Smart Lookup FAQs
What is Smart Lookup for Obsidian?
#Smart Lookup is question-first semantic search for Obsidian. It lets you ask plain-language questions and surface notes by meaning.
Lookup starts from a written idea, topic, or question rather than the active note.
The current side-pane view shows where Smart Lookup opens beside the active note before a query is entered.
When should I use Smart Lookup instead of Obsidian Search?
#Use Lookup when you remember the idea but not the exact phrase. Use Obsidian Search for exact phrases, tags, operators, file names, headings, or regex. See Search workflow.
How is Smart Lookup different from Smart Connections?
#Lookup is question-first: you start with a query. Smart Connections is note-first: you start from the note you are already viewing.
Why did my exact phrase not appear near the top?
#Lookup ranks by meaning, not literal word overlap. Use Obsidian Search when exact wording matters.
Why did Lookup return a result without my exact words?
#That is often the point. Lookup retrieves by meaning, so it can surface notes that use different vocabulary.
The reviewed Lookup composition shows a natural-language question, meaning-ranked notes, and relative scores despite different source wording.
Should I return sources or blocks?
#Start with Sources for broader note discovery. Switch to Blocks when long notes hide the useful section. Tune this in Connections settings.
Should I trust the top result?
#Preview it first. The top result is a candidate, not a guarantee. Expand, open, link, copy, or send it to Smart Context.
What should I do after finding the right notes?
#Open the best match, link it into the working note, build a reading trail, or export strongest matches into Smart Context.
The list-level More actions menu routes the current result set to Context Builder or Smart Graph.
What should I do when Lookup results are weak?
#Add context nouns or a desired output if broad. Remove constraints if narrow. If empty or stale, check Smart Environment settings.