Smart Lookup
Search notes by meaning from one Smart Lookup reference. Edition-specific requirements are labeled where they apply.
Search Obsidian notes by meaning with Smart Lookup
Smart Lookup starts from a query instead of the active note. It returns ranked source candidates even when the exact words differ.
Smart Lookup turns a natural-language question into a ranked list of candidate notes and sections.
Open the Lookup view
Smart Lookup is available from the standard Obsidian Command Palette.
Open Smart Lookup from its ribbon action or the Command Palette.
The view uses a typed query as the retrieval anchor. It does not use the current note as the primary anchor.
Write a useful semantic query
Enter one idea, topic, or question in ordinary language.
Queries work best when they include a subject, context, and one distinguishing detail.
Use Auto-submit
With Auto-submit enabled, Lookup runs after a short pause in typing.
Turn Auto-submit off when the query should run only after an explicit review.
Run Lookup manually
With Auto-submit disabled, use Lookup to execute the current query.
A query retrieves likely sources. It does not write a synthesized answer.
Read Lookup result rows
Lookup reuses the Connections list result model.
Rows can show note or block labels, heading or line context, relative score, and an expand control.
Expand a result
Expand a result to read the matched excerpt before opening the source.
Hover preview
On desktop, hold Cmd/Ctrl while hovering a result to use Obsidian Hover Preview.
Drag a result into the next workflow
After verifying a result, drag it to:
- a Markdown editor for an Obsidian link
- Smart Chat for the current response context
- an existing named-context dashboard row for durable curation
- Smart Graph for the current graph scope
- the live Connections view to make it the single current target
Open a result
Open the source when the excerpt is not enough to review the match.
A result should be treated as a candidate source, not as an answer.
Choose Sources or Blocks
Sources returns whole notes. Blocks returns smaller note sections.
Start with Sources. Switch to Blocks when the correct note appears but the useful passage is buried.
Smart Lookup vs Connections vs Obsidian search
| Starting point | Use |
|---|---|
| A typed idea or question | Smart Lookup |
| The active note | Connections |
| An exact word, filename, heading, tag, syntax, or regex | Obsidian search |
Why did Lookup return a note without my exact words?
Lookup searches by semantic similarity. Use Obsidian search when exact wording is required.
Does Lookup answer my question?
No. It finds likely source material. Review a small source set, then use Smart Context or Smart Chat for a source-grounded answer.
Improve weak or overly broad results
| Symptom | First adjustment |
|---|---|
| Too broad | Add one or two distinguishing details. |
| Too narrow | Remove the least important detail. |
| Exact phrase needed | Use Obsidian search. |
| Whole note hides passage | Use Blocks. |
| Empty or stale across queries | Check Smart Environment import, embeddings, exclusions, and readiness. |