Markdown Syntax · Troubleshooting

Markdown Bold Not Working?
Why you see ** instead of bold

You wrote **bold** and got the asterisks on screen instead of bold text. The syntax for bold is two asterisks on each side, with no spaces, but it only turns into bold in a tool that actually renders Markdown.

So there are really two things to check: is your syntax right, and is the thing you are viewing it in a Markdown renderer at all. Here are the common causes and the fixes.

The common causes

Cause Fix
You are in a plain-text view (Notepad, a chat with no rendering) It shows the source; open the text in a Markdown renderer
Spaces inside the markers: ** bold ** Remove the spaces so they touch the text: **bold**
Only one asterisk each side: *bold* That is italic; use two for bold: **bold**
It is inside code (inline code or a code block) Literal by design; the markers are meant to show there
The app just does not support Markdown Not your syntax; that tool is the limit

Side by side, the syntax slips look like this:

Bold:              **like this**
Not bold (spaces):  ** like this **
Not bold (one *):   *like this*   is italic
Bold + italic:      ***like this***

The big one: are you even in a Markdown renderer?

The most common reason bold does not work is not a typo, it is that you are looking at the raw text. Notepad, a plain text box, and plenty of chat and form fields do not render Markdown, so they show **bold** exactly as typed. That is not broken, it is just a plain-text view. To see the formatting, open the text in a Markdown editor or viewer. See how to open a .md file for that.

If it works in one place but not another

Sometimes your **bold** renders fine in one app and shows asterisks in another. When that happens, your syntax is correct, the second tool just does not render Markdown (or renders only part of it). There is nothing to fix in your text; you would need a tool that supports Markdown. If you actually want the literal asterisks to show on purpose, that is escaping, covered in how to escape characters in Markdown.

Confirming your syntax with NoteLoom

The quickest way to settle it is to render the text yourself. NoteLoom is an editor that reads and writes local .md files in the browser: type or paste your **bold** in the source view and the live and reading views show it bold right away. If it comes out bold there, your syntax is right, and any tool still showing the asterisks simply is not rendering Markdown.

To be clear about the boundaries: NoteLoom has no AI and cannot change how some other app displays your text. It renders and saves your local Markdown, so you can confirm what is correct on your side.

How you use it: open app.noteloom.cc in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount a local folder, and write in the source view while the live view shows the result. Saved straight to your disk, no cloud, no account.

Related reading

Markdown not rendering? The common gotchas The diagnostic hub: renderer problem vs syntax slip, with the fix for each. How to Write Markdown? The basic syntax, bold and italic included. How do you escape characters in Markdown? When you want to show a literal * on purpose. How do you open a .md file? Open your text in a renderer so the bold actually shows. Why does AI use Markdown? What those * and ** markers in AI answers are. Online Markdown Editor Write and preview local md files in your browser.

FAQ

Why is my Markdown bold not working (I see ** instead of bold)?
Two asterisks on each side make bold, **like this**, but only in a tool that renders Markdown. If you see the asterisks instead, either you are in a plain-text view that does not render Markdown, or there is a small syntax slip like a space inside the markers.
Do I use one asterisk or two for bold?
Two. **bold** is bold; a single *word* is italic; and ***three*** does both. If you only used one on each side, you get italic, not bold.
Why do spaces break the bold?
Markdown needs the asterisks tight against the text. ** bold ** with a space after the opening or before the closing markers will not render as bold. Remove the spaces: **bold**.
My bold works in one app but not another. Why?
Not every tool renders Markdown, and some support only part of it. If **bold** renders in one place but shows asterisks in another, your syntax is fine, the second tool simply is not rendering Markdown. That is a limit of the app, not a mistake in your text.
How can I confirm my bold syntax is correct?
Open it in a Markdown editor with a live preview. If it shows up bold there, your syntax is right, and anything still showing the asterisks just is not rendering Markdown. NoteLoom’s live and reading views render it, so you can check in a second.
Can I do this with NoteLoom on my phone or in Safari?
Not for now. NoteLoom relies on the browser’s File System Access API, which currently works in Chromium-based desktop browsers like Chrome, Edge, and Arc. Firefox, Safari, and mobile are not supported yet.

Check your bold renders, in a second

Open NoteLoom in Chrome / Edge / Arc, mount a local folder, and type **bold** in the source view while the live view shows it bold. Saved straight back to your disk, no software to install and no account to sign up for.

Open NoteLoom and try it