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MCP Server for Obsidian for Claude Code: Setup & Config

MCP Server for Obsidian connects Claude Code to an Obsidian vault through the Local REST API plugin.

MCP Server for Obsidian Claude Code configuration

  1. Choose Claude Code configuration scope

    For MCP Server for Obsidian, open Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root. Project JSON: merge into mcpServers; user scope: use the CLI.

  2. Add MCP Server for Obsidian to Claude Code

    Use the mcp-obsidian entry below in mcpServers. Keep MCP Server for Obsidian's documented stdio connection fields and your other Claude Code entries.

  3. Check MCP Server for Obsidian in Claude Code

    MCP Server for Obsidian: Inspect claude mcp list and /mcp status.

Config file · Project scope: .mcp.json at the repository root

JSON
{
  "mcpServers": {
    "mcp-obsidian": {
      "type": "stdio",
      "command": "uvx",
      "args": [
        "mcp-obsidian"
      ],
      "env": {
        "OBSIDIAN_API_KEY": "<API key from your Obsidian Local REST API plugin>",
        "OBSIDIAN_HOST": "<Obsidian API host; defaults to 127.0.0.1>",
        "OBSIDIAN_PORT": "<Obsidian API port; defaults to 27124>"
      }
    }
  }
}

CLI (POSIX shell)
claude mcp add-json --scope project 'mcp-obsidian' '{"type":"stdio","command":"uvx","args":["mcp-obsidian"],"env":{"OBSIDIAN_API_KEY":"<API key from your Obsidian Local REST API plugin>","OBSIDIAN_HOST":"<Obsidian API host; defaults to 127.0.0.1>","OBSIDIAN_PORT":"<Obsidian API port; defaults to 27124>"}}'

MCP Server for Obsidian in Claude Code: stdio checks

  • If MCP Server for Obsidian fails to start, check uvx mcp-obsidian (from uv, for Python tools), the working directory, and Claude Code's selected scope; inspect claude mcp list and /mcp.
  • MCP Server for Obsidian: check OBSIDIAN_API_KEY, OBSIDIAN_HOST, OBSIDIAN_PORT; keep credentials out of shared .mcp.json.
  • MCP Server for Obsidian uses stdio here: Claude Code must keep the configured process running; protocol output belongs on stdout and diagnostics on stderr.
Tools
list_files_in_vault, list_files_in_dir, get_file_contents

MCP Server for Obsidian — details. Claude Code guide

Frequently asked questions

Register MCP Server for Obsidian with the displayed claude mcp add-json --scope project command, or merge the JSON into .mcp.json at the repository root.

Claude Code's mcp-obsidian example uses stdio.

MCP Server for Obsidian's Claude Code configuration invokes uvx mcp-obsidian (from uv, for Python tools).

Claude Code's MCP Server for Obsidian example references OBSIDIAN_API_KEY, OBSIDIAN_HOST, OBSIDIAN_PORT. Check these names if startup or authentication fails; the example alone does not distinguish required from optional values.

MCP Server for Obsidian's stored list contains 7 tools, including list_files_in_vault, list_files_in_dir, get_file_contents. Compare those names with Claude Code's connected tool list; the stored list is not a live check.