Embeddings
Local embeddings surface notes by meaning, not just matching words, so relevant context appears even when exact keywords fail.
Local-first AI embeddings for Obsidian
Smart Connections for Obsidian
You know you wrote this somewhere, but keyword search fails the moment your phrasing changes. Smart Connections brings the most relevant notes and blocks back into view while you write, with local AI embeddings that stay on your device. Less hunting. Less rework. More flow.
Local embeddings | Local-first by default | Works offline after indexing | Source available
Built for writers, researchers, and builders who want private semantic search without cloud lock-in.
Looking for an Obsidian Copilot alternative? See our Copilot alternative comparison.
Start in 2 minutes
The fastest path from "I know I wrote this" to "there it is."
-
Step 1
Install
Install Smart Connections from Obsidian Community Plugins. Core is free and works immediately.
-
Step 2
Open Connections
Open the Connections view and let it rank what is related to your current note.
-
Step 3
Act
Drag 1-3 results into your note to create links, or send results to Smart Context for AI-ready bundles.
Want screenshots and workflows? Read the Getting Started guide .
Why it works: local embeddings, local-first control, offline reliability
Smart Connections is built for the moment when you know the idea exists but cannot reach it fast enough. These three capabilities turn that moment back into flow.
Local-first
Indexing and retrieval happen on your machine by default, while Settings lets you tune results type, limits, filters, and ranking for your vault.
Offline
Once embeddings exist, Connections and Lookup keep working without internet, so travel mode or bad Wi-Fi does not send you back to manual hunting.
Smart Connections Core vs Connections Pro
Start with Core for instant, local semantic connections that keep you in flow. Add Pro when you want in-editor and mobile-friendly surfaces (inline, footer, graph), Bases integration, and deeper ranking control.
Core plugin
Smart Connections Core
Free, local-first connections that just work in your Smart Environment.
- ✓ Zero setup local embeddings (default bge-micro-v2) stored on your device. Tune indexing and models in Smart Environment settings .
- ✓ Real-time Connections sidebar that updates as you write, with drag-to-link and hover preview to keep momentum high.
- ✓ Pin/hide results per note and copy visible connections as a Smart Context bundle.
- ✓ Smart Lookup semantic search so your vault feels like a private search engine.
- ✓ Smart Random Note for discovery and inspiration (see Getting Started ).
- ✓ Mobile compatible.
Pro plugin In Pro plugins all-access
Connections Pro
Everything in Core plus graph views, inline decorators, footer rails, Bases functions, and deeper control over ranking.
- ✓ Visualize clusters in a graph to explore neighborhoods of ideas (see the Connections view guide ).
- ✓ Inline connections that surface related blocks without leaving the editor.
- ✓ Footer connections rail pinned to the bottom of your note (great on mobile).
- ✓ Bases integration : add similarity columns and related lists inside tables.
- ✓ Advanced ranking controls to tune results for your vault (see Connections settings ).
Already a monthly, yearly, or Founding supporter? Your supporter perks already include Connections Pro features. You do not need an extra Pro plugins subscription.
See Smart Connections in action
Watch how Smart Connections pulls the right notes into view so you can ship work instead of chasing context.
The real problem is context-loss
You know you wrote this, but keyword search breaks flow if you can find it at all. Smart Connections changes that loop before rework compounds.
Find the note before you re-write it
The Connections panel resurfaces prior drafts, decisions, and research the moment they become useful again.
Beat brittle keyword search
Smart Lookup finds notes by meaning, so phrasing changes do not bury the answer you remember.
Stop compounding rework
Less re-researching. Less blank-page deja vu. Less time rebuilding ideas your vault already contains.
Trust your vault again
Link results, reuse context, and keep writing with private, on-device retrieval that supports flow instead of breaking it.
Less time organizing. Less time searching. More time on what matters most.
Local-first architecture you can trust
-
✓
Works offline with local models and supports cloud providers when you choose to enable them. Configure models, embeddings, and indexing in Smart Environment settings .
-
✓
No telemetry and no data resale. Everything stays in your vault and .smart-env workspace.
-
✓
Composable architecture shared across Smart Plugins, so upgrades in one tool benefit the ecosystem.
-
✓
Backed by a supporter community that funds new features, tutorials, and responsive support.
"Smart Connections is how we close the gap between inspiration and shipped work. When your tools honor your autonomy, you can create the futures you imagine."
Brian, Founder
Explore guides and next steps
Use these pages to go from first success to power-user workflows, without guesswork.
Guides
Start here
Getting Started
Install, open Connections, and verify your vault is indexing correctly.
Core loop
Connections view
Scan, preview, drag-to-link, pause, hide, pin. This is the daily workflow.
Semantic search
Smart Lookup
Ask questions in plain language and find notes by meaning, not keywords.
Tuning
Connections settings
Control sources vs blocks, limits, filters, and ranking options.
Pro workflow
Inline Connections
Surface related blocks inside the editor while you write, with hover preview.
Pro workflow
Connections in Bases
Add similarity scores and related lists directly to your Bases tables.
More Smart Plugins
Next step
Smart Context
Turn Connections results into AI-ready context bundles you can reuse.
Downstream
Smart Chat
Use your notes as grounded context in conversations with your chosen model.
Control plane
Smart Environment settings
Configure indexing, embeddings, and model providers across the ecosystem.
Support and upgrades
FAQ
Quick answers to the top pre-install questions about cost, privacy, setup, performance, and compatibility.
What is the difference between Connections and Lookup?
Connections continuously surfaces relevant notes and blocks as you write in the Connections view. Smart Lookup is on-demand semantic search when you want to ask a targeted question. If you want to tune results type, limits, or filters, use Connections settings.
Does Smart Connections cost anything?
Smart Connections Core is free for Obsidian. You can start with Install Smart Connections, then add optional features through Pro plugins. If you want to support ongoing development directly, see Community Supporters.
Are free Core plugins going away?
No. Core plugins stay free and source available. Pro plugins fund advanced workflows and faster iteration, while the Smart Plugins License explains the source-available model.
Does Smart Connections send my notes to the cloud?
No by default. Indexing and retrieval run locally. If you enable a cloud model for an optional workflow in Smart Environment settings, only the context you intentionally send is shared. See the Privacy Policy for details.
How is my data protected?
Embeddings and retrieval happen on-device first. You control model providers in Smart Environment settings and can stay fully local, so your notes remain under your control. See the Privacy Policy for details.
Does Smart Connections collect telemetry or resell data?
No telemetry and no data resale. Your knowledge stays in your vault and local Smart Environment workspace. See the Privacy Policy and Smart Environment settings for the current trust model.
Do I need an API key?
Not for Smart Connections Core. You can install the plugin and start discovering related notes without an API key. Keys only matter when you opt into certain providers in Smart Environment settings or Smart Chat.
How is this different from keyword search?
Smart Connections uses local AI embeddings to surface notes by meaning, not just matching words. Use Smart Lookup for query-first retrieval and the Connections view for in-flow linking while you write.
Does Smart Connections work offline / without internet?
Yes. After your vault is indexed, Connections and Lookup work offline using local embeddings. Internet is only needed if you choose cloud providers in Smart Environment settings. See the Connections view for the core workflow.
Can I use Smart Connections on mobile (iOS/Android)?
Yes. Smart Connections works in Obsidian on iOS and Android. If you want more mobile-friendly surfaces, see Pro plugins and start with Getting Started.
Will it slow down my vault?
Initial embedding can be resource-heavy for large vaults. After indexing, day-to-day retrieval is designed to stay lightweight, and you can tune limits and exclusions in Connections settings and Smart Environment settings.
How do I install Smart Connections?
Install it from Obsidian Community Plugins, enable Smart Connections, open the Connections view, and then follow Getting Started to confirm indexing and first results.
Ready to stop losing momentum to search and rework?