How to Use Obsidian as a Zettelkasten: The Ultimate Tutorial

This is a complete guide on how to use Obsidian as a Zettelkasten as a beginner.

It will show you exactly everything you need to know to get started with a system that actually works.

In fact, I wish I had known all this information when I started using Obsidian notes back in 2021. I wasted months trying to overcomplicate things.

Here’s what’s different about this guide: I’m not going to load you down with complex templates or fancy plugins. Instead, I’m going to show you the simple, proven system I’ve used for 3 years to manage 3,000+ notes and run a 6-figure writing business.

If you follow this guide, you could have your own working Zettelkasten set up by the end of the day.

Let’s dive into it.

Chapter 1: What Is the Zettelkasten Method and How Does It Work?

A Brief History of Zettelkasten and Niklas Luhmann

Zettelkasten is a German word that stands for “slip box.”

Originally, it was the note-taking method used by Niklas Luhmann, a German sociologist. It is a system for organizing and storing information. It is based on the idea of putting all of your notes into a physical box, and let the structure emerge.

It heavily focuses on using backlinks instead of folders (or tags).

The system is designed to be flexible and scalable so that you can add or remove notes as necessary and most importantly come up with great idea connections.

It has been democratized with Sönke Ahrens’ bestseller: How to Take Smart Notes.

Niklas Luhmann started his Zettelkasten back in 1953, and he passed away at the end of the last century. Back then, computers weren’t democratized as today.

So the original version of Luhmann’s Zettelkasten was an analog slip box.

Here it is:

Tools like Obsidian allow you to take smart notes and replicate his note-taking system in digital format.

Would Niklas Luhmann Have Used Obsidian?

We’ll never know.

Unfortunately, Niklas Luhmann passed away more than 20 years before Obsidian came out. So we can only speculate about this. But it’s safe to say that Mr. Luhmann would have been able to replicate his note-taking within Obsidian.

In fact, Obsidian has all the features (and even more…) he implemented in his analog slip-box.

Why Start a Zettelkasten in Obsidian?

There is a myriad of tools out there to build a Zettelkasten.

So why choose Obsidian specifically?

Simply because it’s one of the best Zettelkasten apps out there.

Here’s why:

Obsidian Is Future-Proof

Niklas Luhmann amassed over 90,000 notes for 48 years. So it’s safe to say his notes were his life’s work.

Why wouldn’t you want to approach your notes the same way? What if people after you could benefit from the knowledge you’ve amassed?

And even if this may freak you out, you probably would still be able to access your knowledge 10, 20, or 30 years from now.

This is when the concept of future-proof comes into play.

Our environment is changing faster than ever. Software is no exception. What if the platform you choose today starts getting obsolete?

Remember Napster, AOL, or Myspace?

All these services/products vanished in a matter of months.

What could be more frustrating than losing your data (or not being able to access it)?

So picking the right Zettelkasten app is crucial. You want your data to be portable so that you can easily access and retrieve your notes in case the software vanishes.

Here’s where Obsidian shines:
Obsidian creates and reads markdown text files. In short, you can open any note with a simple plain text editor.

Text files have been around since the creation of the first computer.

This means that there is no proprietary file format behind it. Plus, given that those files are plain and simple, you can import them to other tools like Logseq or Remnote.

Using Obsidian as your Zettelkasten app is the best way to ensure longevity in your notes.

Obsidian Is Free

I’m a business owner.

I understand that everything has a cost and that there’s no free lunch. Thus, I don’t mind paying for software if I get value from it.

Especially, given the fact that operating systems and digital environments evolve fast. Yet, the developers of any given app still need resources to keep things up to date. This is exactly why I bought Obsidian’s catalyst license. It may not be a lot, but I know that those $50 supported the development.

You may (or may not) think like me, and that’s okay.

And Obsidian allows you to get started for free. You don’t need to pay a penny to benefit from the complete software and community plugins.

You could even bypass their syncing service by using the cloud storage you already use, like Dropbox, Google Drive, or iCloud.

Obsidian is free, and this is exactly why you should give it a try to build your Zettelkasten.

Obsidian Is a Cross-Platform Zettelkasten Software

I’m locked in the Apple ecosystem.

This is why a lot of my content talks about Apple apps. But I’m not stubborn or stupid. I know that Windows is the most used Operating System in the world, with a whopping 76% market share and that Androids control 70% of the mobile OS market share.

So even if you have an iPhone, you may still be working on a Windows computer.

And when it comes to your Zettelkasten, you certainly want to access your notes on every platform you may be using.

This is where Obsidian shines (again).

Obsidian works on all major platforms. They have an Android and iOS app. And their website allows you to download the app for Windows, Mac, and Linux.

Obsidian is one of the best and most supported cross-platform Zettelkasten apps out there.

Obsidian Works Both Online and Offline

Deep work doesn’t happen online.

This is why you see so many productivity freaks using wifi and internet-blocking apps. Yet, most Zettelkasten apps like Mem, Roam, whatsoever, work online. I don’t like the fact that I need to be connected to the internet to browse my notes.

Obsidian works both on- and offline.

Simply be sure to sync your notes before you go bold on airplane mode.

So now that you know why you can’t go wrong choosing Obsidian as your Zettelkasten app let’s dive deeper into setting everything up.

Chapter 2: Obsidian Zettelkasten Setup Guide

This section is all about implementing the Zettelkasten method in Obsidian.

For the purpose of simplicity and getting started quickly, I would encourage you to do the next steps of this guide using a computer. (You can always download the app later on your phone…)

Where to Download Obsidian Zettelkasten?

The first step to kick things off is to start downloading Obsidian. For that, simply head over to the official website: Obsidian.md

(Don’t freak out about the domain extension. It’s not an ex-Soviet underground hacker group. But simply a wink to the markdown (md) format Obsidian uses to format notes.)

Thanks to browser fingerprints, the website should detect the operating system you’re on. (If that’s not the case, pick the right OS). Click download.

Install the beast.

Congrats, now you’ve successfully downloaded Obsidian and are ready to start your digital Zettelkasten.

Creating Your Obsidian Vault

Remember when I said that Obsidian uses plain text files for your notes?
Well, the same goes for folders.

The main folder for your Zettelkasten is called your Obsidian vault.

You need to create a vault. This is where your Zettelkasten files will live.

The name you give your vault doesn’t really matter, so it’s up to you how to name it. If you lack inspiration, simply name it: Zettelkasten.

(For setting things up, create your vault locally. You can always move it on the cloud later on. Remember: I want to get you off the ground by the end of this article!)

🎉 Congrats, your Obsidian Zettelkasten is now ready to use!

What Obsidian Zettelkasten Plugins Do You (Really) Need?

Obsidian ships with great features out of the box.

Honestly, you can start your whole Zettelkasten journey without installing any additional plugin.

But as always, you’re going to see people showcase their cool plugins that every Obsidian user needs to install. I can’t blame them. Because shiny object syndrome is real!

But chasing the latest features and plugins keeps you busy working ON the system and not IN the system.

I hate digital clutter and feature creep.

So for the sake of getting started let’s forget about any additional plugins.

Obsidian works great out of the box.

The Two-App System: Why I Don’t Use Obsidian Alone

Here’s something most Zettelkasten guides won’t tell you:

Obsidian is terrible for capturing ideas quickly.

I discovered this the hard way. I was frustrated with how clunky it was on mobile. The reason I care so much about mobile is because I get my best ideas when I’m not in front of the screen, so I always want to be able to capture my ideas quickly.

After months of frustration, I built a two-app system that solved this problem completely:

Bear (for capture) + Obsidian (for thinking)

Here’s how it works:

Bear: Your Idea Inbox

Bear is fast, beautiful, and syncs instantly across all my Apple devices. I use it as my capturing system only.

I have a personalized Apple shortcut that opens a text box and captures ideas straight into Bear with zero friction.

I organize everything I capture into four simple buckets:

#content-ideas – Article ideas, email ideas, course ideas
#consume-later – Articles, videos, books I want to check out
#actions – Action items (I hate to-do apps, so this works for me)
#projects – Specific project ideas

For voice notes, I use Letterly. I can quickly dictate ideas while walking, driving, or doing dishes. The app transcribes everything automatically.

The Filter Concept

Here’s the magic: I use Bear as a filter.

Sometimes you think an idea is brilliant, but two or three days later you realize it’s complete garbage.

So ideas sit in Bear for 2-3 days. If they still seem valuable, I process them into Obsidian. If not, I delete them guilt-free.

This keeps Obsidian clean and ensures I’m only storing ideas that actually matter.

Obsidian: Your Knowledge Base

Once an idea passes the filter test, it moves to Obsidian. This is where the real thinking happens – linking, connecting, creating.

This two-app system is how I’ve built 3,000+ notes over 3 years without feeling overwhelmed.

Chapter 3: Obsidian Zettelkasten Workflow

Great.

Now let’s get started with note-taking within Obsidian.

Creating Your First Note (Zettel)

The value of your Zettelkasten resides in your notes.

So, let’s create your first note together.

To create a new file within your fresh new vault, go to file > new note.

This creates a new note within your vault.

At the top, you can specify the name of your note.

Some Zettelkasten purists like to use unique identifiers or use complicated prefixes. I’m against that.

I like to summarize the idea the note contains in the title.

Now, in the editor, start typing the content of your note.

Keep in mind that Obsidian uses the markdown syntax to format your writing faster. If you want to master the basics of Markdown in 7 minutes check out my Obsidian 80/20 course.

Obsidian will store this newly created note directly within your vault.

You don’t need to save anything. Obsidian does this automatically for you.

🎉 Congrats on creating your first note!

The Feynman Technique: Write, Don’t Copy

Here’s where most people screw up their Zettelkasten.

They copy and paste information verbatim. I did this for years. I was like a camera, taking snapshots without understanding the scene.

Everything changed when I started using the Feynman technique.

It’s a fancy name for a simple process: Rewrite everything you save into your own words.

Why does this matter?

It forces you to actually understand the idea
It creates first drafts for your content
It makes notes memorable because you engaged with them

When I copy-paste, I stay at the surface level. When I rewrite, I’m thinking. And writing is thinking.

Here’s my process:

Read/consume the information
Close the source
Write the idea in my own words
Add my thoughts and connections

The beautiful thing? These notes become building blocks for content. This article you’re reading right now is assembled from notes I’ve already written.

Don’t just save notes. Create first drafts.

The One Link Rule: Keeping It Simple

Here’s my non-negotiable rule:

Every note gets at least ONE link to another note.

That’s it. Not ten links. Not a complex web. Just one minimum.

Why?

Prevents orphan notes (notes with no connections)
Ensures your Zettelkasten is actually connected
Takes less than 3 seconds to do
No overthinking required

When you’re writing a note, you’ll naturally be reminded of another concept. That’s your brain linking information together. Simply add that link.

Creating Your First Link in Obsidian

The purpose of a Zettelkasten is to connect ideas.

Your notes are nothing else than a bunch of ideas that simply wait to be combined. This is why the notes are called atomic. Because in the Zettelkasten, you break down the different ideas into their most essential parts.

The goal is to find related notes that you can link together. This is how new knowledge is created. Creative ideas are nothing else than idea combinations.

Creating notes also helps you to better understand the information you consume.

At first, you may be confused looking at the connections between notes. But this will rapidly vanish the more additional notes you add to your Zettelkasten.

So let’s put this concept into practice within Obsidian.

When creating a note, simply type two brackets:

[[

Follow those 2 brackets by entering the name of the note you want to link to.

Let’s assume that I’m working on a note related to productivity. So creating a link to my Productivity note makes total sense.

I can simply type:

[[Productivity]]

Obsidian will recognize this as a link to the note called “Productivity”.

Remember: At least one link per note. This is how you build a connected Zettelkasten that actually works.

Obsidian Zettelkasten Folder Structure

Obsidian allows you to create folders.

So a legitimate question to ask is what folder structure should you use?

There are many people who would recommend using Tiago Forte’s PARA or any other kind of folder structure. And let me tell you straight off the bat: I’m against all that.

Not because it may (or may not) work. Simply because it takes too much time to manage. (At least, in my experience.)

Remember that our goal of setting up a Zettelkasten in Obsidian is to spark new insights, clarify our thinking, and double down on our best ideas.

So we want to spend as little time as possible in managing the structure.

As a creative person, you’re an idea-maker, not an idea-manager!

When it comes to the Zettelkasten folder structure, don’t create a new folder.

I recommend starting with a FLAT structure. A flat structure implies that you start with no folder at all. This is how you truly replicate Niklas Luhmann’s Zettelkasten.

Remember that the word “Zettelkasten” is composed of two words: Zettel (notes) and Kasten (box).

All notes were contained in one giant box. This box is nothing else than your Obsidian vault.

Here’s why folders kill creativity:

They create invisible barriers between notes
They prevent serendipitous connections
They make you waste time deciding “where does this go?”
They trap notes in silos

Some productivity geeks on YouTube create folders within their Zettelkasten – but those who do this don’t understand the true purpose of a Zettelkasten.

Our brain doesn’t use folders. It uses links.

You can always add folders later on in the process. But to start out, make things simple.

Start with a FLAT structure. Ditch folders.

My Simple Note Standard (No Complex Templates)

Some people use templates in Obsidian to kickstart their notes: may it be for taking book notes or journaling.

There’s no right or wrong way. And it’s not an immutable science, but it is more about getting inspired.

You can check out Reddit or the Obsidian Forum to see what others are doing. But beware of frying your brain with overcomplicated productivity wizardry.

Again, I’m not a fan of overcomplicated templates.

Pro tip: I would encourage you to start taking notes with a proven workflow like you see here. Then start iterating it if needed down the road. As the saying goes: you have to understand the rules before breaking them.

Always remember that we want to work in the system, not on the system.

Luhmann’s original Zettelkasten worked because it was easy to maintain. Not because it was complicated. You should take this holistic approach, too.

Don’t get blinded and bogged down by 1 hour and 46 seconds complicated workflow walkthroughs.

My Actual Note Standard: One Note, One Idea

Here’s what I do instead of complex templates:

One note, one idea.

That’s it. Whether it’s my thought or an idea I got from a book:

I rewrite the idea with my words (Feynman technique)
I add ONE link to it based on another existing note that relates to it

Done.

Here’s what a note looks like:

# The Note Title (The One Idea)

[My understanding of the idea in my own words]

Related: [[Another Note]]

Source: Book/Article/My thoughts

No frontmatter. No properties. No complex metadata. Just the idea, in my words, with a link.

90% of my notes don’t have any tag. And it makes everything so much easier.

Different Types of Notes (Zettels) in Obsidian

The book How to Take Smart Notes introduces several types of notes to include in your digital Zettelkasten.

Let’s take a closer look at them – but adapted to my two-app system.

How to Take Fleeting Notes (Bear)

A fleeting note is a note you capture on the fly.

It can be an idea, a thought, or a valuable quote. You want to capture ideas quickly as soon as they arise so that you make sure to not lose them.

As I mentioned earlier, Obsidian is not very good at capturing ideas quickly.

This is why I use Bear (or Letterly for voice notes).

In this step, you simply capture the idea quickly. Don’t overthink it. Don’t try to make it perfect. Just get it out of your head.

Now, you have a collection of fleeting notes that need to be processed.

The next step is to transform those fleeting notes into permanent notes in Obsidian.

How to Take Permanent Notes in Obsidian

Now that you have a bunch of fleeting notes in Bear, it’s time to add the good ones to your Zettelkasten in Obsidian.

It’s time to create permanent notes.

The word permanent is here for a reason. Think of those notes as permanent residents of your Zettelkasten.

Technically speaking, creating a permanent note is nothing else than described earlier in this guide when it came to “creating your first note.” You simply create a new note in Obsidian with the content of your fleeting note.

However, to create a great permanent note, the goal is to rewrite everything in your own words (the Feynman technique.)

This is where the magic happens. You’re not just moving notes from Bear to Obsidian. You’re thinking through the idea and making it yours.

How to Take Literature Notes in Obsidian

Books are one of the best sources of knowledge.

This is why I love taking literature notes in Obsidian.

So instead of leaving my highlights slowly dying on Amazon’s cloud, I now distill my reads inside Obsidian and turn every idea I take from the book into a stand-alone note (i.e: permanent note)

The workflow I follow is quite simple:

Reading and highlighting (you don’t need a tutorial for that)
Importing your highlights into Obsidian using a third-party plugin
Distilling the information (rewriting/linking)

Here’s my detailed video workflow:

[Video: How I Take Literature Notes in Obsidian]

5 Mistakes I Made (So You Don’t Have To)

I’ve been taking notes for over a decade. For 10 years, 90% of those notes ended up in a digital black hole.

Here are the biggest mistakes I made:

Mistake #1: Using Scattered Apps

I had notes everywhere:

Evernote
Google Docs
Random text files
Email drafts
Physical notebooks
Bookmarks

It was a freakin’ mess. I ended up with scattered notes all over the place. And when I wanted to recall something, I didn’t even know where to search!

The fix: Centralize everything into ONE system. I refused to process any type of information unless it fit into my Bear → Obsidian workflow.

Mistake #2: Copy-Pasting Without Thinking

In the past, when I stumbled across an interesting concept, I simply highlighted it, dumped it into my notes, and then went ahead with my life.

It kept me at a surface level without ever going deep. I was merely being a parrot.

The fix: The Feynman technique. Rewrite everything in your own words. This forces you to actually understand the idea.

Mistake #3: Using Folders and Tags

I spent years classifying my notes. Should I use tags or folders? Which category does this belong to?

Every time I took a note, I had to decide how to name it and in which folder to store it. This led to decision fatigue.

Plus, folders created invisible barriers between my notes. They killed serendipitous connections.

The fix: Use links instead of folders. Flat structure. Let the connections emerge naturally.

Mistake #4: Being an Information Hoarder

I was constantly on a content treadmill. I had no real content library at my fingertips. Everything was scattered amongst my awful memory, bookmarks, and note-taking apps.

I was drowning in a sea of notes. But I wasn’t able to do anything significant with them.

The fix: Notes are not meant to be retrieved. They’re meant to be combined and used to create content.

Mistake #5: Thinking the App Mattered Most

Finding new apps was once my guilty pleasure. I thought that having a good system relied on having the best app.

What I didn’t understand is that it wasn’t that much about the app but more about how I was using it.

The fix: The app is just a vehicle. But if the driver sucks, the best app can’t do miracles. Focus on the workflow, not the tool.

Common Questions About Obsidian Zettelkasten

Should I Migrate My Old Notes?

No. Don’t start over.

Use Bear as a filter. Only migrate notes that still seem valuable after sitting for 2-3 days. Most of your old notes are probably not worth the effort.

How Many Notes Should I Create Per Day?

Doesn’t matter. Quality over quantity.

I might create 10 notes one day and zero the next. The goal isn’t volume – it’s connection and usefulness.

Do I Need Folders?

No.

Our brain uses synapses, not folders. Start with a flat structure. If you absolutely need folders later, add them. But you probably won’t.

Should I Use AI to Take Notes?

No.

What you gain in time, you lose in understanding. Writing is thinking. I’d rather summarize ONE book in my own words than 100 using AI.

Can I Use Just Obsidian Without Bear?

Yes, but mobile capture will frustrate you.

Obsidian is terrible for quick capture. If you don’t mind the friction, you can make it work. But the two-app system is the solution I found after years of frustration.

Do I Need Plugins?

Not to start.

Obsidian works great out of the box. Later, you might want Projects (for content calendar) or Canvas (for planning). But don’t overwhelm yourself at the beginning.

From Notes to Content: Why I Built This System

Let me tell you why I take notes:

To create content.

Not to hoard information. Not to feel productive. To actually create things that matter.

When I sit down to write an article, I don’t start from scratch. I open Obsidian, pull up the relevant notes, and assemble them together.

This article you’re reading? It’s a combination of different notes I’ve already written.

My 6-figure writing business runs on this system. I publish daily content across multiple platforms, and Obsidian is the backbone of it all.

When you link your notes to the content you create, something magical happens: Your knowledge compounds.

Six months later, when I want to write about Zettelkasten again, I can see exactly what I’ve already covered. I don’t repeat myself. I build on previous ideas.

This is the real power of Zettelkasten – not just storing knowledge, but actually using it.

Your First Hour: Getting Started

Here’s exactly what to do in your first hour:

Minutes 1-10: Download Obsidian and Bear. Create your vault.

Minutes 11-20: Set up Bear tags (#content-ideas, #consume-later, #actions, #projects)

Minutes 21-30: Create your first 3 notes in Obsidian using the “one note, one idea” standard

Minutes 31-40: Practice linking notes together (at least one link per note)

Minutes 41-50: Open graph view and see your first connections

Minutes 51-60: Capture your first idea in Bear

What you’ll have: A working system, not a perfect system.

You’ll have a system you can actually use, not a productivity porn project that looks good but doesn’t work.

Final Thoughts: Keep It Simple

If there’s one thing I want you to remember from this guide, it’s this:

You’re an idea-maker, not an idea-manager.

Don’t get caught in the trap of building the perfect system. Don’t spend hours setting up complex templates or installing every plugin.

The Zettelkasten method works because it’s simple:

Capture ideas (Bear)
Filter what matters (2-3 days)
Process into notes (Obsidian, in your own words)
Link to other notes (at least one)
Create from your notes

That’s it.

I’ve used this system for 3 years. I have 3,000+ notes. I run a 6-figure business. And my system is ridiculously simple.

Luhmann’s Zettelkasten worked because it was easy to maintain. Yours will too.

Now you know everything you need to get started taking smart notes in Obsidian…

Want to Go Deeper?

Would you like to really level up your personal knowledge management (PKM) skills?

Don’t miss out on my free email course below.

You’ll learn even more powerful insights to take your note-taking and digital Zettelkasten to the next level.

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