# Math doesn't render in .md Preview **URL:** \ **Category:** Bug Reports\ **Created:** [May 18, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944 "2026-05-18T21:13:00Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Steve\_Kirsch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/bc79bd/32.png) [@Steve\_Kirsch](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Steve_Kirsch)\ **Post date:** [May 18, 2026, 9:13pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/1 "2026-05-18T21:13:00Z")
### Where does the bug appear (feature/product)? Cursor IDE ### Describe the Bug even the simplest math doesn’t render when you hit the “preview” button when viewing markdown. I know you know this and it’s frustrating. ### Steps to Reproduce I’m sure you know. ### Operating System Windows 10/11 ### Version Information Version: 3.4.20 (user setup) VSCode Version: 1.105.1 Commit: 0cf8b06883f54e26bb4f0fb8647c9500ccb43310 Date: 2026-05-15T02:26:10.351Z Layout: editor Build Type: Stable Release Track: Default Electron: 39.8.1 Chromium: 142.0.7444.265 Node.js: 22.22.1 V8: 14.2.231.22-electron.0 OS: Windows\_NT x64 10.0.26200 ### Does this stop you from using Cursor No - Cursor works, but with this issue ---
**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\ **Post date:** [May 19, 2026, 4:42am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/5 "2026-05-19T04:42:25Z")
Hey, thanks for the report. By default, Cursor’s `.md` Preview renders math via the built-in `Markdown Math` extension KaTeX, so it should work out of the box. To figure out what’s breaking on your side, I’ll need a bit more info: 1. Send a specific Markdown snippet that doesn’t render, even just a couple lines like `$x^2$`, `$$\frac{a}{b}$$`, etc. 2. Share a screenshot of the Preview window showing that content. 3. Please check two things: - Press `Ctrl+Shift+X`, search for `@builtin markdown-math`, and make sure the `Markdown Math` extension is enabled, not disabled. - Press `Ctrl+,`, search for `markdown.math.enabled`, and confirm whether it’s enabled or disabled. Also make sure you’re using the built-in preview via `Ctrl+Shift+V`, not a third-party Markdown preview plugin. Those often don’t support KaTeX without extra setup. Once you share the example, I’ll check if we can reproduce it on our side. ---
**Author:** ![Kam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/ee7513/32.png) [@Kam](https://forum.cursor.com/u/Kam)\ **Post date:** [June 2, 2026, 5:19am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/6 "2026-06-02T05:19:52Z")
I am having the same issue in both Mac and Windows environments. The Katex math extension and the key-value are both enabled. Note: I am seeing this issue in the native cursor Preview editor pane, ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/6/1/61367c12b9795e692c086a008ddcac657c796e74.png) and not in the Markdown extension preview. For $(n)$ examples, predictions $(\hat{y}\_i)$, targets $(y\_i)$: $$ J(w) = \frac{1}{n} \sum\_{i=1}^{n} (y\_i - \hat{y}\_i)^2 $$ ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/5/2/529d1ca80d439d557a1551f38744ef1fe35f0a03.png) ---
**Author:** ![atinary-lbrey](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/atinary-lbrey/32/112285_2.png) [@atinary-lbrey](https://forum.cursor.com/u/atinary-lbrey)\ **Post date:** [June 22, 2026, 1:56pm UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/7 "2026-06-22T13:56:50Z")
I have the same issue when rendering the preview. I confirm that “markdown.math.enabled”: true in my settings and the extension is enabled. My code is the following ```markdown # Some header Some text followed by some math $$ E = mc^2 $$ ``` and the preview is ![image](https://us1.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/original/3X/e/d/ed6e63d653e0cd47ac6c6874fe9764f56f95c060.png) Working on a mac. Here are the specs: Version: 3.8.11 (Universal) VS Code Extension API: 1.105.1 Commit: e56ad3440df06d22ca7501e65fd518e905486ef0 Date: 2026-06-18T01:40:18.333Z Layout: editor Build Type: Stable Release Track: Default Electron: 40.10.3 Chromium: 144.0.7559.236 Node.js: 24.15.0 V8: 14.4.258.32-electron.0 xterm.js: 6.1.0-beta.256 OS: Darwin arm64 24.4.0 ---
**Author:** ![deanrie](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/deanrie/32/1263_2.png) [@deanrie](https://forum.cursor.com/u/deanrie)\ **Post date:** [July 3, 2026, 11:04am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/8 "2026-07-03T11:04:24Z")
Hey, thanks for the clear repro, that really helps. Key point: based on the reports in this thread, math breaks only in Cursor’s native Preview panel, but it renders fine in the built-in VS Code preview. Try opening the preview like this: - `Cmd+Shift+V` or `Ctrl+Shift+V`, or Command Palette `Cmd+Shift+P` or `Ctrl+Shift+P` then `Markdown: Open Preview to the Side`. That preview uses the built-in Markdown Math KaTeX and should correctly render `$...$` and `$$...$$`. Let me know if your example `$$ E = mc^2 $$` renders there, then we’ll know the issue is limited to the custom Preview panel. This native preview bug is known and reproduces for several users on macOS and Windows. I reported it internally, but I can’t share an ETA for a fix yet. The workaround above should unblock you for now. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/cursor1/user_avatar/forum.cursor.com/system/32/99069_2.png) [@system](https://forum.cursor.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [August 2, 2026, 11:04am UTC](https://forum.cursor.com/t/math-doesnt-render-in-md-preview/160944/9 "2026-08-02T11:04:53Z")
This topic was automatically closed 30 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.