Obsidian Keyboard Shortcuts
55+ Obsidian shortcuts for note-taking, linking, and knowledge management. Mac and Windows reference.
Navigation
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Quick switcher (open note) | |
| Command palette | |
| Search in all files | |
| Search in current file | |
| Search and replace | |
| Open graph view | |
| Open local graph | |
| Navigate back | |
| Navigate forward | |
| Switch to last open file | |
| Follow link | |
| Collapse left sidebar | |
| Collapse right sidebar |
Editing
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Undo | |
| Redo | |
| Bold | |
| Italic | |
| Insert link | |
| Toggle edit/preview mode | |
| Toggle checkbox | |
| Delete paragraph | |
| Indent list item | |
| Unindent list item | |
| Indent | |
| Unindent | |
| Duplicate line |
Markdown
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Heading 1 | |
| Heading 2 | |
| Heading 3 | |
| Bullet list | |
| Numbered list | |
| Checkbox | |
| Blockquote | |
| Code block | |
| Horizontal rule | |
| Internal link | |
| Embed note / image |
Files
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| New note | |
| New note in new pane | |
| Close current tab | |
| Split pane vertically | |
| Split pane horizontally |
View
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Zoom in / out | |
| Reset zoom | |
| Toggle dev tools |
Tags
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Add tag | |
| Add footnote | |
| Add tag (search) |
Canvas
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Create canvas |
General
| Action | Shortcut |
|---|---|
| Save (usually auto) | |
| Open settings | |
| Open developer console |
Pro tips
Quick Switcher is Your Hub
Press Ctrl+O (⌘+O) to open the Quick Switcher. Start typing any note name to jump to it instantly. Use it instead of navigating the file explorer.
Link Everything with [[
Type [[ to create internal links to other notes. Obsidian auto-suggests note names. This builds your knowledge graph - the more you link, the more useful your vault becomes.
Use Templates for Consistency
Create a Templates folder and use the Templates core plugin. Insert templates into new notes for consistent structures like daily notes, meeting notes, and project briefs.
Graph View for Discovery
Press Ctrl+G to open the Graph View. It visualizes connections between your notes. Use it to discover unexpected relationships and find orphan notes that need linking.
Daily Notes for Journaling
Enable the Daily Notes plugin. It creates a new note each day with your template. Use it as an inbox for thoughts, then process and link to permanent notes later.
Community Plugins Are Powerful
Obsidian's plugin ecosystem is massive. Essential plugins: Dataview (database queries), Templater (advanced templates), Calendar, Kanban, and Excalidraw for visual thinking.
Frequently asked questions
Is Obsidian free?
Obsidian is free for personal use. Obsidian Publish (hosting notes as a website) and Obsidian Sync (end-to-end encrypted sync) are paid add-ons. Commercial use requires a Commercial license.
Where are my notes stored?
Notes are stored as plain Markdown (.md) files in a local folder (vault) on your device. You own your data completely. You can use any cloud service (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive) to sync, or pay for Obsidian Sync.
Can I use Obsidian on mobile?
Yes. Obsidian has native apps for iOS and Android. Use Obsidian Sync, iCloud (iOS), or other cloud services to keep your vault in sync across devices.
What's the difference between Obsidian and Notion?
Obsidian uses local Markdown files (you own your data, works offline). Notion is cloud-based with databases and collaboration. Obsidian excels at personal knowledge management; Notion excels at team collaboration and structured data.
How do I import notes from other apps?
Obsidian reads Markdown files directly. For Notion, export as Markdown and move files to your vault. For Evernote, use the Importer plugin. For Roam Research, use the Roam Importer community plugin.
What are community plugins?
Community plugins are third-party extensions that add features to Obsidian. Enable them in Settings → Community Plugins. Browse the directory for plugins like Dataview, Templater, Calendar, and hundreds more.
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