Obsidian Local REST API
A secure REST API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for your vault.
What is Obsidian Local REST API?
Obsidian Local REST API is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that allows AI assistants like Claude, Cursor, and VS Code to secure rest api and model context protocol (mcp) server for your vault.
A secure REST API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server for your vault.
This server falls under the Knowledge & Memory category on MCPgee, the world's largest MCP server directory with 33,000+ servers.
Features
- A secure REST API and Model Context Protocol (MCP) server fo
Use Cases
Maintainer
Works with
Installation
Manual Installation
npx obsidian-local-rest-apiConfiguration
Configuration Details
claude_desktop_config.json
Performance
Response Metrics
Resource Usage
How to Set Up and Use Obsidian Local REST API
Obsidian Local REST API is an Obsidian community plugin that exposes your vault through a secure HTTPS REST API and a native MCP server endpoint, enabling AI agents and external tools to read, create, update, delete, and search notes programmatically. It uses bearer token authentication and a self-signed TLS certificate so your vault data never leaves your machine. Claude Code and other MCP clients can connect directly to perform vault operations — reading daily notes, searching by metadata, patching specific sections, and triggering Obsidian commands — as part of agentic knowledge management workflows.
Prerequisites
- Obsidian installed with a vault open
- Community plugins enabled in Obsidian (Settings → Community Plugins → turn off Safe Mode)
- Obsidian Local REST API plugin installed from the community plugin marketplace
- An MCP client: Claude Code (supports native HTTP MCP) or another client
Install the plugin from the Obsidian marketplace
In Obsidian, go to Settings → Community Plugins → Browse. Search for 'Local REST API' and install it, then enable it.
Retrieve your API key and certificate
Open Settings → Local REST API. Copy the API key shown. The plugin listens on HTTPS port 27124 (and optionally HTTP port 27123). Download the self-signed certificate from the URL shown if you need to trust it.
# Download the certificate (if needed for trust):
curl -k https://127.0.0.1:27124/obsidian-local-rest-api.crt -o obsidian-rest-api.crtConnect Claude Code via the HTTP MCP transport
Use the claude mcp add command to register the Obsidian REST API as an MCP server. Replace YOUR_API_KEY with the key from plugin settings.
claude mcp add --transport http obsidian https://127.0.0.1:27124/mcp/ --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY"Test the connection with a basic REST call
Verify the API is working by reading a file from your vault.
curl -k -H "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" \
https://127.0.0.1:27124/vault/path/to/note.mdConfigure Claude Desktop (optional)
Claude Desktop does not natively support HTTP MCP transport. Use a proxy approach or the mcp-proxy tool to bridge the connection.
{
"mcpServers": {
"obsidian": {
"command": "mcp-proxy",
"args": [
"--headers",
"Authorization",
"Bearer YOUR_API_KEY",
"https://127.0.0.1:27124/mcp/"
]
}
}
}Obsidian Local REST API Examples
Client configuration
Claude Code command to register the Obsidian Local REST API as an HTTP MCP server with bearer token auth.
claude mcp add --transport http obsidian https://127.0.0.1:27124/mcp/ --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY_HERE"Prompts to try
Example prompts for managing your Obsidian vault through Claude Code.
- "Read my daily note for today and summarize the tasks"
- "Create a new note called 'Meeting Notes 2026-06-13' with the following content: ..."
- "Search my vault for all notes tagged with #project"
- "Find all notes that mention 'quarterly review' in the frontmatter or body"
- "Append a new task to the Tasks section of my current daily note"
- "List all commands available in Obsidian and run the 'Toggle Live Preview' command"Troubleshooting Obsidian Local REST API
SSL certificate errors when connecting to https://127.0.0.1:27124
The plugin uses a self-signed certificate. Pass -k to curl to skip verification in testing. For MCP clients, download and trust the certificate from https://127.0.0.1:27124/obsidian-local-rest-api.crt, or use the HTTP port 27123 if you enable it in plugin settings (not recommended for security).
API returns 401 Unauthorized
Ensure you are including the Authorization header with the exact key shown in Settings → Local REST API. The key changes if you regenerate it — update your MCP config accordingly. Verify the header format is 'Bearer <key>' with a space between Bearer and the key.
The /mcp/ endpoint is not found (404)
The MCP endpoint requires a recent version of the plugin. Update the Obsidian Local REST API plugin to the latest version via Settings → Community Plugins → Check for updates. Older versions only exposed the REST API without the /mcp/ path.
Frequently Asked Questions about Obsidian Local REST API
What is Obsidian Local REST API?
Obsidian Local REST API is a Model Context Protocol (MCP) server that secure rest api and model context protocol (mcp) server for your vault. It connects AI assistants to external tools and data sources through a standardized interface.
How do I install Obsidian Local REST API?
Follow the installation instructions on the Obsidian Local REST API GitHub repository. Clone the repo, install dependencies, and add the server config to your AI client.
Which AI clients work with Obsidian Local REST API?
Obsidian Local REST API works with all major MCP-compatible AI clients including Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cursor, VS Code (GitHub Copilot), Windsurf, and Cline.
Is Obsidian Local REST API free to use?
Yes, Obsidian Local REST API is open source and available under the MIT license. You can use it freely in both personal and commercial projects.
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Set Up Obsidian Local REST API in Your Editor
Choose your AI client for step-by-step setup instructions.
Quick Config Preview
Add this to your claude_desktop_config.json or .cursor/mcp.json
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