Problem
Lost notes stall writing momentum and force expensive rewrites.
Local-first related notes for Obsidian
Smart Connections for Obsidian: related notes while you write
You know you wrote this, but cannot find it in flow. Smart Connections surfaces semantically related notes and blocks from the note you are already working in, so you can scan, preview, drag, and keep writing before context-loss turns into rework.
Turning point
Current note -> Connections. Question -> Lookup. Exact phrase -> Obsidian search.
Outcome
You publish from existing ideas faster with local-first, reviewable retrieval.
Local embeddings Local-first control Works offline after indexing Source available
Search notes by meaning with Smart Lookup
Tune Smart Connections results, filters, and ranking
Explore the Smart Connections view
Source-available license
Built for writers, researchers, and builders who want related notes in flow without cloud lock-in.
Looking for an Obsidian Copilot alternative? See our Copilot alternative comparison.
Related notes, local embeddings, and a clear search boundary
Smart Connections answers the note-first question: what else in my vault is related to the note I am writing right now?
Surface related notes while writing
Smart Connections ranks notes and blocks against the current note so useful context appears without a folder hunt.
Search by meaning when you have a question
Use Smart Lookup when you remember the idea but not the exact words, filename, or heading.
Act without breaking flow
Preview, drag links into the note, copy a ranked list, hide noise, pin essentials, or send results to Smart Context.
Relevance beats perfect organization
You do not need a perfectly tagged, linked, and foldered vault before your notes become useful again. Smart Connections turns relevance into structure as you work.
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 Install and set up Smart Connections .
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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✓
Connections and Lookup can work offline after indexing when you stay on the local path. Provider-backed workflows require the relevant provider connection.
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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 inline discovery, Bases workflows, deeper ranking control, and large-vault performance tooling.
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.
- ✓ Footer connections for no-panel and mobile-friendly workflows.
- - 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.
- ✓ Mobile compatible.
Pro plugin In Pro plugins all-access
Connections Pro
Everything in Core plus inline decorators, Bases functions, custom algorithms, ranking/filtering, and a local performance index for larger vault workflows.
- ✓ Inline connections that surface related blocks without leaving the editor.
- ✓ Bases integration : add similarity columns and related lists inside tables.
- ✓ Advanced ranking controls to tune results for your vault (see custom scoring and ranking algorithms ).
- ✓ Use Smart Graph when a list is too flat and you need the landscape view.
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
Install and set up Smart Connections
Install, open Connections, and verify your vault is indexing correctly.
Core loop
Explore the Smart Connections view
Scan, preview, drag-to-link, pause, hide, pin. This is the daily workflow.
Semantic search
Search notes by meaning with Smart Lookup
Ask questions in plain language and find notes by meaning, not keywords.
Tuning
Tune Smart Connections results, filters, and ranking
Control sources vs blocks, limits, filters, and ranking options.
Pro workflow
See inline connections while you write
Surface related blocks inside the editor while you write, with hover preview.
Core workflow
Use footer connections at the bottom of notes
Review related notes at the finish-this-note moment without managing a side panel.
Pro workflow
Add semantic relevance to Obsidian Bases
Add similarity scores and related lists directly to your Bases tables.
Pro workflow
Find duplicate and near-duplicate blocks
Detect repeated or near-repeated ideas before they fragment your vault.
Pro workflow
Tune Smart Connections scoring and ranking algorithms
Adjust score and ranking behavior when your vault needs more precise signal.
More Smart Plugins
Next step
Build reusable context from your Obsidian notes
Turn Connections results into AI-ready context bundles you can reuse.
Downstream
Keep AI chat attached to your notes
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. Footer connections are included in Core and are especially useful on mobile. If you want advanced mobile-friendly or in-editor workflows, 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?