark mode.
Exports with the page to PDF and Word.
Nothing leaves Atlassian. The app requests no permissions and declares no external domains.

The documentation covers installation, the supported syntax and the known limitations (for example, images with an external URL are shown as links).

Questions

Does Confluence Cloud support Markdown?

It converts Markdown shortcuts as you type, and Atlassian documents inserting Markdown as a one-way conversion to rich text. The sections above give the details and the sources.

Can I edit converted content as Markdown?

No. Atlassian's documentation says the converted content can't be edited as Markdown.

Will Confluence search find text inside Searchable Markdown?

Yes. The macro adds its text to the search index, up to about 4,000 words per macro. Indexing happens when the page is published or updated, and it can take a few minutes.

What happens to my Markdown if the license lapses?

The macro stops formatting and shows your Markdown as plain text. Nothing is hidden and nothing is lost.

Does the app send my content anywhere?

No. It requests no Atlassian permissions and declares no external domains, so it has no way to send your content outside Atlassian. See the privacy policy.