Fastest path
Copy the current note at Depth 0 or 1
Best when one note already anchors the assignment. Use Depth 0 when the note is enough and Depth 1 only when direct links hold ground truth.
Smart Context
Stop pasting vague prompts. Build grounded context packages from your actual notes, then reuse them across ChatGPT and other AI tools.
Smart Context runs inside Obsidian and exports to your clipboard. Content leaves when you paste it into another tool or send it through an enabled provider workflow.
Copy folders | Follow links by depth | Save named contexts | Keep prompts token-aware | Standardize output with templates | Export agent-ready bundles (Pro)
Fastest first win: follow the Getting Started guide and copy one reviewable context bundle today.
Copy your first reviewable context bundle
Better AI output usually starts before the model. Smart Context helps you copy the right notes in the right shape so the assignment stays grounded and reviewable. Start with the smallest context that makes the assignment understandable.
Selected scope
Copy selected notes or a project folder
Best when the scope is already chosen. Copy a small folder, file-nav selection, or short set of notes instead of the whole vault.
Learn: Use file navigator actions to copy notes and folders as context
Repeatable work
Build a reusable context pack
Best when you repeat the same work. Save a named context once, then reuse it across chats and projects.
Want outputs that stay consistent? Use templates in Settings so every export has the same structure (headers, metadata, file tree).
Want the shortest reliable loop? Copy a note at Depth 0 or 1, then prompt: "Use only this context. Extract constraints first, then propose next actions."
When should you use each Smart Context path?
- Need first value fast? Start with current-note copy.
- Need reusable packs? Build named context sets in the Builder.
- Need deterministic output format? Configure template wrappers in Settings.
- Need external files for coding workflows? Pin manifests with the Codeblock workflow (Pro).
Is Smart Context the right workflow for you?
Use Smart Context when your notes already contain the answer, but your AI replies still drift because the right evidence is not packaged together.
Great fit
- You already keep project notes, meeting notes, or research hubs in Obsidian.
- You need consistent context bundles for repeated tasks (status updates, prep briefs, drafting).
- You want to review exactly what travels before sending context to any model.
Start here if you are new
- Run the Getting Started guide first.
- Then copy the current note and select a link depth.
- When you need repeatable packs, build a named context set.
Pick a workflow
This is where Smart Context pays off: when your notes are right, but your prompts are not. Choose the job that matches your current friction and copy a pack that fixes it.
Project working set
If every new chat starts with backstory, save a named pack once and reuse it.
Include: brief, constraints, decisions, latest status. Build it in the Builder .
Prompt starter
"Using only this context, summarize current state, risks, and the top 5 next actions. Cite the note title for each claim."
Meeting continuity
If decisions keep getting lost between meetings, export a reliable prep + follow-up bundle.
Include: agenda, last notes, decisions, open tasks. Copy via Clipboard (or save as a named pack).
Prompt starter
"Draft a prep brief and follow-ups with owners. Pull action items from the context and keep wording concise."
Research brief
If your hub note cites the real sources, copy it with Depth 1 so the references come along.
Include: hub note + cited notes. Use Depth 1 to stay grounded.
Prompt starter
"Summarize, list open questions, and cite sources by note title. If evidence conflicts, call it out explicitly."
Voice + draft pack
If your writing help keeps drifting, bundle your rules and examples with the draft.
Include: outline, draft, tone rules, 1-3 examples. Standardize output with templates .
Prompt starter
"Continue the draft in my voice. Follow the outline. Use only the provided references for claims."
Context budget triage
If context keeps exceeding limits, treat depth and blocks as budget controls.
Start at Depth 0. Expand only when needed. Use the size estimate as a budget signal.
Prompt starter
"If this is too large, tell me what to remove first (in order) while preserving constraints and ground truth."
Visual troubleshooting (Context Pro)
If the truth lives in screenshots, diagrams, or PDFs, export visuals alongside text.
Use Copy context with images and PDFs and paste into an image-capable model.
Prompt starter
"Use both the text and images. Call out any visual gaps or mismatches with the written notes."
Coders and agents: pin external repos and files inside a note with the Codeblock workflow (Context Pro).
Smart Context Core vs Context Pro
Start with Core for trusted, note-native context. Add Context Pro when the assignment needs media, external files, repos, Bases, or advanced controls.
Core plugin
Smart Context Core
Build precise bundles of notes and reuse them across prompts and projects.
- ✓ Copy current note, selected notes, or folders with link depth control.
- ✓ Save named contexts so your best bundles are always one click away.
- ✓ Template-driven exports for stable formatting and metadata.
Pro plugin Advanced context sources
Context Pro
Advanced tools for context engineering: external sources, media-aware exports, and agent-ready outputs.
- ✓ Export context with images and PDFs so visual ground truth is not lost.
- ✓ Include external repos/files when implementation truth lives outside the vault.
- ✓ Use advanced sources only when the assignment needs them.
Already a monthly, yearly, or Founding supporter? Your supporter perks already include Context Pro features. No extra Pro plugins subscription is required.
Docs and next steps
Start simple, then level up to reusable packs, predictable templates, and Pro workflows.
Get started
Getting Started
Screenshots + the fastest first-win workflows.
Copy loop
Copy notes and folders as AI-ready context
Copy current note, selected notes, or folders with depth + size estimates.
Reuse
Build and save reusable context packs
Save trusted context packs and reopen them instantly.
Format control
Control Smart Context templates and export format
Standardize wrappers, metadata, and file tree output.
Context Pro
Attach a Smart Context codeblock to a note
Pin external repos/files in notes for agent-ready context.
File navigator
Use file navigator actions to copy notes and folders as context
Copy selected notes, folders, or curated file-nav selections without opening another surface.
Current note
Copy the current note with link-depth control
Start from the note you are already working in and choose how far links should expand.
Canvas
Copy context from Obsidian Canvas files
Use a visual project map as the starting point for copied AI context.
Context Pro
Copy context with images and PDFs
Include visual ground truth when text alone is not enough.
Saved packs
Reopen and reuse saved named contexts
Turn recurring project context into a reusable working set.
Structure
Apply reusable prompt structure with Smart Templates
Context supplies the evidence; Templates supplies the repeatable form.
Upgrade
Unlock advanced Smart Plugins Pro workflows
Context Pro, Smart Chat, and more advanced workflows.
FAQ
Quick answers to the highest-intent pre-install questions about compatibility, privacy, first wins, token budgets, and Pro workflows.
What is Smart Context for Obsidian?
Smart Context helps you build grounded context packages from your actual Obsidian notes, then reuse them across ChatGPT and other AI tools. It reduces vague prompts by helping you copy the right notes in a clean, repeatable format.
Can I use Smart Context with ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, or Smart Chat?
Yes. Smart Context is clipboard-based, so you can paste exported context into ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, Smart Chat, or another AI tool. The same context bundle can be reused anywhere that accepts pasted text.
Does Smart Context keep my notes private and local-first?
Smart Context runs inside Obsidian and exports to your clipboard. Content leaves when you paste it into another tool or send it through an enabled provider workflow. Review providers and data boundaries in Smart Environment settings and the Privacy Policy.
What is the fastest way to get started with Smart Context?
Copy the current note with Depth 0 or 1, then paste it into the AI tool or Smart Chat thread you already use. You know it worked when the copied bundle is small enough to inspect and includes the context the assignment needs.
Should I copy the current note, a whole folder, or build a reusable context pack?
Use the current note when one note anchors the task, a folder when the project already lives together, and a reusable pack when you need a curated working set you will reopen across sessions.
How does link depth work in Smart Context?
Depth 0 copies the starting note. Depth 1 adds directly linked notes. Depth 2 adds links of links, and deeper levels expand further. Start small and expand only when the extra evidence is needed. See Clipboard + depth.
How do I keep Obsidian AI context under token limits?
Start at Depth 0, expand only when needed, and use the size estimate as a budget signal. If one note is too large, switch to a smaller selection or a curated pack instead of copying the entire folder.
Can I save reusable context packs or named contexts?
Yes. The Builder lets you create, name, reopen, and reuse trusted context sets across chats and projects so you do not have to rebuild the same bundle every time.
Can I customize the exported prompt format and file tree?
Yes. Settings lets you customize context templates, item templates, wrappers, file paths, and file tree output so exports stay stable across workflows.
What does Context Pro add over the free Smart Context Core plugin?
Core covers fast selection, link depth, named contexts, and template-driven exports. Context Pro adds media-aware copy flows, external files and repos, and deeper agent-ready workflows when the assignment needs them.
Can I include images, PDFs, repos, or external files in my AI context?
Yes, with Context Pro. Copy with media handles images and PDFs, and the Codeblock workflow lets you include external repos or files alongside note-based context.
Can I use Smart Connections results to build a context pack?
Yes. You can send results from the Connections view to Smart Context, remove noise, and copy the curated pack. See the Connections view guide.
Build your first context pack now and watch your prompts level up. Start with the free Core plugin, then add Context Pro when you need media, external sources, and agent-ready bundles.