Getting started with Obsidian, hands-on

How to get started with Obsidian

The installation, note, and link walkthrough is based on hands-on use of Obsidian 1.13.6. Install → create a vault → first note → first link → graph view: every screenshot is from that real session. By the end you'll have seen, on real files, the property that matters most — your notes are plain Markdown files that stay on your machine.

By AI ATAKA · Published August 12, 2026 · Screenshots tested August 12, 2026 · Supplement updated September 9, 2026

How do you start using Obsidian?

Install Obsidian for your OS from the official site (free), create one vault on the first-launch screen, and you can start writing immediately — no account required. In our hands-on test, going from install to a first note, a link and the graph view took under 15 minutes, and never asked for an email address.

Below, the same steps are walked through one by one with screenshots from that session.

Before starting: create a vault or open one you already have

For a first vault, follow the creation steps below. If you already have a Markdown folder, choose Open folder as vault in the vault manager and select that folder. Avoid a vault inside another vault, because nesting can interfere with links.

Choose a location you can find again in your file manager, and note its name and path. If you need the same vault on another device, check sync methods and device support first. Creating local notes and setting up sync are separate tasks.

This supplement and the saving and backup checks below use official guidance checked September 9, 2026, including vault management. The existing screenshots remain the August 12, 2026 Linux 1.13.6 record; current interface details may differ.

Step 1: Install — platforms and formats

Obsidian is a free download from the official download page. On August 12, 2026 we checked the official v1.13.6 release files directly; these formats were available.

OS	Formats (checked for v1.13.6)	Tested here
Windows	Installer (`.exe`)	Existence verified, not run
macOS	Disk image (`.dmg`)	Existence verified, not run
Linux	`AppImage` (x64/arm64), `.deb`, `.tar.gz`	AppImage installed & run — all screenshots here
iOS / Android	Official apps on the App Store / Google Play	Not tested — official info only

Formats were confirmed against the official GitHub release (obsidianmd/obsidian-releases v1.13.6) the same day. Install is the OS-standard routine: run the .exe on Windows, open the .dmg and drag to Applications on macOS.

Step 2: First launch — pick Japanese, meet the vault screen

The first launch opens not on a note but on a screen asking what to do about a vault. It trips people up, but there's only one thing to do: press Create under "Create new vault". The language menu at the bottom switches the whole UI to Japanese — our entire test ran in the Japanese UI. The sign-in button is only for the paid official sync (Obsidian Sync); no account is needed to start.

Obsidian 1.13.6 first-launch screen in Japanese, with options to create a vault, open a folder as a vault, or open an Obsidian Sync vault — The first-launch screen (Obsidian 1.13.6, Japanese UI). Press 作成 (Create) under "Create new vault"; the language menu is at the bottom.

Step 3: Create the vault — a name and a place

You decide exactly two things: a name and a location. We named ours メモ ("Memo") and placed it in a Vaults folder in the home directory — Japanese names work as-is. What gets created is an ordinary folder at that location, which we'll open and inspect below.

Creating a local vault named Memo in the /root/Vaults folder, using the Japanese interface — The vault-creation form: name it, pick a folder, press 作成 (Create) — the vault opens immediately.

Pressing Create opened the vault with a Japanese "ようこそ" (Welcome) note — and a graph view already visible on the right.

New vault with a file list on the left, the Japanese Welcome note in the center, and graph view on the right — The vault right after creation: file list, the Welcome note, and the graph view.

A VAULT IS JUST A FOLDER

Opening the fresh vault folder in a terminal showed exactly two entries: a hidden .obsidian config folder and ようこそ.md. Note text is stored in .md files that other text editors can read. The application also uses IndexedDB for sync state and metadata. Distinguish the note format from internal application storage; see the official storage explanation.

# 作成直後の保管庫の中身（実測・2026-08-12）
Vaults/メモ/
├─ .obsidian/     ← 設定フォルダ（app.json, appearance.json など5ファイル）
└─ ようこそ.md    ← 最初から入っている案内ノート（普通のMarkdown）

Step 4: Write your first note — Ctrl+N (⌘N on Mac)

Ctrl+N (⌘N on Mac) creates a note. We titled ours はじめてのノート ("My first note") and wrote a short body. Lines starting with - become bullets — standard Markdown — but you can also just write plain sentences and ignore the syntax entirely.

Editing the first sample note, with paragraphs and a bullet list in the body and additional nodes in graph view — The first note — saved automatically as you type, appearing instantly in the file list and the graph.

There is no save button — everything is auto-saved into the .md file. Opening that file in a text editor showed exactly this — the same Markdown you saw on screen.

# はじめてのノート.md の実際の中身（テキストエディタで開いた実物）

今日からObsidianを使い始めた。

このノートは普通のMarkdownファイルとして保存されている。

- 覚えたいこと
- 思いついたこと
- あとで調べたいこと

をここに書いていく。

Step 5: Make a link — `[[ ]]` is the heart of Obsidian

Type [[ inside a note and a suggestion popup appears. Here is Obsidian's defining trick: the note you link to doesn't have to exist yet. We wrote [[買い物リスト]] ("shopping list") — a note that didn't exist. The popup says "no match found", and that's fine.

Ctrl+click the link (⌘+click on Mac) and 買い物リスト.md was created and opened on the spot. After writing a few lines, the graph view drew the connection はじめてのノート → 買い物リスト, and the status bar showed "1 backlink" — the reverse direction, recorded automatically.

Shopping-list note created by following the link, with graph view showing its connection to the first sample note — The note born from a link click. The graph draws the connection; the status bar reads "1 backlink".

WHAT YOU'VE COVERED

① Create a vault (a folder). ② Write notes (Markdown files). ③ Connect them with [[links]] — link first, create later. That's the whole foundation. Tags, plugins and sync all build on top of it, and none of them needs configuring on day one.

Five checks for your first usable note

After writing, try these checks on your own device so you can return to the same note tomorrow:

Name: give the note a recognizable title.
Reopen: switch to another note and back, then check that your sentence remains.
File: locate the matching .md in the vault and read a copy in a text editor.
Link: follow the link you made and check that it opens the intended note.
Restart: close and reopen the app, then find the same vault and note.

If a note appears missing, first check the name and location of the current vault. Opening the original folder can resolve accidentally opening a different empty vault. See vault folders and locations.

If a graph connection is missing, check whether the note link works, then inspect the graph’s scope and filters. Extra plugins are not needed just to draw a link. Being able to open the right note is the first check.

Check a recoverable copy as well as sync

Sync sends changes to other devices and can also propagate deletions. Obsidian’s backup guidance recommends a separate copy. Include attachments and the .obsidian configuration folder if you need to restore them as well as note text.

Finish editing and copy the saved vault to a separate backup location.
Retrieve a note and its attachments into a separate test folder without overwriting the original vault.
Open the text and attachments in an editor or viewer to check that they are readable.

A one-time copy omits later changes, so choose a backup routine that fits your usage. The hidden .obsidian folder contains settings; do not treat it as disposable clutter.

The next problem: split-second capture from your iPhone

Obsidian has an iOS app, and an iCloud Drive vault can be shared with your iPhone (not tested in this article — see 6 ways to send notes to Obsidian from iPhone for the options). Choose a way to capture short notes while away from your desk and collect them in that vault. Simple Memo can email a note to you and append it to an Obsidian daily note after you configure the integration. Siri and Apple Watch can also serve as capture entry points.

Before saving your first note with Simple Memo: To use email delivery, set and verify the recipient in the app. If a note is reserved, finish recipient verification and check your inbox. For Obsidian, enable the integration, configure the destination within your vault and the required folder access, then check that the same note appears in the daily note. Voice input requires iOS 26 or later, a supported device and language, and microphone and speech recognition permissions.

Let today's new vault start filling up tomorrow

Set up your email recipient and Obsidian destination, then try a short note. Free to download. The Free email allowance is three sends per day.

On desktop? Scan with your phone

FAQ

Where can I download Obsidian?

You can download it for free from the official site (obsidian.md/download). As of our August 12, 2026 check it ships a Windows installer (.exe), a macOS disk image (.dmg), Linux AppImage/.deb/.tar.gz builds, and official iOS/Android apps — we downloaded and installed the Linux AppImage ourselves for this article.

Is Obsidian free?

The app is free for personal and commercial use. Only add-on services cost money — official sync (Obsidian Sync, Standard $4/mo billed annually) and Obsidian Publish. Everything in this article's test happened within the free tier.

Do I need an account?

No. In our August 12, 2026 test, nothing from install through notes, links and the graph ever asked for an email address or account. You only need one for paid services such as Obsidian Sync.

Does it work in Japanese?

Yes. The first-launch language menu offers Japanese, and the whole UI follows. Our entire test of 1.13.6 ran in the Japanese UI, with Japanese vault and note names working as-is.

What is a vault?

The folder your notes live in — an ordinary folder. Right after creation ours contained exactly two things: a .obsidian config folder and ようこそ.md. Notes are plain .md files any text editor can open.

Same steps on Windows and Mac?

We confirmed the official release ships a Windows installer (.exe) and a macOS disk image (.dmg) on August 12, 2026. Our screenshots are from the Linux build — we didn't test the Windows/Mac builds — but from vault creation onward you're operating the same Obsidian app.

Can I start on just an iPhone?

Obsidian has a free iOS app on the App Store (not tested in this article). For getting one-liners into Obsidian from an iPhone, see appending to daily notes and 6 ways to send notes from iPhone.

Can I use an existing Markdown folder?

Choose Open folder as vault in the vault manager and select the existing folder. Avoid nesting a new vault inside another vault, and check the location and note contents.

Does Obsidian Sync replace a backup?

Sync and backup serve different purposes. Deletions or overwrites may propagate, so maintain a separate copy and check that you can open needed notes and attachments.

TEST ENVIRONMENT & SCOPE

Tested August 12, 2026 — Obsidian 1.13.6 (official AppImage, Japanese UI) on desktop Linux (Ubuntu 24.04). All screenshots come from us operating that build through install, vault creation, notes, links and the graph view. Distribution formats (.exe/.dmg/AppImage/deb/tar.gz) were confirmed against the official GitHub release the same day. The Windows, macOS and iOS builds were not run for this article; statements about them rely on the official downloads and documentation. Details and prices can change — check the official site.

What is a vault (measured) Sync methods compared Syncing with iCloud (setup) Plugins guide (measured top 10) Dataview guide (queries) Obsidian pricing (how far free goes) Obsidian comparison hub Obsidian integration Appending to daily notes Obsidian vs Logseq 6 ways to send to Obsidian 4 ways to dictate into Obsidian Second brain FAQ

References & data sources

Obsidian — Download (official) — The official download page
obsidianmd/obsidian-releases（GitHub） — Official releases; version 1.13.6 and the distribution formats were confirmed directly against the v1.13.6 release assets on 2026-08-12
Obsidian Help (official) — Official documentation for vaults, links and the graph view
Obsidian — Pricing (official) — Free app (personal & commercial) and paid-service pricing
Simple Memo - for Obsidian — App Store — App Store download page

Obsidian is a trademark of Dynalist Inc. This site is independent of Obsidian's developer; Simple Memo - for Obsidian is an independent app by Yurica Inc.