VERIFIED

Obsidian

Safety: 85/100

0.0(0)

Connects Claude Desktop to an Obsidian vault, enabling search and read access to Markdown notes for enhanced context and knowledge retrieval.

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Overview

Connects Claude Desktop to an Obsidian vault, enabling search and read access to Markdown notes for enhanced context and knowledge retrieval.

This connector is generally safe for use as it primarily provides read-only access to local files. However, users should ensure their Obsidian vault does not contain highly sensitive information that could be exposed through search queries. Exercise caution when configuring the vault path.

Performance depends on the size of the Obsidian vault and the speed of the file system. Large vaults may result in slower search times.

This tool primarily uses local file access, so cost is minimal. Usage of npx might incur minor network overhead.

JavaScript1,301 starsAGPL-3.0

Connections & Capabilities

Connects To

GitHubTwitter

Capabilities

Read

Client Compatibility

Claude Desktop

full

Cursor

untested

Windsurf

untested

VS Code (Copilot)

partial

Quickstart

Install

npx -y @smithery/cli install mcp-obsidian --client claude

Claude Desktop Config

{
  "mcp": {
    "inputs": [
      {
        "type": "promptString",
        "id": "vaultPath",
        "description": "Path to Obsidian vault"
      }
    ],
    "servers": {
      "obsidian": {
        "command": "npx",
        "args": ["-y", "mcp-obsidian", "${input:vaultPath}"]
      }
    }
  }
}

Tools (1)

safe

obsidian

Allows Claude to search and read markdown notes within a specified Obsidian vault.

Provides read-only access to files within the vault.

Security

Auth Method

None

Known Risks

!Information exposure if sensitive data is stored in the Obsidian vault.
!Misconfiguration leading to unintended access to other directories.
!Potential for path traversal vulnerabilities if not properly sanitized.
!Dependency on `npx` and `npm` introduces supply chain risks.

Safety Score

low risk

Positive

+Read-only access to Obsidian vault content.
+No inherent network exposure beyond local file system.
+User-defined vault path limits scope of access.
+No direct execution capabilities.

Risks

-Potential for information leakage if vault contains sensitive data.
-Reliance on user-provided path introduces risk of misconfiguration.
-Lack of built-in access controls within the tool itself.
-If the vault path is a network share, standard network security risks apply.

Use Cases

Knowledge Management

-Searching personal notes for relevant information.
-Summarizing research findings stored in Obsidian.
-Generating outlines from existing notes.

Project Management

-Accessing project documentation stored in Obsidian.
-Finding meeting notes related to a specific task.
-Reviewing project timelines and milestones.

Content Creation

-Gathering background information for writing articles.
-Finding inspiration from existing notes and ideas.
-Generating drafts based on Obsidian content.

Who Is This For?

Best For

Individuals using Obsidian for personal knowledge management.
Teams collaborating on projects using Obsidian for documentation.
Researchers and writers using Obsidian for note-taking and research.
Users who want to integrate their Obsidian vault with Claude Desktop.

Not Ideal For

Environments requiring strict access control and auditing.
Scenarios involving highly sensitive data without proper encryption.
Real-time collaboration requiring concurrent write access.

Autonomy & Execution

Default ModeRead-only

Sandboxed

The tool operates in read-only mode, limiting the scope of autonomous actions to information retrieval.

StatelessYes

Retry LogicNone

ConcurrencySingle-threaded

Production Tip

Ensure the Obsidian vault path is correctly configured and accessible before deploying in a production environment.

FAQ

Does this tool modify my Obsidian vault?

No, it only provides read access to the files in your vault.

Can I use this with Obsidian Sync?

Yes, as long as the local vault directory is accessible.

What happens if I provide an incorrect vault path?

The tool will likely fail to find the notes, and Claude may return an error.

Does this tool support encryption?

It depends on how your Obsidian vault is configured. The tool itself doesn't provide encryption, but it can access encrypted vaults if they are unlocked.

Can I search for specific tags or properties in my notes?

The search capabilities depend on the underlying implementation of the tool. It will likely support basic text search.

Is this tool compatible with all Obsidian plugins?

It should be compatible as long as the plugins don't fundamentally alter the file format or storage location of the notes.

How do I update this tool?

Use the Smithery CLI or VS Code extension to update the package.

Key Features

Vault integration - Directly connects Claude Desktop to local Obsidian storage for seamless data access.

Markdown search capability - Allows the AI to query and parse complex Markdown syntax within your vault.

Contextual retrieval - Enables the AI to read relevant notes to provide accurate, personalized responses.

Local-first workflow - Maintains data privacy by keeping your knowledge base on your local machine while interacting with the AI.

MCP Protocol compliance - Uses the Model Context Protocol to ensure stable and secure communication between the AI and your files.

Automated note discovery - Simplifies the process of surfacing related information across multiple vault folders.

Use Cases & Problems Solved

Use Cases

•Use when you need Claude to synthesize information from your personal Zettelkasten or research notes stored in Obsidian.
•Perfect for drafting blog posts or technical documentation by grounding the AI in your existing project-specific Markdown files.
•Ideal if you need to quickly retrieve specific context from years of daily notes without manually searching through folders.
•Great for brainstorming new project ideas by allowing Claude to cross-reference existing concepts already documented in your vault.
•Use when building complex software architecture to query your past technical decisions and design patterns stored in local notes.
•Perfect for summarizing meeting minutes or project retrospectives stored within local Markdown files during a chat session.

Problems Solved

✓Eliminates the need to manually copy-paste relevant notes into the Claude chat interface to provide context.
✓Reduces context fragmentation by bridging the gap between local, private knowledge bases and cloud-based AI reasoning.
✓Removes the friction of searching through complex folder structures in Obsidian while trying to maintain a conversational AI flow.
✓Solves the issue of AI hallucination by grounding responses in your verified, personal Markdown documentation.

Who It's For

Knowledge management enthusiasts using the Zettelkasten or PARA methodologyTechnical writers maintaining documentation in local Markdown filesAcademic researchers managing bibliographies and literature notes in ObsidianSoftware engineers storing design docs and API specs in local vaultsProduct managers who keep project requirements and meeting notes in personal Markdown repositories

Metrics

Discovered2/14/2026

Reviews0

Saved By0 users

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