[
    {
        "role": "user",
        "content": "How%20can%20I%20use%20markdown%20in%20Outlook%3F"
    },
    {
        "role": "assistant",
        "content": "Here\u2019s how Markdown (or something like it) works\u2014or doesn\u2019t work\u2014in Outlook, and some workarounds if you want to use Markdown-style formatting in your emails.\n\n---\n\n## What Outlook supports\n\n1. **Adaptive Cards**  \n   Outlook\u2019s *Adaptive Cards* (used in actionable messages, bots, etc.) support basic Markdown syntax inside `TextBlock` elements. Things like *italics*, **bold**, ~~strikethrough~~, `links`, headings (`# Heading`), and lists work. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/actionable-messages/adaptive-card?utm_source=openai))\n\n2. **Default message formats**  \n   For regular email messages, Outlook supports:\n   - **HTML** (recommended and used by default)  \n   - **Plain text** (no formatting)  \n   - **Rich Text Format (RTF)** (legacy) ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5832313/outlook-emails?utm_source=openai))\n\n   Markdown is *not* a built-in compose format in Outlook. It won\u2019t automatically convert `**bold**` into bold or `# Heading` into a formatted heading in a normal email. ([stackoverflow.com](https://stackoverflow.com/questions/48641474/how-to-format-the-markdown-for-outlook-email-in-office-365?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## What\u2019s new: \u201cNew Outlook\u201d and Markdown-like behavior\n\n- In the new Outlook for Windows (as of mid-2024 onward), typing something surrounded by underscores like `_this_` auto-italics the text, and something surrounded by asterisks like `**this**` might turn it bold. These markdown-style shortcuts are part of the new design but are not fully controllable yet. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/4671231/how-do-i-stop-new-outlook-from-automatically-itali?utm_source=openai))  \n- Some users are grouping use of markdown and formatting through specific features or add-ons, but it's not baked into the regular compose window as full Markdown support. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/answers/questions/5832313/outlook-emails?utm_source=openai))\n\n---\n\n## How to *use* Markdown with Outlook (workarounds)\n\nIf you want Markdown\u2010style formatted emails, here are ways to do it:\n\n| Method | How it works | Pros | Cons |\n|---|--------------|------|------|\n| **Convert Markdown \u2192 HTML** | Write your content in Markdown, then use a converter (online tool, CLI like Pandoc) to produce HTML. Paste that into Outlook with HTML compose. ([showmemymd.com](https://www.showmemymd.com/blog/markdown-to-outlook-email?utm_source=openai)) | Clean formatting, can do headings, lists, tables, etc | Extra steps; pasted HTML may need tweaking |\n| **Use a \u201crendered Markdown\u201d editor** | Apps (on Mac or Web) that let you render Markdown visually, then copy the *formatted* output into Outlook. ([showmemymd.com](https://www.showmemymd.com/blog/markdown-to-outlook-email?utm_source=openai)) | Fast, keeps formatting intact | Needs separate app/software; formatting might differ slightly |\n| **Adaptive Cards** | If you're sending Actionable Messages or bot generated cards, use Markdown inside those cards. ([learn.microsoft.com](https://learn.microsoft.com/en-us/outlook/actionable-messages/adaptive-card?utm_source=openai)) | Markdown support built-in for those cards | Only works in contexts where cards are supported |\n| **Live shortcuts / new Outlook** | Use underscores, asterisks in \u201cnew\u201d Outlook for simple bold/italics auto-formatting. | Quick formatting without leaving Outlook | Limited; won\u2019t handle headings, tables, or more complex Markdown reliably |\n\n---\n\n## What Markdown *won\u2019t* do well in Outlook\n\n- Tables: Markdown tables usually don\u2019t paste cleanly into Outlook unless converted to HTML. Plain Markdown tables appear as plain text.  \n- Code blocks: Inline styling might work (via converter), but fenced code blocks usually show raw backticks.  \n- Headings: Markdown headings (`#`, `##`) are rarely honored unless you convert to HTML or use a rendered editor.  \n- Consistency: Different Outlook versions (desktop, web, Mac, new vs classic) behave differently; what works in one might break in another.\n\n---\n\n## Tips if you're going to try\n\n- Make sure **Compose messages in HTML** is set in Outlook settings so rich formatting is allowed.  \n- After converting or pasting HTML from Markdown, **preview the email** before sending to check that formatting looks right.  \n- Keep a **plain text fallback** in case recipients or clients strip out HTML.  \n- Avoid over-relying on Markdown syntax in the email body itself, since many clients won\u2019t interpret it. Better to use HTML or built tools when you need formatting.\n\n---\n\nIf you tell me whether you're using Outlook on Windows vs Mac vs web, or whether it's the \u201cnew\u201d Outlook or \u201cclassic\u201d version, I can give instructions specific to your setup. Want me to walk you through that?"
    }
]