obsidian-mcp-server
CommunityMCP server by cyanheads · updated · ★ 697 · 1.6k downloads a week
Read, write, search, and surgically edit Obsidian notes, tags, and frontmatter via MCP. obsidian-mcp-server is a community project by cyanheads, not verified by a company domain.
Last commit 17 days ago
Apache-2.0: permissive, fine for commercial use
Clear description, published package or server URL, 697 stars, original repository
No risky patterns in the files we checked
What you need
| Setting | Needed | What it is |
|---|---|---|
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Required | Bearer token for the Obsidian Local REST API plugin (Settings → Community Plugins → Local REST API). |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Base URL of the Obsidian Local REST API. Default: http://127.0.0.1:27123 (enable "Non-encrypted (HTTP) Server" in plugin settings). Use https://127.0.0.1:27124 for the always-on HTTPS port (self-signed cert; pair with OBSIDIAN_VERIFY_SSL=fa Default: http://127.0.0.1:27123 |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Whether to verify the TLS certificate on the Obsidian endpoint. Default false because the plugin uses a self-signed cert. Default: false |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Per-request timeout in milliseconds. Default: 30000 |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Opt-in flag for the command-palette pair (obsidian_list_commands + obsidian_execute_command). Off by default — Obsidian commands are opaque and can be destructive. Default: false |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Optional comma-separated vault-relative folder allowlist for reads. Prefix-based with implicit recursion; case-insensitive; trailing slashes normalized. Unset = full vault. Write paths are implicitly readable. Example: 'public/,projects/'. |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Optional comma-separated vault-relative folder allowlist for writes. Same syntax as OBSIDIAN_READ_PATHS. Unset = full vault. Example: 'projects/,scratch/'. |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Global read-only kill switch. When true, every write is denied regardless of OBSIDIAN_WRITE_PATHS, and the command-palette pair is suppressed (commands can mutate). Useful for shared or public-facing deployments. Default: false |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Opt-in delete confirmation. When true, obsidian_delete_note asks the user to confirm each delete through an elicitation round (the client must support elicitation), and HTTP startup requires a stateful session unless OBSIDIAN_READ_ONLY=true Default: false |
OBSIDIAN_Environment variable | Optional | Override URL for the Omnisearch plugin HTTP server. Unset derives from OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL host with port 51361. Required only if the Omnisearch plugin is not on the default port. |
MCP_Environment variable | Optional | Sets the minimum log level for output (e.g., 'debug', 'info', 'warn'). Default: info |
From the publisher's entry in the official MCP Registry. Required settings are already in the install config below as placeholders.
Install obsidian-mcp-server
Built from the published package, never by AIclaude mcp add obsidian-mcp-server -e OBSIDIAN_API_KEY=YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY -- npx -y obsidian-mcp-serverRun in your terminal. Add --scope user to use it in every project.
{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"obsidian-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}Settings, Developer, Edit config. Paste into claude_desktop_config.json and restart.
{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"obsidian-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.cursor/mcp.json (all projects) or .cursor/mcp.json (this project).
{
"servers": {
"obsidian-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"obsidian-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}Add to .vscode/mcp.json. VS Code uses "servers", not "mcpServers".
codex mcp add obsidian-mcp-server --env OBSIDIAN_API_KEY=YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY -- npx -y obsidian-mcp-server{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian-mcp-server": {
"command": "npx",
"args": [
"-y",
"obsidian-mcp-server"
],
"env": {
"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY"
}
}
}
}Add to ~/.gemini/config/mcp_config.json (all projects) or .agents/mcp_config.json (this project).
Step-by-step: install obsidian-mcp-server in Antigravity CLI
gemini mcp add obsidian-mcp-server npx -y obsidian-mcp-serverGemini CLI was replaced by Antigravity CLI in June 2026 and remains only for enterprise licences and paid API keys.
MCP servers run with your permissions and can read what you give them access to. Some need an API key: check the README and add it under env in the obsidian-mcp-server block.
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Security check
ANo download-and-run commands, hidden instructions or signs of sending keys out were found.
Checked automatically: README.md, package.json. This looks for known risky patterns and is not a full audit. How grades work
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obsidian-mcp-server: common questions
How do I install obsidian-mcp-server?
In Claude Code run claude mcp add obsidian-mcp-server -e OBSIDIAN_API_KEY=YOUR_OBSIDIAN_API_KEY -- npx -y obsidian-mcp-server. For Claude Desktop, Cursor and VS Code, paste the config shown above and restart. See the install guides.
Is obsidian-mcp-server the official server?
obsidian-mcp-server is a community project by cyanheads, not verified by a company domain.
Is obsidian-mcp-server free?
The code is published under the Apache-2.0 licence. The service it connects to may have its own pricing.
Is obsidian-mcp-server safe to use?
It scores 86 of 100. Grades: maintenance A, licence A, quality A. Security check: grade A, no risky patterns found in the files checked. Review the code before you install. How grades work.
What are alternatives to obsidian-mcp-server?
Similar MCP servers: exa, Agent Skills Search Server, brave, Atlassian Rovo MCP Server.
Does obsidian-mcp-server work with ChatGPT?
Not directly. It runs locally, and ChatGPT only connects to remote servers with a URL. Use it in Claude Code, Claude Desktop, Cursor, VS Code or Codex.
