obsidian-mcp

MCP.Pizza Chef: StevenStavrakis

The obsidian-mcp is a lightweight MCP server designed to integrate AI assistants with Obsidian vaults. It provides comprehensive tools for reading, searching, creating, editing, moving, and deleting notes, as well as managing tags within the vault. This server facilitates seamless AI-driven note management and organization, enhancing productivity and knowledge workflows. Users must ensure they back up their vaults before use, as the server has read and write access. It requires Node.js 20+ and an existing Obsidian vault to operate. The obsidian-mcp is ideal for developers and users looking to automate and augment their Obsidian note-taking experience with AI capabilities.

Use This MCP server To

Read and search notes within Obsidian vaults Create new notes and directories programmatically Edit existing notes via AI-driven commands Move and delete notes in the vault Manage tags by adding, removing, or renaming Search vault contents for specific information

README

Obsidian MCP Server

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An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server that enables AI assistants to interact with Obsidian vaults, providing tools for reading, creating, editing and managing notes and tags.

Warning!!!

This MCP has read and write access (if you allow it). Please. PLEASE backup your Obsidian vault prior to using obsidian-mcp to manage your notes. I recommend using git, but any backup method will work. These tools have been tested, but not thoroughly, and this MCP is in active development.

Features

  • Read and search notes in your vault
  • Create new notes and directories
  • Edit existing notes
  • Move and delete notes
  • Manage tags (add, remove, rename)
  • Search vault contents

Requirements

  • Node.js 20 or higher (might work on lower, but I haven't tested it)
  • An Obsidian vault

Install

Installing Manually

Add to your Claude Desktop configuration:

  • macOS: ~/Library/Application Support/Claude/claude_desktop_config.json
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\claude_desktop_config.json
{
    "mcpServers": {
        "obsidian": {
            "command": "npx",
            "args": ["-y", "obsidian-mcp", "/path/to/your/vault", "/path/to/your/vault2"]
        }
    }
}

Replace /path/to/your/vault with the absolute path to your Obsidian vault. For example:

MacOS/Linux:

"/Users/username/Documents/MyVault"

Windows:

"C:\\Users\\username\\Documents\\MyVault"

Restart Claude for Desktop after saving the configuration. You should see the hammer icon appear, indicating the server is connected.

If you have connection issues, check the logs at:

  • MacOS: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log
  • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp*.log

Installing via Smithery

Warning: I am not affiliated with Smithery. I have not tested using it and encourage users to install manually if they can.

To install Obsidian for Claude Desktop automatically via Smithery:

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

Development

# Clone the repository
git clone https://github.com/StevenStavrakis/obsidian-mcp
cd obsidian-mcp

# Install dependencies
npm install

# Build
npm run build

Then add to your Claude Desktop configuration:

{
    "mcpServers": {
        "obsidian": {
            "command": "node",
            "args": ["<absolute-path-to-obsidian-mcp>/build/main.js", "/path/to/your/vault", "/path/to/your/vault2"]
        }
    }
}

Available Tools

  • read-note - Read the contents of a note
  • create-note - Create a new note
  • edit-note - Edit an existing note
  • delete-note - Delete a note
  • move-note - Move a note to a different location
  • create-directory - Create a new directory
  • search-vault - Search notes in the vault
  • add-tags - Add tags to a note
  • remove-tags - Remove tags from a note
  • rename-tag - Rename a tag across all notes
  • manage-tags - List and organize tags
  • list-available-vaults - List all available vaults (helps with multi-vault setups)

Documentation

Additional documentation can be found in the docs directory:

  • creating-tools.md - Guide for creating new tools
  • tool-examples.md - Examples of using the available tools

Security

This server requires access to your Obsidian vault directory. When configuring the server, make sure to:

  • Only provide access to your intended vault directory
  • Review tool actions before approving them

Troubleshooting

Common issues:

  1. Server not showing up in Claude Desktop

    • Verify your configuration file syntax
    • Make sure the vault path is absolute and exists
    • Restart Claude Desktop
  2. Permission errors

    • Ensure the vault path is readable/writable
    • Check file permissions in your vault
  3. Tool execution failures

    • Check Claude Desktop logs at:
      • macOS: ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp*.log
      • Windows: %APPDATA%\Claude\logs\mcp*.log

License

MIT

obsidian-mcp FAQ

How do I install obsidian-mcp?
Install Node.js 20 or higher, then set up obsidian-mcp server and connect it to your Obsidian vault.
Is it safe to use obsidian-mcp with my vault?
obsidian-mcp has read and write access, so always back up your vault before use to prevent data loss.
Can obsidian-mcp create new notes and folders?
Yes, it supports creating new notes and directories within your Obsidian vault.
Does obsidian-mcp support tag management?
Yes, you can add, remove, and rename tags using obsidian-mcp.
What Node.js version is required?
Node.js 20 or higher is recommended for stable operation.
Can I search my vault contents using obsidian-mcp?
Yes, it provides search functionality to find notes and content within your vault.
Does obsidian-mcp support editing existing notes?
Yes, it allows AI assistants to edit notes directly in your vault.
Is obsidian-mcp actively maintained?
Yes, it is in active development, so features and stability may improve over time.