Obsidian MCP REST Server
LocalAbout Obsidian MCP REST Server
Obsidian MCP REST Server connects AI assistants to Obsidian vaults through the local REST API. It lets assistants read, write, list and search notes, and is aimed at Obsidian users who want data to stay on their machine.
Key features
- 01Read and write notes
- 02List vault or folder contents
- 03Search notes by query string
- 04Retrieve metadata for a specific note
- 05API key authenticated local REST connection
Use cases
- 01Ask an assistant to summarize project notes
- 02Create or update notes within a chosen folder
- 03Find notes that mention a given keyword
MCP support
This is an MCP server that exposes listNotes, readNote, writeNote, searchNotes and getMetadata tools to MCP clients such as Claude Desktop.
Configuration
Local server config is the same for every client. Copy it into your client’s MCP config file.
We haven’t collected a package or remote endpoint for this server. Follow the instructions in the project README.
Tools
Local servers expose tools only once running on your machine, and the maintainer has not provided a tool list.
Details
From the project READMEObsidian MCP REST Server
An MCP (Model Context Protocol) server implementation that provides access to Obsidian vaults through a local REST API. This server allows AI assistants to interact with Obsidian notes and manage vault content through a standardized interface.
Features
- Access Obsidian vault contents through MCP
- Read and write notes
- List vault contents
- Search functionality
- Secure local REST API integration
- Compatible with Claude Desktop and other AI assistants
Prerequisites
- Node.js 16 or higher
- Obsidian with Local REST API plugin installed and configured
- An Obsidian vault with Local REST API enabled
Installation
Install the package globally:
npm install -g PublikPrinciple/obsidian-mcp-rest
Or if you prefer using a specific version/branch:
npm install -g PublikPrinciple/obsidian-mcp-rest#main
Configuration
-
First, configure Obsidian Local REST API plugin:
- Install the Local REST API plugin in Obsidian
- Configure the API port (default: 27123)
- Generate and save an API key
-
Create a configuration file
config.json:
{
"obsidian": {
"apiKey": "your-api-key-here",
"port": 27123,
"host": "localhost"
},
"server": {
"name": "obsidian-mcp",
"version": "1.0.0"
}
}
Usage
- Start the server:
obsidian-mcp-rest --config path/to/config.json
- The server will start and listen for MCP requests via stdin/stdout.
Using with Claude Desktop
-
Configure Claude Desktop to use this MCP server:
- Open Claude Desktop settings
- Navigate to the MCP section
- Add new server configuration:
{ "name": "obsidian-mcp", "command": "obsidian-mcp-rest", "args": ["--config", "path/to/config.json"] }
-
Claude can now access your Obsidian vault through commands like:
Read note "Projects/MyProject.md" List all notes in "Projects" folder Search for notes containing "typescript"
Available Tools
listNotes: List all notes in the vault or a specific folderreadNote: Read the contents of a specific notewriteNote: Create or update a notesearchNotes: Search for notes using a query stringgetMetadata: Get metadata for a specific note
Security
- The server only runs locally and communicates through stdin/stdout
- All requests to Obsidian REST API are authenticated with your API key
- No external network access is required
- Data remains local to your machine
Development
- Clone the repository:
git clone https://github.com/PublikPrinciple/obsidian-mcp-rest.git
cd obsidian-mcp-rest
- Install dependencies:
npm install
- Build the project:
npm run build
- Run tests:
npm test
Troubleshooting
Installation Issues
If you encounter any installation issues, try these alternatives:
- Clone and install locally:
git clone https://github.com/PublikPrinciple/obsidian-mcp-rest.git
cd obsidian-mcp-rest
npm install
npm run build
npm install -g .
- If you see TypeScript-related errors, ensure TypeScript is installed globally:
npm install -g typescript
Contributing
Contributions are welcome! Please feel free to submit a Pull Request. For major changes, please open an issue first to discuss what you would like to change.
License
MIT License - see LICENSE file for details
Comments
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From what the protocol is to installing your first server, these answers cover most first questions.
An open protocol that defines how AI applications connect to external tools and data in a uniform way. Clients talk to the model; MCP servers provide tools, resources and prompt templates. They exchange standard messages, so one server can be reused by many clients.