🗃️ Obsidian MCP Server

Connect AI assistants like Claude to your Obsidian vault via Model Context Protocol. 40+ tools for searching, creating, and managing your notes—all 100% local.

What Can You Do?

Quick Start

1. Install the Obsidian Plugin

1. Obsidian → Settings → Community plugins → Browse
2. Search "Local REST API" → Install → Enable
3. Settings → Local REST API → Copy your API Key

2. Install the MCP Server

Option A: Install from npm (recommended)

npm install -g @aniketbiswas/obsidian-mcp-server

Option B: Install from source

git clone https://github.com/aniketbiswas/obsidian-mcp.git
cd obsidian-mcp
npm install && npm run build
npm link  # Makes it available globally

3. Configure Claude Desktop

Edit the config file:

If installed via npm:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["node_modules/@aniketbiswas/obsidian-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Note: If the above doesn't work (common with nvm), use full paths:

{
  "command": "/usr/local/bin/node",
  "args": ["/usr/local/lib/node_modules/@aniketbiswas/obsidian-mcp-server/build/index.js"]
}

Find your paths with: which node and npm root -g

If installed from source:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/FULL/PATH/TO/obsidian-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "your-api-key-here"
      }
    }
  }
}

Windows paths: Use C:\\Users\\Name\\... or C:/Users/Name/...

4. Restart Claude Desktop

Make sure Obsidian is running, then try: "Show me my vault status"

Available Tools

vault_status · list_files · list_all_files · get_vault_structure · get_file_stats · delete_file

read_note · create_note · update_note · append_to_note · prepend_to_note · insert_under_heading · replace_in_note · delete_note · copy_note

search_notes · simple_search · search_by_tag · search_in_folder · find_notes_by_name · get_recent_notes · search_with_context

get_frontmatter · update_frontmatter · set_frontmatter_property · get_tags · add_tags · remove_tags · add_aliases · get_all_tags_in_vault

open_note · get_active_note · append_to_active_note · get_commands · execute_command · quick_capture

get_daily_note · append_to_daily_note · get_periodic_note · append_to_periodic_note · daily_journal_entry · daily_standup

get_outgoing_links · get_backlinks · find_broken_links · find_orphan_notes · add_link_to_note · get_link_graph_data

create_note_from_template · create_meeting_note · create_project_note · list_templates

Built-in: meeting · project · book · article · person · recipe · decision

Configuration

Troubleshooting

This is usually a PATH issue. Claude Desktop doesn't inherit your shell's PATH (especially with nvm).

Solution: Use full absolute paths in your config:

1. Find your node path: which node
2. Find global modules: npm root -g
3. Update config with full paths:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian": {
      "command": "/Users/YOU/.nvm/versions/node/v22.x.x/bin/node",
      "args": ["/Users/YOU/.nvm/versions/node/v22.x.x/lib/node_modules/@aniketbiswas/obsidian-mcp-server/build/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "your-key"
      }
    }
  }
}

Check logs: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp.log (macOS)

• Validate JSON: cat config.json | python3 -m json.tool
• Path must be absolute (starts with / or C:\)
• Restart Claude Desktop completely (Cmd+Q / right-click quit)
• Windows: ensure file is .json not .json.txt

• Obsidian must be running with Local REST API enabled
• Test API: curl -k https://127.0.0.1:27124/ -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_KEY"
• Regenerate API key if needed

Use full path: "command": "C:\\Program Files\\nodejs\\node.exe"

Development

npm run build      # Compile TypeScript
npm run dev        # Watch mode
npm run inspector  # Test tools in browser UI

Adding Tools

Create/edit files in src/tools/, then rebuild:

server.tool("my_tool", "Description", { param: z.string() }, async ({ param }) => {
  return { content: [{ type: "text", text: "Result" }] };
});

FAQ

Is it free? Yes, the Local REST API plugin is free.

Are my notes sent to the cloud? No. Everything stays local. Only your conversation with Claude goes to Anthropic (like any Claude chat).

Works with Obsidian Sync? Yes, it accesses your local vault files.

Contributing

PRs welcome! Fork → create branch → commit → open PR.

License

MIT — see LICENSE

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