How to Use Obsidian (Vaults, Notes and Links)

Obsidian has a reputation for being complicated, mostly because people jump straight to plugins and graphs before they've written a note. The core of it's very simple: a folder of text files that link to each other. Learn that and you've learned the app. Here's the setup, the first notes and the single habit that gives Obsidian its power.

Install Obsidian

It's available for all major desktop and mobile platforms. On Windows, go to the download page and click Universal under Windows to download the installer, then open it and follow the instructions. On a Mac, click Universal under macOS, open the file and drag Obsidian into your Applications folder. Then open it like any other app.

Create your vault

Obsidian stores your notes in a vault, which is simply a folder on your computer. The first time you open Obsidian it asks you to add one. You can keep all your notes in one vault, or create a vault per project.

1. Next to Create new vault, click Create.
2. Type a name in Vault name.
3. Click Browse and choose where it should live.
4. Click Create.

If you already have a folder of notes, choose Open folder as vault instead and select that folder. Nothing is locked away: notes in Obsidian are plain text files, which means your data is durable and not locked into a proprietary format. Obsidian's own words are that your notes will outlive any app, Obsidian included.

Write your first note

1. Press Ctrl+N on Windows or Cmd+N on a Mac.
2. Type a name for the note and press Enter.
3. Start writing in the note.

Obsidian uses Markdown for formatting. A hash symbol at the start of a line makes a heading. Select some text and press Ctrl+B (or Cmd+B) to make it bold. You don't have to learn all the syntax at once. Headings and bold will carry you a long way.

Link your notes together

This is the feature that makes Obsidian different from a folder of documents. Obsidian's guide says the true power lies in being able to link notes together, because understanding how one piece of information relates to another helps you remember and form deeper insights.

1. In a note, type two left square brackets: [[.
2. Start typing the name of another note. Obsidian suggests matches.
3. Press Enter to insert the link.
4. To open the linked note, click the link while holding Ctrl (Cmd on a Mac).

Links to notes that don't exist yet

You can link to a note you haven't written. Select a phrase, add the double brackets and Obsidian shows the link in a more muted colour to tell you the note doesn't exist yet. Click it and Obsidian creates the note. This is how people build up a web of ideas without stopping to plan the structure: write, link, then fill the gaps later.

Job	Shortcut or action
New note	Ctrl+N or Cmd+N
Make text bold	Ctrl+B or Cmd+B
Make a heading	Start the line with #
Link to a note	Type [[ and choose a note
Open a link	Ctrl+click or Cmd+click

A simple way to organise

• Start with one vault. You can always split it later.
• Give every note a clear, specific name, because the name is what links point to.
• Link a new note to at least one existing note when you create it.
• Use folders lightly. Links do more of the organising than folders do.
• Review and tidy once a week.

What to ignore at the beginning

Obsidian has plugins, graphs, sync services and publishing tools. They're useful, but none of them matter until you've got a habit of writing and linking. Ignore the rest for the first month. If a plugin solves a problem you have, add it then.

Is Obsidian right for you?

It suits people who think in connections: researchers, writers, students, anyone who wants a personal knowledge base they fully own. If you want a shared team workspace with databases and comments, a tool such as Notion may fit better. My comparison of to-do apps and my guide to using a monthly planner help you work out what you need.

What happens if Obsidian disappears?

This is the quiet strength of the app. Because every note is a plain text file in a folder you own, there's no export step and no lock-in. Open the folder in any text editor and your notes are all there, readable. Back the folder up like any other: copy it to an external drive or a cloud folder you trust. It's worth doing this from the start, because the thing you're building up is potentially years of thinking.

Three ways to use it in your first week

1. A daily note. Open a new note each morning, write the date as the name and jot what you're working on.
2. A reading list. Make one note per book or article, and link each to the topics it relates to.
3. A project hub. Create a note named after the project and link every related note back to it.

My verdict

Create one vault, write a few notes and link them with double brackets. Keep names clear and ignore the extras until you need them. Your notes are plain files you own, which is the best reason to use it.

Frequently asked questions

How do I start using Obsidian?

Install it, create a vault, press Ctrl+N or Cmd+N to create a note and type [[ to link to another note.

What is a vault in Obsidian?

A vault is a folder on your computer where Obsidian stores your notes.

Where are my Obsidian notes stored?

In your vault, as plain text files on your own computer.

Can I link to a note that doesn't exist yet?

Yes. The link appears in a more muted colour, and clicking it creates the note.

Do I need plugins?

No. The core of Obsidian is notes and links, and you can ignore plugins until you have a real need.