mcp-obsidian

MCP server that connects Claude Desktop to Obsidian via the Local REST API plugin.

Overview

mcp-obsidian is a Node.js/TypeScript MCP server that exposes your Obsidian vault to Claude Desktop over stdio.
It talks to the Obsidian Local REST API plugin and provides tools for searching, reading, writing, and managing notes, plus running Obsidian commands.

Features (Available MCP Tools)

Based on src/index.ts, this server currently exposes:

1. search_notes - search notes using Obsidian query syntax
2. get_note - read full markdown content by vault-relative path
3. create_note - create a new note (overwrite optional)
4. update_note - replace full content of an existing note
5. append_note - append or prepend content to a note
6. delete_note - delete a note
7. list_directory - list files/folders under a vault directory
8. open_note - open a note in the Obsidian app
9. list_commands - list available Obsidian command IDs
10. execute_command - execute an Obsidian command by ID
11. get_active_note - get content of the active note in Obsidian

Requirements

• Node.js 18+ (Node 20+ recommended)
• Obsidian desktop app
• Obsidian plugin: Local REST API installed and enabled
• API key from the Local REST API plugin settings

Environment Variables

Required:

• OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL (example: https://127.0.0.1:27124)
• OBSIDIAN_API_KEY (token/license key from plugin settings)

Optional (only if you use self-signed TLS cert from local plugin):

• NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED=0

Security note: disable TLS verification only for local trusted use.

Installation & Build

npm install
npm run build

Build output will be generated in dist/.

Claude Desktop Configuration

Use claude_desktop_config.example.json as reference.

Example:

{
  "mcpServers": {
    "obsidian": {
      "command": "node",
      "args": ["/absolute/path/to/mcp_obsidian/dist/index.js"],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_BASE_URL": "https://127.0.0.1:27124",
        "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "YOUR_LOCAL_REST_API_KEY_HERE",
        "NODE_TLS_REJECT_UNAUTHORIZED": "0"
      }
    }
  }
}

Adjust args to the absolute path on your machine.

Usage Examples

After Claude Desktop loads this MCP server, you can call tools like:

• Search notes:
  • tool: search_notes
  • args: {"query":"tag:#project","context_length":120}
• Read note:
  • tool: get_note
  • args: {"path":"Projects/Plan.md"}
• Create note:
  • tool: create_note
  • args: {"path":"Journal/2026-08-17.md","content":"# Daily Log\\n- ...","overwrite":false}
• Append note:
  • tool: append_note
  • args: {"path":"Inbox.md","content":"\\n- New item","mode":"append"}
• Run command:
  • tool: execute_command
  • args: {"command_id":"app:go-home"}

Project Structure

.
├── src/
│   ├── index.ts         # MCP server entrypoint, tool schema + handlers
│   └── obsidianApi.ts   # Obsidian Local REST API client wrapper
├── claude_desktop_config.example.json
├── package.json
└── tsconfig.json

Obsidian Local REST API Plugin Note

This project depends on the Local REST API plugin endpoints (/vault, /search/simple, /commands, /active, /open).
If the plugin is not installed/enabled or API key/base URL is wrong, MCP tools will fail.