The fastest way to reach Obsidian settings

Open Obsidian and look at the bottom left corner of the window. You will see a gear icon — click it. This opens the Settings panel where you can change how Obsidian looks, behaves, and stores your notes. That is the main route on Windows, Mac, and Linux.

If you cannot see the gear icon, your window may be too narrow. Widen the Obsidian window by dragging its edge outward. The icon should appear once there is enough space.

On mobile devices (iPad or iPhone), the settings icon looks the same but sits in a different place. Tap the three horizontal lines (called a hamburger menu) at the top right of the screen, then tap Settings from the menu that appears.

Key Takeaways

  • The gear icon in the bottom left corner of the Obsidian window opens settings on desktop computers.
  • If the gear icon is not visible, widen your Obsidian window to make room for it.
  • On mobile, tap the three-line menu at the top right, then select Settings.
  • Settings are organized into tabs like Editor, Files & Links, and Appearance — scroll down to see all options.
  • Changes to settings take effect when ready; you do not need to restart Obsidian.

Where to find specific settings once the panel is open

Once you click the gear icon, a Settings panel opens on the right side of your screen. At the top of this panel, you will see a list of categories: Editor, Files & Links, Appearance, Hotkeys, About, and others. Each category groups related settings together.

Scroll down within any category to see all the options available. For example, the Editor tab contains settings for font size, line width, and whether to show line numbers. The Appearance tab controls the color theme and whether the interface uses light or dark mode.

If you are looking for a setting but cannot find it by browsing, use the search box at the top of the Settings panel. Type a keyword — like "font" or "theme" — and Obsidian will highlight matching settings across all categories.

Common settings people change first

When you first open Obsidian, three settings often need adjustment. The first is Theme, found in the Appearance tab. By default, Obsidian uses a light theme, but if you prefer dark mode, click the Theme dropdown and select Dark.

The second is Font Size, in the Editor tab. If text appears too small or too large on your screen, find the Font Size slider and adjust it to your preference. Changes appear when ready in your notes.

The third is Vault Location, in the Files & Links tab. This tells Obsidian where to store your notes on your computer. Most people leave this set to the default location, but if you want your notes in a specific folder, you can change it here. Be careful: changing this after you have already created notes can cause Obsidian to lose track of them.

Why some settings require a restart or reload

Most settings in Obsidian take effect when ready. You change the font size and see it change right away. However, a few settings — particularly those related to plugins or core features you have turned on or off — may require you to reload Obsidian before they work.

If you change a setting and nothing happens, close Obsidian completely and open it again. This forces Obsidian to reload all its settings and usually fixes the problem. On Windows and Linux, use Alt+F4 or click the X button. On Mac, use Command+Q.

Accessing settings from the command palette

If you prefer keyboard shortcuts, you can open Settings without clicking the gear icon. Press Ctrl+P on Windows or Linux, or Command+P on Mac. This opens the Command Palette — a search box where you can type commands.

Type "open settings" into the Command Palette and press Enter. Obsidian will open the Settings panel when ready. This method is faster once you get used to it, especially if you switch between settings and your notes frequently.

Resetting settings to defaults if something breaks

If you change a setting and Obsidian stops working the way you expect, you can reset individual settings to their defaults. Open the Settings panel, find the setting that is causing the problem, and look for a small arrow or reset icon next to it. Click that icon to restore the default value.

If multiple settings are broken and you cannot find the problem, you can reset all settings at once. At the bottom of the Settings panel, look for an option called Reset or Restore Defaults. Click it, and Obsidian will return all settings to how they were when you first installed the program. Your notes themselves are not affected — only the settings change.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if the gear icon does not appear in the bottom left corner?

Your Obsidian window is probably too narrow. Make the window wider by dragging its right edge to the right. Once there is enough space, the gear icon should appear. If it still does not show, try closing and reopening Obsidian.

Can I change settings on my phone and have them sync to my computer?

Obsidian does not automatically sync settings between devices. If you use Obsidian on both your phone and computer, you will need to change settings on each device separately. However, your notes themselves can sync if you set up Obsidian Sync or store them in a cloud folder like Dropbox.

Will changing settings affect the notes I have already written?

No. Settings control how Obsidian displays and behaves, not the content of your notes. Changing the font size, theme, or other display settings will not change what is written in your notes. The notes remain exactly as you wrote them.

Where do I find settings for plugins I have installed?

Plugin settings appear in the Settings panel under a tab labeled with the plugin's name. Scroll down through the category list on the left side of the Settings panel to find your plugin. If you do not see it, the plugin may not have any settings to change.