How to Install Obsidian and Set Up Your First Vault

To get started with Obsidian and set up your personal knowledge base, you'll first need to install the Obsidian application on your computer. Once installed, creating your first vault—a local folder containing all your notes—is a straightforward process.

Installing the Obsidian Application

Obsidian is available across multiple platforms, ensuring you can access your notes wherever you are. The installation process is quick and easy.

Step-by-Step Installation for Windows

If you're using Windows, follow these simple steps to install the Obsidian application:

Download Obsidian: Open your web browser and navigate to the official Obsidian Download page.
Select Your Version: Under the Windows section, click on the Universal option to download the installation file. This package is generally recommended for most users.
Run Installer: Locate the downloaded .exe file (it might be in your 'Downloads' folder) and open it.
Follow Instructions: Proceed through the installation wizard. You'll typically be asked to accept the license agreement and choose an installation location.
Launch Obsidian: Once the installation is complete, you can open Obsidian just like any other application on your computer, usually from your Start Menu or a desktop shortcut.

Installation for Other Operating Systems

Obsidian also provides dedicated installers for macOS and Linux.

macOS: Download the .dmg file from the official download page, then drag the Obsidian icon into your Applications folder.
Linux: Various options are available, including AppImage, Snap, and Flatpak. Choose the one that best fits your distribution and preference from the Obsidian Download page.

Creating Your First Obsidian Vault

Once Obsidian is installed and opened, the next crucial step is to create or open a vault. An Obsidian vault is simply a folder on your computer's local storage where all your Markdown notes, attachments, and settings for that specific knowledge base are stored.

Understanding Obsidian Vaults

Local Storage: Obsidian vaults are stored locally on your device, giving you complete ownership and control over your data.
Flexibility: You can have multiple vaults for different purposes (e.g., personal notes, work projects, creative writing).
Plain Text: All notes are in Markdown, a plain-text format, ensuring future-proofing and easy portability.

Steps to Create a New Vault

When you first launch Obsidian, or if you want to create a new, separate knowledge base, you'll see a welcome screen or a prompt to open/create a vault.

Open Obsidian: Launch the application.
Choose "Create new vault": On the welcome screen, you'll see options like "Open folder as vault" and "Create new vault." Select "Create new vault."
Name Your Vault: Enter a descriptive name for your vault (e.g., "My Knowledge Base," "Project Alpha Notes").
Select Location: Click the "Browse" button to choose a folder on your computer where you want this vault's main folder to reside. A common practice is to create a dedicated "Obsidian Vaults" folder within your Documents.
- Tip: Consider placing your vault in a folder that is synced with a cloud service (like Google Drive, Dropbox, OneDrive) if you want to access your notes across multiple devices or have a backup.
Confirm Creation: Click "Create" to finalize the process.

Obsidian will then open your newly created vault, presenting you with a blank canvas to begin taking notes.

Opening an Existing Vault

If you've previously created a vault, or perhaps downloaded one from a repository, you can open it easily:

Launch Obsidian.
Choose "Open folder as vault": On the welcome screen, or from the ribbon menu (three dots icon) in an open vault, select this option.
Browse to Vault Folder: Navigate to and select the main folder of your existing vault (the folder containing your Markdown files and the .obsidian configuration folder).
Click "Open": Obsidian will load the vault and display its contents.

Managing Your Vaults

Obsidian makes it simple to switch between multiple vaults or manage them.

Vault Switcher: From within an open vault, click the "Open another vault" icon (it looks like a vault or briefcase) in the bottom-left corner of the sidebar, or go to File > Open another vault. This will bring up the vault selection screen.
Configuration: Each vault has its own .obsidian subfolder where all its specific settings, themes, and plugin configurations are stored, keeping your workspaces organized and independent.

By following these steps, you'll have Obsidian installed and your first vault ready, empowering you to build your personal knowledge graph.