Backlog is switching to GitHub Flavored Markdown for smoother text formatting
Starting October 23, 2025, Backlog’s official Markdown text formatting will be updated to GitHub Flavored Markdown (GFM). This change will end the previous dual-provisioning of our old Markdown and the GFM beta version, making GFM the standard for all projects. This update aims to align Backlog with the industry standard for Markdown, improving performance and security.
What’s Changing?
- One Markdown standard: The GFM option will become the new “Markdown” standard. This will simplify text formatting rules and ensure consistency across all projects.
- Gradual transition: Projects previously set to the old Markdown will be gradually transitioned to GFM, as previously announced in July 2025. Projects already using the GFM beta will automatically transition to the new standard “Markdown.”
- Enhanced performance and security: By utilizing the latest Markdown engine, we’re boosting Backlog’s performance, security, and maintainability. This ensures a more reliable and seamless user experience.
Benefits
This transition to a widely used, de facto standard like GFM makes Backlog more compatible with other services. It also ensures that the platform is built on a modern, secure foundation. This alignment improves collaboration and allows for better interoperability with external tools and services that also use GFM.
What you need to do
The good news is no action is required on your part. All projects and spaces with Markdown enabled will be automatically updated.
To check which markup is enabled for your projects, you can navigate to your space settings or project settings under Text Formatting Rules.
Explore the update
This update is available to all Backlog users. We’re excited for you to experience the enhanced functionality and consistency that GFM brings to your projects.
If you have any questions or feedback, please feel free to contact our support team.