# Obsidian Model Context Protocol
[](https://smithery.ai/protocol/mcp-obsidian)
This is a connector to allow Claude Desktop (or any MCP client) to read and search any directory containing Markdown notes (such as an Obsidian vault).
## Installation
Make sure Claude Desktop and `npm` is installed.
### Installing via Smithery
To install Obsidian Model Context Protocol for Claude Desktop automatically via [Smithery](https://smithery.ai/protocol/mcp-obsidian):
```bash
npx @smithery/cli install mcp-obsidian --client claude
```
Then, restart Claude Desktop and you should see the following MCP tools listed:
### Usage with VS Code
For quick installation, use one of the one-click install buttons below:
[](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=obsidian&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22vaultPath%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22Path%20to%20Obsidian%20vault%22%7D%5D&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22mcp-obsidian%22%2C%22%24%7Binput%3AvaultPath%7D%22%5D%7D) [](https://insiders.vscode.dev/redirect/mcp/install?name=obsidian&inputs=%5B%7B%22type%22%3A%22promptString%22%2C%22id%22%3A%22vaultPath%22%2C%22description%22%3A%22Path%20to%20Obsidian%20vault%22%7D%5D&config=%7B%22command%22%3A%22npx%22%2C%22args%22%3A%5B%22-y%22%2C%22mcp-obsidian%22%2C%22%24%7Binput%3AvaultPath%7D%22%5D%7D&quality=insiders)
For manual installation, add the following JSON block to your User Settings (JSON) file in VS Code. You can do this by pressing `Ctrl + Shift + P` and typing `Preferences: Open User Settings (JSON)`.
Optionally, you can add it to a file called `.vscode/mcp.json` in your workspace. This will allow you to share the configuration with others.
> Note that the `mcp` key is not needed in the `.vscode/mcp.json` file.
```json
{
"mcp": {
"inputs": [
{
"type": "promptString",
"id": "vaultPath",
"description": "Path to Obsidian vault"
}
],
"servers": {
"obsidian": {
"command": "npx",
"args": ["-y", "mcp-obsidian", "${input:vaultPath}"]
}
}
}
}
```