ChatGPT + Obsidian: Give It Your Vault

To give ChatGPT access to your Obsidian vault, install LMCP on the computer that has the vault and add it to ChatGPT as an app. LMCP is a local MCP server for Mac and Windows; it reads the vault's Markdown files where they are, so there is nothing to sync and no plugin to install.

What ChatGPT Can Do with Your Vault

List your vaults — every vault Obsidian knows on your computer (obsidian_list_vaults)
Read a note — text, frontmatter, tags, wikilinks and backlinks (obsidian_read_note)
Search notes — by text or by tag (obsidian_search_notes)
Add a note or append to one — previewed first; an existing note is never replaced (obsidian_write_note)

LMCP executes local tools on your device. ChatGPT receives the notes it asks for; OpenAI's terms apply.

What You Will Need

A Mac or a Windows PC with an Obsidian vault, and LMCP installed (download)
ChatGPT on the web in a desktop browser — MCP apps are added from Plugins; on Business, Enterprise or Edu a workspace admin may need to allow custom apps first

Connect ChatGPT on a Mac

Connect ChatGPT to your Mac

chatgpt.com → Plugins → Add → Create MCP App

Custom MCP apps are added from Plugins in a desktop browser. On Business/Enterprise/Edu a workspace admin may need to allow custom apps first. ChatGPT shows a standard notice for custom apps — click Continue.

1
Install LMCP on your Mac
Download LMCP from local-mcp.com and run the installer — it installs Local MCP to Applications and auto-configures your AI clients in ~30 seconds.
2
Turn on web access and copy your Connection URL
Click the LMCP icon in your menu bar and find Your web AI · Cloud Relay. Make sure web access is ON (it is on after installation unless you turned it off), then open your assistant’s panel and click Copy URL.
The URL is — it carries no token and is the same for everyone; every step below that says “the URL you copied” means this one. Access is granted by approving the connection on your Mac, not by the URL.
3
Open Plugins
Use a desktop browser at chatgpt.com — MCP apps can’t be added from the mobile or desktop apps. Click Plugins in the sidebar (or go to chatgpt.com/plugins). There is no Developer mode to turn on any more; on Business/Enterprise/Edu a workspace admin may need to allow custom apps first.
4
Create the MCP App
Click Add ▾ at the top right and choose Create MCP App — not “Create plugin”. In the New Plugin dialog set Name: , leave Connection on Server URL and paste the URL you copied from the LMCP menu bar (). Authentication stays on “OAuth” — leave Advanced OAuth settings empty, we auto-register. Tick I understand and want to continue (Create stays disabled until you do) and click Create.
5
Sign in and approve on your Mac
Create only registers the connector — it still reads “No app actions available yet”. Click Sign in with LMCP: ChatGPT opens an Authorize page on , and a dialog appears on your Mac. Click Approve there and the tool catalog loads.
If no dialog shows up, or the page says LMCP isn’t running, the approval simply expired — it only lasts 5 minutes. Click the button again; nothing needs reinstalling.
6
Enable it in a chat
Start a new conversation and enable LMCP from the composer’s tools menu (+). Then ask: “List my email accounts” or “What meetings do I have today?”
In Settings → Plugins, Default permission decides which tools run without asking: with Allow low-risk tools, tools ChatGPT considers low-risk can run without a prompt, and the rest still ask first.

Steps verified 2026-09-27. Local tools run on your device; selected AI providers and connectors receive requested content. Review each tool’s permissions and approval behavior.

Connect ChatGPT on Windows

Connect ChatGPT to your PC

chatgpt.com → Plugins → Add → Create MCP App

1
Install LMCP on your PC
Download LMCP for Windows from local-mcp.com and run — no admin rights needed. LMCP starts on its own, shows its icon in the system tray and configures your AI clients.
2
Turn on Cloud access and copy the URL
Click the LMCP icon in the system tray (it can be behind the ^ arrow next to the clock) and find Web AI clients. Make sure Cloud access is on, then click Copy URL.
The URL is — it carries no token and is the same for everyone; every step below that says “the URL you copied” means this one. Access is granted by approving the connection on your PC, not by the URL.
3
Open Plugins
Use a desktop browser at chatgpt.com — MCP apps can’t be added from the mobile or desktop apps. Click Plugins in the sidebar (or go to chatgpt.com/plugins). There is no Developer mode to turn on any more; on Business/Enterprise/Edu a workspace admin may need to allow custom apps first.
4
Create the MCP App
Click Add ▾ at the top right and choose Create MCP App — not “Create plugin”. In the New Plugin dialog set Name: , leave Connection on Server URL and paste the URL you copied from the LMCP tray icon (). Authentication stays on “OAuth” — leave Advanced OAuth settings empty, we auto-register. Tick I understand and want to continue (Create stays disabled until you do) and click Create.
5
Sign in and approve on your PC
Create only registers the connector — it still reads “No app actions available yet”. Click Sign in with LMCP: ChatGPT opens an Authorize page on , and a dialog appears on your PC. Click Approve there and the tool catalog loads.
If no dialog shows up, or the page says LMCP isn’t running, the approval request simply expired. Click the button again; nothing needs reinstalling.
6
Enable it in a chat
Start a new conversation and enable LMCP from the composer’s tools menu (+). Then ask: “List my email accounts” or “What meetings do I have today?”
In Settings → Plugins, Default permission decides which tools run without asking: with Allow low-risk tools, tools ChatGPT considers low-risk can run without a prompt, and the rest still ask first.

Steps verified 2026-09-27. Local tools run on your device; selected AI providers and connectors receive requested content. Review each tool’s permissions and approval behavior.

Try It Out

Start a new chat, enable LMCP via + → More → LMCP, then ask:

“What vaults do I have in Obsidian?”
“Search my vault for notes about the trip to Lisbon and make a packing list”
“Create a note Inbox/Ideas.md with these three ideas” — you confirm the preview

Frequently Asked Questions

Can ChatGPT access my Obsidian vault?

Yes, once LMCP is installed on the computer that has the vault and added to ChatGPT. ChatGPT can then list your vaults, read and search notes, and add a new note or append to one after you confirm.

Do I have to sync my vault to the cloud for ChatGPT?

No. The vault stays on your computer. When ChatGPT asks for a note, LMCP reads it there and returns that note to ChatGPT. There is no sync step to set up.

Does it need the Obsidian app open?

No. LMCP reads the vault’s Markdown files, so Obsidian can stay closed.

Can ChatGPT overwrite or delete my notes?

No. obsidian_write_note only creates a new note or appends to an existing one, shows a preview first and writes when you confirm. It never replaces an existing note.

Connect ChatGPT to Your Obsidian Vault on Mac or Windows