$git clone https://github.com/aaronsb/obsidian-mcp-pluginπ¦ [Available in the Obsidian Community Plugin directory β](https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/semantic-vault-mcp)
| 1 | # Semantic Notes Vault MCP |
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| 9 | π¦ **[Available in the Obsidian Community Plugin directory β](https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/semantic-vault-mcp)** |
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| 11 | **Read, write, search, and traverse your Obsidian vault from any AI assistant β through an MCP server that runs _inside_ Obsidian.** |
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| 13 | No external Node process to launch, no separate REST-API plugin to bridge through: the server *is* the plugin. Setup is a drag-and-drop β drop the `.mcpb` bundle onto Claude Desktop, paste your key, done. |
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| 15 | It exposes **8 powerful tools** β each a whole family of operations, not a single call (the `vault` tool alone handles 13: list, read, create, search, move, split, combine, and more) β with first-class **Dataview** and **Bases** support plus graph traversal across links, tags, and backlinks. And every operation respects the permissions *you* set β a read-only mode, per-operation controls, and path allow/block lists β so the AI only ever does what you've allowed, not unrestricted run of your vault. |
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| 17 | **Works with any MCP-compatible client** β Claude Desktop, Claude Code, Cline, Continue.dev, and anything that speaks local MCP. |
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| 19 | > **New to MCP?** The [Model Context Protocol](https://modelcontextprotocol.io) is the open standard that lets AI assistants interact with external tools and data. You don't need to understand it to use this β the [Quick Start](#quick-start) is three steps. |
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| 21 | ## Quick Start |
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| 23 | **Prerequisites:** an MCP-compatible AI client like Claude Desktop, Claude Code, or Continue.dev. |
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| 25 | > ## π¦ ββdragβββΆ π€π¬ |
| 26 | > **Download the `.mcpb` bundle from the plugin's config page β drag it onto Claude Desktop β paste your key. Done.** |
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| 28 | For most people that's the entire setup. The numbered steps below spell it out, then cover other MCP clients. |
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| 30 | ### 1. Install the Plugin |
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| 32 | **Via Obsidian Community Plugins** |
| 33 | - Open Settings β Community plugins β Browse |
| 34 | - Search for "Semantic Notes Vault MCP" |
| 35 | - Install and enable β or install straight from the [plugin listing](https://community.obsidian.md/plugins/semantic-vault-mcp) |
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| 37 | **Via BRAT** (for beta testing) |
| 38 | - Install [BRAT](https://github.com/TfTHacker/obsidian42-brat) |
| 39 | - Add beta plugin: `aaronsb/obsidian-mcp-plugin` |
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| 41 | ### 2. Configure Your AI Client |
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| 43 | Three onboarding paths, ordered by audience. All three are also shown in the plugin's Settings tab with copy-ready values. |
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| 45 | **π¦ β π€ Claude Desktop β one-click `.mcpb` install (recommended)** |
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| 47 | Download `obsidian-mcp-<version>.mcpb` β either from the plugin's **Settings** tab (button right on the config page) or the [latest release](https://github.com/aaronsb/obsidian-mcp-plugin/releases/latest) β then either drag it onto the Claude Desktop window or double-click it. Claude Desktop opens an install dialog with two fields β paste the URL and API key shown in the plugin's Settings tab, hit Save, and you're done. |
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| 49 | > *Cross-platform note:* `.mcpb` files install via Claude Desktop's bundled handler. If double-click doesn't trigger Claude on your system, drag the file onto Claude Desktop's window instead, or right-click β "Open withβ¦" and pick Claude Desktop (then "always open with" if your OS asks). Behavior varies by platform: macOS usually auto-associates, Windows may need a one-time association, Linux varies by desktop environment. |
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| 51 | **Claude Code** β one command (copy the ready-made version with your API key from the plugin's Settings tab): |
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| 53 | ```bash |
| 54 | claude mcp add --transport http obsidian http://localhost:3001/mcp --header "Authorization: Bearer YOUR_API_KEY" |
| 55 | ``` |
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| 57 | For HTTPS, use `https:// |