How to Use Obsidian for Note Taking

Step by step

1. 3 min

   Download and set up your first vault

   Download Obsidian from obsidian.md and install it. Launch the app and click 'Create new vault'. Name your vault and choose a location on your computer. Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files in this folder.

   Note: Store your vault in a cloud sync folder like Dropbox or iCloud Drive for automatic backup and cross-device access.
2. 2 min

   Create your first note with proper formatting

   Click the 'New note' button or press Ctrl+N (Cmd+N on Mac). Type a descriptive title and start writing using Markdown syntax. Use # for headings, bold for emphasis, and - for bullet points. Save automatically happens as you type.

   Note: Use descriptive titles without special characters. Obsidian treats the filename as the note title for linking purposes.
3. 2 min

   Link notes using double brackets

   Connect related ideas by typing [[Note Title]] anywhere in your text. If the note exists, Obsidian creates a clickable link. If not, it creates a placeholder that becomes a link when you create that note. This builds your knowledge graph automatically.

   Note: Use partial matches inside brackets. Type [[keyword]] and Obsidian suggests existing notes containing that word.
4. 3 min

   Organize notes with folders and tags

   Right-click in the file explorer to create folders for broad categories like 'Projects' or 'Meeting Notes'. Add tags by typing #tagname anywhere in a note. Use the tag panel to see all notes with specific tags.

   Note: Use nested tags like #project/work or #meeting/daily for hierarchical organization without complex folder structures.
5. 3 min

   Set up templates for consistent note structure

   Enable the Templates plugin in Settings > Core plugins. Create a 'Templates' folder and add template notes with your preferred structure. Use the template picker (Ctrl+T or Cmd+T) to insert templates into new notes.

   Note: Include template variables like {{date}} and {{time}} that automatically populate when you use the template.
6. 2 min

   Use graph view to visualize connections

   Click the graph icon in the sidebar or press Ctrl+G (Cmd+G on Mac) to see your knowledge graph. Nodes represent notes and lines show links between them. Click any node to open that note directly from the graph.

   Note: Use the graph filters to hide unlinked notes or focus on specific tags. Adjust forces and distance for better visual clarity.
7. 2 min

   Enable daily notes for consistent capture

   Enable Daily notes in Settings > Core plugins. Set your preferred folder and date format. Click the calendar icon or press Ctrl+/ (Cmd+/) to open today's note. Use this for journal entries, task lists, or meeting notes.

   Note: Link daily notes to project notes using brackets. This creates a timeline of progress on specific topics.
8. 2 min

   Search and navigate your knowledge base

   Use Ctrl+O (Cmd+O) to quickly open any note by name. Use Ctrl+Shift+F (Cmd+Shift+F) for full-text search across all notes. The backlinks panel shows which notes reference your current note, creating reverse connections.

   Note: Use search operators like 'tag:#meeting' or 'file:project' to narrow results. Search supports regex for advanced pattern matching.