Problem
Lost notes stall writing momentum and force expensive rewrites.
Local-first semantic search for Obsidian
Smart Connections for Obsidian: Local-First Semantic Search
You know you wrote this, but cannot find it in flow. Context-loss and brittle keyword search break momentum, compound rework, and make your vault feel unreliable. Smart Connections uses local embeddings to resurface the right notes and blocks while you write, so you can stay in flow and trust your vault again.
Turning point
Connections + Lookup surface meaning-based context while you stay in flow.
Outcome
You publish from your existing ideas faster with local-first, offline-ready control.
Local embeddings Local-first control Works offline after indexing Source available
How Smart Lookup finds notes by meaning
How to tune results, filters, and ranking
How Connections works after indexing
Source-available license
Built for writers, researchers, and builders who want local-first semantic search without cloud lock-in.
Looking for an Obsidian Copilot alternative? See our Copilot alternative comparison.
Local embeddings, local-first control, and offline semantic search
These are the three capabilities that turn "I know I wrote this" back into forward motion.
Find notes by meaning
Local embeddings surface relevant notes even when your phrasing changed, so meaning survives vocabulary drift.
Keep control on your device
Indexing and retrieval run locally by default, and you choose result type, limits, filters, and ranking behavior for your vault.
Keep working without internet
After indexing, Connections and Lookup still work offline, so bad Wi-Fi does not send you back to manual hunting.
Context-loss is the villain
You know the idea exists, but you cannot reach it fast enough. Keyword search misses because your phrasing changed. Momentum breaks, rework compounds, and your vault stops feeling trustworthy.
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.
Start in 2 minutes
The fastest path from "I know I wrote this" to "there it is."
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Step 1
Install
Install Smart Connections from Obsidian Community Plugins. Core is free and does not need an API key for local connections.
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Step 2
Open Connections
Open the Connections view and let it rank what is related to your current note while your vault finishes indexing.
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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 .
Local-first control you can verify
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✓
Local by default. Indexing and retrieval happen on your device first, and cloud providers are optional in Smart Environment settings .
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✓
Your notes typically remain in your vault. The website and subscription service may still collect limited operational data such as logs, cookies, diagnostics, and subscription metadata, as described in the Privacy Policy .
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✓
No API key required for Smart Connections Core. Keys only matter if you choose certain cloud providers later.
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✓
Works offline after indexing and works in Obsidian on iOS and Android.
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✓
Source available under the Smart Plugins License .
Smart Connections Core vs Connections Pro
Start with Core for local semantic retrieval that keeps 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 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 and hide results per note, then 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, which is especially helpful 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 back into view so you can ship work instead of chasing context.
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 questions that block installs: search quality, privacy, setup, performance, and compatibility.
How is this different from keyword search?
Keyword search breaks when your wording changes. Smart Connections uses local embeddings to surface notes by meaning, not just matching words. Use Smart Lookup when you start with a question, and the Connections view when you want in-flow suggestions while writing.
What is the difference between Connections and Lookup?
Connections is the live, note-first sidebar for related notes and blocks while you write in the Connections view. Smart Lookup is question-first semantic search when you want to ask a targeted question. If you want to tune result type, limits, or filters, use Connections settings.
Does Smart Connections send my notes to the cloud?
Not by default. Core indexing and retrieval happen locally. If you enable a cloud provider for a specific workflow in Smart Environment settings, only the content you intentionally send leaves your device. See the Privacy Policy for details.
How is my data protected?
Embeddings and retrieval happen on-device first. You control providers in Smart Environment settings and can stay fully local, so your notes remain under your control. See the Privacy Policy for current details.
What data does Smart Connections collect?
Your notes typically remain in your vault by default. The website and subscription service may still collect limited operational data such as logs, cookies, device data, subscription metadata, and diagnostics to operate the service, as described in the Privacy Policy. If you enable a cloud provider, the content you send is handled under that provider's terms.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Is Smart Connections open source?
The code is source available under the Smart Plugins License. It is not OSI open source because the license restricts direct general-purpose competition while still allowing auditing and modification.
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?