Open With App adds one command to Obsidian: open the note you’re looking at in any other app. Both apps edit the same file.

Install

You need Obsidian 1.13.0 or newer. It works on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad, but is tested on macOS and iOS only. Android isn’t supported.

1. In Obsidian, open Settings → Community plugins → Browse.
2. Search for Open With App, then install it and turn it on.

Other ways to install:

• BRAT: add i-am-fran/obsidian-open-with-app in the BRAT plugin to get every release as soon as it’s out.
• By hand: download main.js and manifest.json from the latest release into <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/open-with-app/, then turn on the plugin. To check the files were built from this repository, run gh attestation verify main.js --repo i-am-fran/obsidian-open-with-app.

First steps

1. Set up your app under Settings → Open With App.
2. Give Open current file in… a shortcut under Settings → Hotkeys.
3. Open a note and press it.

Choose your app under Settings → Open With App. Each kind of device keeps its own app, so one synced vault works everywhere, and the page only shows the current device’s settings. Nothing is chosen until you set it.

Mac

Type the app’s name as it appears in Applications, such as Typora, Visual Studio Code or iA Writer. If macOS can’t find it, you get a notice.

Windows

Enter the full path to the program, such as C:\Program Files\Typora\Typora.exe.

Linux

Enter the command, such as ghostwriter, or its full path. Only the command: extra options are read as part of its name.

iPhone and iPad

Obsidian on iOS can only open other apps through their links, and the app needs access to your vault folder. Choose the app under App, and the settings show what it needs:

• iA Writer: add your vault folder as a Location in iA Writer, then type its name under Location, exactly as iA Writer shows it. If it doesn’t match, iA Writer opens an empty document. Show keyboard opens the note ready for typing.
• Textastic: add your vault folder as an external folder in Textastic. Without it, Textastic opens but can’t find the note.
• Custom link: any other app, see below.

Other apps on iOS

Find the app’s link for opening a file in its help (look for “URL scheme” or “x-callback-url”). Choose Custom link and enter it, with a placeholder where the note goes:

Placeholder	Becomes
{path}	The note’s path in the vault, e.g. Notes/Reading list.md
{fullPath}	The note’s full path on the device
{vault}	The vault’s name

For example, Textastic’s link is textastic://x-callback-url/open?location=fullPath&path={fullPath}. The command is named after the link’s scheme, such as Open current file in textastic.

The command

Open current file in… is named after your app, such as Open current file in Typora. Give it a shortcut under Settings → Hotkeys. After changing the app, restart Obsidian to update the name.

The ribbon button

The ribbon button, an arrow out of a box, does the same. On desktop, right-click the ribbon to hide or show it. On iPhone and iPad, add it to the quick-access menu under Settings → Appearance → Ribbon menu configuration.

Opening

• One command, named after your app
• A ribbon button, also in the mobile quick-access menu

Devices

• Mac: any app by name
• Windows: any program by path
• Linux: any command
• iOS: iA Writer (with or without the keyboard), Textastic, or any app’s link
• iOS: setup steps for the chosen app
• A separate app per kind of device

Notices

• No note open
• No app chosen, or not set up yet
• macOS can’t find the app
• The app fails to start
• Android isn’t supported

FAQ

iA Writer opens an empty document instead of my note.

The Location setting doesn’t match the Location’s name in iA Writer. Check spelling and capitals.

The command still shows the old app’s name.

Restart Obsidian after changing the app.

Feedback and contributing

Open With App is tested on macOS and iOS only. If you use it on Windows or Linux, or with an app that needs a custom link, I’d like to hear how it goes. Open an issue for bugs and feedback. Pull requests are welcome too.

Support

Open With App is free. If it helps you, you can buy me a coffee. Changes are in the changelog, and it’s MIT licensed.