Obsidian Setup: Everything You Need on Day One
“The best time to organize your digital brain is when it’s still empty.”
If you’re anything like me, your first day using Obsidian probably felt like you’d been handed the keys to a spaceship without the instruction manual. I installed it, created a vault, stared at the blinking cursor… and then thought Now what ?
Don’t worry—I’ve got you. This guide will walk you through how to set up Obsidian properly from day one, so you’re not just clicking around aimlessly (like I did). We’ll cover the vault, the settings, and the plugins—everything you need to feel confident right out of the gate.
Step 1: Create Your First VaultLet’s start with the foundation.
What’s a “vault” in Obsidian?A vault is just a folder on your computer that holds all your notes (which are stored as .md Markdown files). Obsidian reads this folder and turns it into your own little universe of ideas.
How to set up your first vault:Open ObsidianClick “Create new vault”Give it a name (I called mine 🧠 Second Brain, because… why not?)Choose a location on your computerHit “Create”That’s it. You now have a blank canvas. No complicated syncing, no login required. Your notes live on your device, and that’s what makes Obsidian so powerful.
Pro Tip: Keep your vault in a Dropbox or iCloud folder if you want multi-device access later. You can also enable Obsidian Sync (paid), but it’s not required to get started.
Let’s tweak a few settings so your Obsidian experience doesn’t feel like it was made for coders in 2004.
Must-Change Settings for Beginners:Go to Settings (gear icon in lower left corner) and start here:
SettingWhy It MattersEditor → Reading ViewTurn it off for live preview. You’ll see Markdown and styling at the same time.Files & Links → Default Location for New NotesSet it to the root or a specific folder like Inbox to keep new notes organized.Core Plugins → Daily NotesTurn this on and set a default folder for your journal entries. Life saver.Appearance → ThemeInstall a beginner-friendly theme like Minimal or Blue Topaz. Default is okay, but these feel nicer.HotkeysCustomize shortcuts so you can move quickly. You’ll thank yourself later.
Pro Tip: Don’t go plugin-crazy yet. Focus on the basics. You’ll have time to experiment later.
Plugins = superpowers in Obsidian. But there are hundreds. Let’s stick to the essentials that are stable, easy to use, and make a huge difference.
Enable Community PluginsGo to Settings → Community PluginsToggle ON “Safe Mode” (you can turn this off later)Click “Browse”
Top Beginner Plugins to Install:PluginWhat It DoesWhy You Want ItCalendarAdds a simple calendar viewMakes Daily Notes feel like a plannerTemplaterLets you insert dynamic templatesSpeeds up repetitive notes (like meeting or book summaries)Advanced TablesMakes Markdown tables easier to manageTrust me, tables are a pain without thisTasksManage to-dos inside notes with dates and tagsGreat for simple productivity without another appHotkeys++Enhance hotkey options for better workflowOptional, but great for keyboard junkies
Warning: Don’t install 15 plugins at once. It’s tempting, but you’ll get overwhelmed and crash something. Start with two or three, then build up.
Bonus: Create a Starter Note StructureNot required, but helpful. I created these folders on day one:
📁 Inbox 📁 Daily 📁 Notes 📁 Projects 📁 Templates
Then I added a few starter notes:
📄 Daily Note Template📄 Project Ideas📄 Books to Read📄 How to Use ObsidianIt gave me a jumping-off point instead of staring at the void.
ConclusionSetting up Obsidian the right way from day one will save you hours of frustration. And honestly, it’s way more fun when the app works with you instead of against you.
To recap:
Make one vault (not five)Tweak the basic settings to suit your styleInstall only a few smart pluginsCreate a few starter notes or folders to guide your flowObsidian doesn’t need to be complicated to be powerful. Start simple. You’ll be amazed at how fast your digital brain grows.
Coming soon is the next step that goes into note taking principles on How to Take Smart Notes in Obsidian
What plugin or setting helped you the most when starting with Obsidian? Share your answer in the comments!
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