Obsidian MCP Server
Interact with Obsidian vaults via the Local REST API plugin for search and edits.
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Overview
The Obsidian MCP Server allows AI models to directly read, search, and modify notes within your local Obsidian vault. By leveraging the Obsidian Local REST API community plugin, it provides a bridge for agents to list files, retrieve specific document contents, and perform content updates like appending text or patching notes via headings and frontmatter.
Our verdict
This server carries a high-risk profile, reflected in its 35/100 security score. It lacks any authentication method, meaning anyone with access to the configuration can interact with your vault, and it grants full write and delete access by default without a read-only mode. Because it is a community-maintained project and not an official Obsidian release, it is best suited for advanced users who have evaluated the risks of exposing their local files to external API calls.
- Supports direct content patching using headings and block references.
- Zero direct dependencies minimize the supply-chain surface area.
- Strong community engagement with over 4,000 GitHub stars.
- Includes documentation for multiple environment configuration methods.
- No authentication method for the API server.
- Full write and delete access granted to the AI by default.
- Not maintained by the official Obsidian organization.
- Missing a dedicated homepage link.
Tools
| Tool | Description | Risk |
|---|---|---|
| list_files_in_vault | Lists all files and directories in the root directory of your Obsidian vault | low |
| list_files_in_dir | Lists all files and directories in a specific Obsidian directory | low |
| get_file_contents | Return the content of a single file in your vault. | low |
| search | Search for documents matching a specified text query across all files in the vault | low |
| patch_content | Insert content into an existing note relative to a heading, block reference, or frontmatter field. | medium |
| append_content | Append content to a new or existing file in the vault. | medium |
| delete_file | Delete a file or directory from your vault. | high |
Compatibility
| Client | Local | Docker | Remote | Read-only |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Claude Desktop | ||||
| Cursor | ||||
| VS Code | ||||
| Windsurf | ||||
| ChatGPT |
Frequently asked questions
›What prerequisites are needed to use this server?
You must have the Obsidian Local REST API community plugin installed and enabled in your Obsidian settings to generate the required API key.
›How can I configure the connection settings?
You can provide your API key, host, and port settings either directly within your MCP server configuration file or by creating a .env file in the server's working directory.
›What are the default connection values?
If not explicitly specified, the server uses 127.0.0.1 as the default host and 27124 as the default port.
›What should I do if Claude fails to detect the server path?
If Claude has issues detecting the location of uv or uvx, you can find the absolute path using the command 'which uvx' and replace the command name with that full path in your configuration.
›How can I debug this MCP server?
The author recommends using the MCP Inspector for a browser-based debugging experience or checking the log files located at ~/Library/Logs/Claude/mcp-server-mcp-obsidian.log.
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