obsidian-cli

# Obsidian CLI

The official Obsidian CLI (released in v1.12, February 2026) lets you control every aspect of Obsidian from the terminal. It communicates with a running Obsidian desktop instance via IPC.

> Read `references/command-reference.md` when you need specific flags, output formats, or
> subcommands for any command group. It covers all 130+ commands with full parameter tables
> and has a table of contents at the top.

## Prerequisites

| Requirement | Details |
|---|---|
| Obsidian Desktop | **v1.12.0+** |
| CLI enabled | Settings → Command line interface → Toggle ON |
| Obsidian running | The desktop app **must be running** for CLI to work (IPC) |

### Platform Notes

- **macOS / Linux**: The `obsidian` binary is registered in PATH automatically when you enable CLI in settings.
- **Windows**: Requires an `Obsidian.com` redirector file placed alongside `Obsidian.exe`. **Must run with normal user privileges** — admin terminals produce silent failures.
  - If colon subcommands (`property:set`, `daily:append`, etc.) with parameters return exit 127, check that `Obsidian.com` exists alongside `Obsidian.exe`. If missing, you have an outdated installer — download the latest from [obsidian.md/download](https://obsidian.md/download) and reinstall.
  - **Git Bash / MSYS2 users**: Bash resolves `obsidian` to `Obsidian.exe` (GUI) instead of `Obsidian.com` (CLI), causing colon+params to fail with exit 127 even when `Obsidian.com` is present. Create a wrapper script — see Troubleshooting.
- **Headless Linux**: Use the `.deb` package (not snap). Run under `xvfb`. Prefix commands with `DISPLAY=:5` (or your xvfb display number). Ensure `PrivateTmp=false` if running as a service.

## Syntax

All parameters use **`key=value`** syntax. Quote values containing spaces.

```bash
obsidian <command> [subcommand] [key=value ...] [flags]
```

### Multi-Vault

Target a specific vault by making it the **first argument**:

```bash
obsidian "My Vault" daily:read
obsidian "Work Notes" search query="meeting"
```

If omitted, the CLI targets the most recently active vault.

## Command Overview

The CLI provides **130+ commands** across these groups:

| Group | Key Commands | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| **files** | `read`, `create`, `append`, `prepend`, `move`, `rename`, `delete`, `files`, `folders`, `file`, `random` | Note CRUD and file discovery |
| **daily** | `daily`, `daily:read`, `daily:append`, `daily:prepend`, `daily:path` | Daily note operations |
| **search** | `search`, `search:context` | Full-text search; `search:context` returns matching lines |
| **properties** | `properties`, `property:read`, `property:set`, `property:remove`, `aliases` | Frontmatter/metadata management |
| **tags** | `tags`, `tag` | Tag listing, counts, and filtering |
| **tasks** | `tasks`, `task` | Task querying, filtering, and toggling |
| **links** | `backlinks`, `links`, `unresolved`, `orphans`, `deadends` | Graph and link analysis |
| **bookmarks** | `bookmarks`, `bookmark` | List and add bookmarks |
| **templates** | `templates`, `template:read`, `template:insert` | Template listing, rendering, insertion |
| **plugins** | `plugins`, `plugin`, `plugin:enable`, `plugin:disable`, `plugin:install`, `plugin:uninstall`, `plugins:restrict` | Plugin management |
| **sync** | `sync`, `sync:status`, `sync:history`, `sync:read`, `sync:restore`, `sync:deleted` | Obsidian Sync operations |
| **themes** | `themes`, `theme`, `theme:set`, `theme:install`, `theme:uninstall` | Theme management |
| **snippets** | `snippets`, `snippets:enabled`, `snippet:enable`, `snippet:disable` | CSS snippet management |
| **commands** | `commands`, `command`, `hotkeys`, `hotkey` | Execute Obsidian commands by ID; inspect hotkeys |
| **bases** | `bases`, `base:query`, `base:views`, `base:create` | Obsidian Bases (v1.12+ database feature) |
| **history** | `history`, `history:list`, `history:read`, `history:restore` | File version recovery (File Recovery plugin) |
| **workspace** | `workspace`, `tabs`, `tab:open` | Workspace layout and tab management |
| **diff** | `diff` | Compare local vs sync file versions |
| **dev** | `eval`, `dev:screenshot`, `dev:debug`, `dev:console`, `dev:errors`, `dev:css`, `dev:dom`, `devtools` | Developer/debugging tools |
| **vault** | `vault`, `vaults`, `version`, `reload`, `restart` | Vault info and app control |
| **other** | `outline`, `wordcount`, `recents` | Utility commands |

## Quick Reference — Most Common Commands

### Reading & Writing Notes

```bash
obsidian read path="folder/note.md"
obsidian create path="folder/note" content="# New Note"
obsidian create path="folder/note" template="meeting-notes"
obsidian append path="folder/note.md" content="New paragraph"
obsidian prepend path="folder/note.md" content="Top content"
obsidian move path="old/note.md" to="new/note.md"
obsidian delete path="folder/note.md"
obsidian delete path="folder/note.md" permanent
```

### Daily Notes

```bash
obsidian daily                          # Open today's daily note
obsidian daily:read                     # Print content of today's note
obsidian daily:append content="- [ ] New task"
obsidian daily:prepend content="## Morning Notes"
```

### Search

```bash
obsidian search query="project alpha"
obsidian search query="TODO" path="projects" limit=10
obsidian search query="meeting" format=json   # Returns JSON array of file paths
obsidian search query="urgent" case
```

### Properties & Tags

```bash
obsidian properties path="note.md"
obsidian property:set path="note.md" name="status" value="active"
obsidian property:read path="note.md" name="status"
obsidian property:remove path="note.md" name="draft"
obsidian tags counts sort=count
obsidian tag name="project/alpha"
```

### Tasks

```bash
obsidian tasks                          # All tasks (done + todo) — same as tasks all in v1.12
obsidian tasks all                      # All tasks (done + todo)
obsidian tasks done                     # Completed only
obsidian tasks daily                    # Tasks in today's daily note
obsidian task path="note.md" line=12 toggle
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]"           # Workaround: filter to incomplete only
```

### Developer & Automation

```bash
obsidian eval code="app.vault.getFiles().length"
obsidian dev:screenshot path="folder/screenshot.png"  # Path must be vault-relative
obsidian dev:debug on                                 # Required before dev:console
obsidian dev:console limit=20
obsidian dev:errors
```

## TUI Mode

Running `obsidian` with no arguments launches an interactive TUI (Terminal User Interface):

| Key | Action |
|---|---|
| `↑↓` | Navigate files |
| `Enter` | Open file |
| `/` | Search |
| `n` | Create new file |
| `d` | Delete file |
| `r` | Rename file |
| `q` | Quit |

## Common Agent Patterns

### Daily Journal Automation

```bash
# Append a timestamped entry
obsidian daily:append content="## $(date '+%H:%M') — Status Update
- Completed: feature branch merge
- Next: code review for PR #42
- Blocked: waiting on API credentials"
```

### Create Note from Template with Metadata

```bash
obsidian create path="projects/new-feature" template="project-template"
obsidian property:set path="projects/new-feature.md" name="status" value="planning"
obsidian property:set path="projects/new-feature.md" name="created" value="$(date -I)"
obsidian daily:append content="- Started [[projects/new-feature|New Feature]]"
```

### Vault Analytics Script

```bash
obsidian files total                    # Total file count
obsidian tags counts sort=count         # Most used tags
obsidian tasks | grep "\[ \]"          # Incomplete tasks across vault
obsidian orphans                        # Notes needing integration
obsidian unresolved                     # Broken links to fix
```

### Search and Extract for AI Processing

```bash
obsidian search query="meeting notes" format=json | jq '.[]'
obsidian read path="meetings/standup.md" | grep "Action item"
```

### Sync Management

```bash
obsidian sync:status                    # Check sync health
obsidian sync:history path="important.md"  # Version history
obsidian sync:restore path="important.md" version=3  # Rollback
```

### Execute Obsidian Commands

```bash
# Find a command ID, then execute it
obsidian commands | grep "graph"
obsidian command id="graph:open"

# Open settings, trigger a plugin action
obsidian command id="app:open-settings"
obsidian command id="dataview:dataview-force-refresh-views"
```

## Tips

1. **Paths are vault-relative** — use `folder/note.md`, not absolute filesystem paths.
2. **`create` paths omit `.md`** — the extension is added automatically.
3. **`move` requires full target path** including `.md` extension.
4. **Pipe-friendly** — plain text output works with `grep`, `awk`, `sed`, `jq`.
5. **JSON output** — use `format=json` on `search` for a JSON array of file paths. The `files` command does not support JSON output.
6. **Stderr noise** — GPU/Electron warnings on headless are harmless; filter with `2>/dev/null`.
7. **`daily:prepend`** inserts content after frontmatter, not at byte 0.
8. **Use `eval`** to run arbitrary JavaScript against the Obsidian API (`app.*`).
9. **`template:insert`** inserts into the currently active file in the Obsidian UI — it does not accept a `path=` parameter. If no file is open, it returns `Error: No active editor. Open a file first.` To create a file from a template via CLI, use `obsidian create path="..." template="..."` instead.
10. **`property:set` stores list values as strings** — `value="tag1, tag2"` writes a literal comma-separated string, not a YAML array. For proper array fields, edit the note's frontmatter directly (e.g. via `read` → modify → `create --force`) or use `eval` to call the Obsidian API.
11. **`eval` requires single-line JavaScript** — multiline JS passed inline fails with a token error. Write the script to a temp file instead:
    ```bash
    cat > /tmp/obs.js << 'JS'
    var files = app.vault.getMarkdownFiles();
    files.length;
    JS
    obsidian eval code="$(cat /tmp/obs.js)"
    ```
12. **Multi-vault targeting may not work in all environments** — `obsidian "My Vault" command` can return `Error: Command "My Vault" not found` on some setups. If this happens, omit the vault name (CLI targets the most recently active vault) and switch vaults manually in the Obsidian UI.
13. **When colon subcommands are unavailable** (e.g. Windows Git Bash without wrapper), prefer non-colon alternatives: use `properties` instead of `property:read`, and `obsidian daily:path` + `append` instead of `daily:append`.

## Troubleshooting

| Problem | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Empty output / hangs | Obsidian not running, or admin terminal (Windows) | Start Obsidian; use normal-privilege terminal |
| Command not found | CLI not registered in PATH | Re-enable CLI in Settings; restart terminal |
| Unicode errors | Fixed in v1.12.2+ | Update Obsidian |
| Wrong vault targeted | Multi-vault ambiguity | Pass vault name as first arg |
| IPC socket not found (Linux) | `PrivateTmp=true` in systemd | Set `PrivateTmp=false` |
| Snap confinement issues | Snap restricts IPC | Use `.deb` package instead |
| Multi-vault `"Name" command` fails | Vault name matching issue | Omit vault name; target most recent vault |
| `property:set` list value is a string | CLI stores value as-is | Edit frontmatter directly or use `eval` |
| Colon+params exit 127 (missing `.com`) | Outdated installer — `Obsidian.com` absent | Reinstall from [obsidian.md/download](https://obsidian.md/download) |
| Colon+params exit 127 (Git Bash / MSYS2) | Bash resolves `obsidian` to `.exe` not `.com` | Create `~/bin/obsidian` wrapper: `#!/bin/bash` / `/c/path/to/Obsidian.com "$@"` and add `export PATH="$HOME/bin:$PATH"` to `~/.bashrc` |