# Obsidian Tutorial: How to Use Obsidian Notes for Beginners I use Obsidian to keep Markdown notes and connect related ideas. This guide covers creating a vault, writing notes, linking them, and using plugins. Author: Vladislav Guzey Published: 2025-01-13 Canonical: https://proflead.dev/posts/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/
I use Obsidian to keep Markdown notes and connect related ideas. This guide covers creating a vault, writing notes, linking them, and using plugins. ## What Is Obsidian? Obsidian stores your notes as Markdown files and lets you link related notes. You can use it as a personal journal, a project notebook, or a wiki. ## What Is Obsidian? Obsidian stores your notes as local plain-text files. You can back them up or move them to another app. To keep the same vault on your computer and phone, follow my [Obsidian sync setup with GitHub](/posts/sync-obsidian-notes-for-free-mobile-and-desktop/). ![Why Use Obsidian?](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-2.webp) **Here are a few reasons why I like Obsidian:** - **Linked Notes**: Imagine you’re writing about a book, and you want to connect it to notes about a specific idea, like “creativity.” With Obsidian, you can link one note to another, making it super easy to find related content. - **Local Storage**: No cloud dependency! All your notes are stored on your device. This gives you control over your data and also means you can use it offline. - **Markdown Support**: Obsidian uses Markdown, a simple formatting language that’s easy to learn. - **Customizable**: Obsidian allows you to install plugins, change themes, and make your workspace look and feel the way you want. - **Free to Use**: The core features are free forever, though there are optional paid plans for extra features. ## Obsidian Tutorial: How to Get Started Here’s how to set up Obsidian and create your first notes. If you already have a vault and use it regularly, the [Obsidian features guide](/posts/obsidians-underrated-features-you-might-have-missed/) covers shortcuts, search, and ways to navigate your notes. ### Step 1: Download and Install Obsidian - Visit [Obsidian’s official website](https://obsidian.md/). - Download the app for your operating system (Windows, macOS, or Linux). - Install and open it. Once you launch it, you’ll be asked to create a new “vault.” ![Create Your First Vault](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-3.webp) ### Step 2: Create Your First Vault A vault in Obsidian is basically a folder where all your notes are stored. Here’s how you do it: - Click “Create a new vault.” - Give your vault a name (e.g., “My Notes” or “Personal Journal”). - Choose a folder on your computer where the vault will be stored. ![Create Your First Vault](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-4.webp) Now you’re ready to start taking notes! ### Step 3: Make Your First Note - Click the “New Note” button (the paper icon) inside your vault. - A blank note will appear. Give it a title, like “My First Note.” - Start typing your content in the note. ![Make Your First Note](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-5.webp) ### Step 4: Learn to Link Notes Here’s the magic: note linking. - To link one note to another, use double square brackets. For example, type **[[My First Note]]** in another note, and it will create a link to it if the note exists; if it doesn’t exist, Obsidian will create it for you. If you click the link, it’ll jump to that note. ![Learn to Link Notes](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-6.webp) This is how you can create a web of connected ideas over time. ## How to Use Obsidian Notes Effectively Once you’ve got the basics down, here are some tips to help you maximize your use of Obsidian: - **Use Tags and Folders for Organization**. You can add tags to your notes by typing # followed by a word, like #idea or #project. Also, you can organize your notes into different folders. Tags and folders help you categorize and find notes quickly. - **Explore Backlinks**. One of the coolest features in Obsidian is the backlink panel. Every time you link notes together, Obsidian automatically shows you what other notes are connected. ![Explore Backlinks](/assets/blog/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners/how-to-use-obsidian-notes-for-beginners-7.webp) - **Plugins**. Explore the plugin library to add extra features like task management, calendars, or advanced search. - **Use the Graph View**. The Graph View gives you a visual map of all your notes and their connections. Over time, you’ll see how your ideas are linked in one big network. ## Video Obsidian Tutorial _Watch on YouTube: [How to Use Obsidian Notes](https://youtu.be/4zWU4umAMoc?si=o1q9MwXwWA_tA6Ij)_ ## Conclusion Learning how to use Obsidian might take some time, but it’s worth it. Start small by creating a few notes and linking them together. Over time, you’ll build a system that feels natural and powerful. I hope this guide helps you get started. Happy note-taking! ;)