Where to find the Settings button

Open Settings in Obsidian by clicking the gear icon in the bottom left corner of your window. The icon sits in the left sidebar, below your vault name and file list. On Mac, Windows, and Linux, this is the standard location — you cannot miss it once you know where to look.

If you are using Obsidian on a mobile device (iPhone or Android), tap the three horizontal lines (hamburger menu) at the bottom right, then tap "Settings" from the menu that appears. The mobile layout differs from desktop because of screen space, but the Settings panel contains the same options.

You can also use a keyboard shortcut to jump straight to Settings without clicking. Press Ctrl + comma on Windows or Linux, or Command + comma on Mac. This works from anywhere in Obsidian — from the editor, from your file list, or from any open note.

Key Takeaways

  • The Settings gear icon sits in the bottom left corner of the left sidebar on desktop versions of Obsidian.
  • On mobile, open the hamburger menu (three lines) at the bottom right and select Settings from the list.
  • Use Ctrl + comma (Windows/Linux) or Command + comma (Mac) to open Settings instantly from anywhere in the app.
  • Settings are organized into tabs on the left side of the panel, with Editor, Files & Links, and Appearance as the most commonly used sections.

What you will see inside Settings

Once Settings opens, you will see a two-column layout. The left column lists categories like "Editor", "Files & Links", "Appearance", "Hotkeys", and "Community Plugins". The right column shows the options for whichever category you have selected. Start with "Editor" — this is where you control how text looks and behaves as you type.

The "Appearance" tab controls your theme (light or dark mode), font size, and sidebar width. "Hotkeys" shows you every keyboard shortcut in Obsidian and lets you create your own. "Community Plugins" is where you turn plugins on and off, or browse new ones to install. Each tab is self-contained, so you can jump between them without losing your place.

Common settings beginners change first

Most new Obsidian users start by adjusting the Editor tab. Here you can turn on "Spell check" (which underlines misspelled words), enable "Readable line length" (which keeps lines from stretching edge to edge), and toggle "Strict line breaks" (which changes how pressing Enter works). These three settings alone make writing feel more natural if you are coming from Word or Google Docs.

The Appearance tab is the second stop. If the default dark theme feels too dark, switch to "Light" mode or try one of the community themes listed below the built-in options. You can also increase the font size here if text feels too small. These changes take effect immediately — you do not need to restart Obsidian.

How to search for a specific setting

If you know what you want to change but cannot find it, use the search box at the top of the Settings panel. Type a keyword — for example, "font" or "backup" — and Obsidian will filter the list to show only matching settings. This is faster than clicking through every tab, especially once you have installed plugins that add their own settings sections.

The search works across all tabs and all installed plugins. If you search for "sync" and you have Obsidian Sync installed, it will show you the Sync settings even if you are currently looking at the Editor tab. This makes Settings searchable rather than just browsable.

Settings that require a restart

Most changes in Settings take effect immediately. However, a few do not — particularly changes to plugins and vault settings. If you install a new plugin or change a vault-level option (in the "About" section), Obsidian may ask you to restart the app. Close Obsidian completely and reopen it to apply the change.

You will see a notification if a restart is needed. Do not ignore it, because the setting will not work until you do. This is rare — most of the time you can change a setting and keep working without interruption.

Closing Settings and returning to your notes

Close Settings by clicking the X button in the top right corner of the Settings panel, or by pressing Escape on your keyboard. Your notes remain open in the background, and any changes you made are saved automatically. You do not need to click a "Save" button — Obsidian saves settings as you change them.

If you opened Settings by accident, pressing Escape is the fastest way out. If you want to return to Settings later, the gear icon is always in the same place, or you can use the keyboard shortcut again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I reset Settings to the default state?

Yes. Scroll to the bottom of any Settings tab and look for a "Restore default" or "Reset" button. This varies by section — some tabs have it, others do not. Clicking it will undo all changes you made to that specific tab and return it to Obsidian's factory settings. Your notes are not affected.

Where do plugin settings appear?

Plugin settings appear as new tabs in the left column of Settings, below the built-in tabs. Each plugin you install adds its own section. If you do not see a plugin's settings, the plugin may not have any user-facing options, or it may not be installed correctly. Reinstalling the plugin usually fixes this.

Do Settings sync across devices if I use Obsidian Sync?

Some settings sync, others do not. Appearance preferences (theme, font size) and hotkeys sync across devices. Plugin installations and plugin-specific settings do not sync automatically — you must install plugins on each device separately. This is by design, since different devices may need different setups.

What if Settings will not open?

Try the keyboard shortcut (Ctrl + comma or Command + comma) instead of clicking the gear icon. If that does not work, restart Obsidian. If Settings still will not open, you may have a corrupted plugin — try disabling plugins one at a time in the Community Plugins tab (if you can reach it) or reinstall Obsidian. Contact Obsidian support if the problem persists.