# Views and editing mode

```yaml
aliases:
  - How to/Read and edit modes
  - Editing and formatting/Editing and previewing Markdown
  - Editing and formatting/Edit and previewing Markdown
  - Reading view
  - Live preview
  - Source mode
  - Editing view
  - Editing mode
permalink: edit-and-read
```

Obsidian lets you control how you read and edit notes written in Markdown using _views_ and _modes_.

- **Views** toggle between reading and editing your notes.
- **Modes** control how Markdown appears while you're editing.

**Note**  
By default, Obsidian opens new tabs in editing mode. You can change this under **[Settings](/content/help/settings/index.html) → Editor → Default view for new tabs**.

## Reading view

_Reading view_ shows your note without Markdown syntax, offering a clean, readable format for focused review.

To switch to _Reading view_:

- Click the view switcher  in the upper-right corner of the editor.
- Or click the interactive status icon  or  in the status bar and select **Reading view**.
- Or press `Ctrl+E` (`Cmd+E` on macOS).

**Note**  
Enable **[Settings](/content/help/settings/index.html) → Appearance → Show tab title bar** to see the view switcher icon.

If that is disabled, turn on **[Settings](/content/help/settings/index.html) → Editor → Show editing mode in status bar** to toggle views from the status bar.

View side-by-side  
To open a note in both _Editing_ and _Reading view_ at the same time, hold `Ctrl` (or `Cmd` on macOS) and click the view switcher.

## Editing view

_Editing view_ lets you make changes to your note.

While in _Editing view_, the _Editing mode_ defines how Markdown is displayed. You can choose one of two _Editing modes_: _Live Preview_ or _Source mode_.

### Live Preview

_Live Preview_ shows formatted text inline while hiding most Markdown syntax. When your cursor enters formatted content, the underlying syntax becomes visible for editing.

To switch to _Live Preview_:

- Click the view switcher  in the upper-right corner of the editor.
- Or click the interactive status icon  or  in the status bar and select **Live Preview**.
- Or press `Ctrl+E` (`Cmd+E` on macOS).
- Or use the [command](/content/help/plugins/command-palette/index.html) **Toggle Reading view**.

**Note**  
By default, editing view is set to _Live Preview_. You can change this under **[Settings](/content/help/settings/index.html) → Editor → Default editing mode**.

In many cases, Live Preview can eliminate the need to switch to [Reading view](/content/help/edit-and-read#Reading%20view/index.html).

### Source mode

_Source mode_ displays all Markdown syntax exactly as written. Use it if you prefer plain text or need precise formatting control.

To switch to _Source mode_:

- Click the interactive status icon  or  in the status bar and select **Source mode**.

**Note**  
By default, editing view is set to _Live Preview_. Change this to _Source mode_ under **[Settings](/content/help/settings/index.html) → Editor → Default editing mode**.

To switch to _Source mode_, now additionally you can:

- Click the view switcher  in the upper right corner of your note.
- Or press `Ctrl+E` (`Cmd+E` on macOS).
- Or use the [command](/content/help/plugins/command-palette/index.html) **Toggle Reading view**.

Toggle _Editing mode_  
To toggle between _Live Preview_ and _Source mode_ quickly, you can set a [Hotkey](/content/help/hotkeys/index.html) for the [command](/content/help/plugins/command-palette/index.html) **Toggle Live Preview/Source mode**.