Skip to main content
Before we start organising, let’s make sure all your tools are installed and working.
You will need: a laptop and Obsidian installed with the CLI plugin enabled. No coding experience is required — we will guide you through every step.
Already set up? If you completed the Voice-Control Your Notes tutorial, you are already set up! Skip to Step 5 to check your vault.
1

Install Node.js

Already have Node.js? If you installed it for a previous tutorial, skip this step. Run node --version in your terminal to check — you should see a version number like v22.x.x.
Node.js is a free tool that lets you run Gemini CLI on your computer.
  1. Go to nodejs.org
  2. Click the big green LTS button to download the installer
  3. Open the downloaded .msi file
  4. Click Next through all the screens — the default settings are fine
  5. Click Install, then Finish
Open your terminal and type:
node --version
You should see a version number like v22.x.x. If you see an error, try closing and reopening your terminal, then run the command again.
2

Install Gemini CLI

Already have Gemini CLI? If you installed it for a previous tutorial, skip this step. Just run gemini in your terminal to check it still works.
Gemini CLI is Google’s free AI assistant. It runs in your terminal and helps you with tasks based on your descriptions.Open your terminal and type:
npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Wait for the installation to finish. Then start it by typing:
gemini
The first time you run it, Gemini CLI will ask you to sign in:
  • Choose “Sign in with Google”
  • A browser window will open — sign in with your Google account
  • Come back to the terminal when it says you’re connected
Free tier: 60 requests per minute, 1,000 requests per day — more than enough for this tutorial and everyday use.
This means Node.js isn’t installed correctly. Go back and reinstall Node.js. After reinstalling, close your terminal completely and open a new one before trying again.
Windows: Close PowerShell and reopen it by right-clicking and choosing “Run as Administrator”. Then try the install command again.macOS: Add sudo before the command:
sudo npm install -g @google/gemini-cli
Enter your computer password when prompted (you won’t see characters as you type — that’s normal).
3

Install Obsidian and enable the CLI

Already done this? If you installed the Obsidian CLI plugin in a previous tutorial, skip this step. Run obsidian version in your terminal to check — you should see a version number.
Obsidian is a free note-taking app that stores your notes as plain text files on your computer. The CLI lets you control it from the terminal.
  1. Go to obsidian.md/download and click Download for Windows
  2. Run the installer and follow the prompts
  3. Open Obsidian — if this is your first time, click Create new vault, give it a name (e.g. “My Notes”), and choose where to save it
Already have Obsidian? Make sure you are running version 1.12.4 or later. Go to Settings → General → check the version number at the top. If you need to update, download the latest installer from obsidian.md/download.
Now enable the CLI:
  1. In Obsidian, open Settings (gear icon in the bottom-left)
  2. Go to General
  3. Find Command line interface and toggle it on
  4. Follow the prompt to register the CLI
  5. Close and reopen your terminal for the changes to take effect
Test it by opening your terminal and typing:
obsidian help
You should see a list of available commands. If you do, the CLI is ready.
Restart your terminal after enabling the CLI — the PATH changes only take effect in new terminal windows.macOS: Check that your ~/.zprofile file contains this line:
export PATH="$PATH:/Applications/Obsidian.app/Contents/MacOS"
If it is missing, add it manually, then restart your terminal.Windows: Make sure you are using the Obsidian 1.12.4+ installer. The installer adds a terminal redirector that allows the CLI to work. If the command still isn’t found, try restarting your computer.
The CLI connects to the running Obsidian app. Make sure Obsidian is open before running CLI commands. If Obsidian is not running, the first CLI command should launch it automatically — but this may take a few seconds.
By default, the CLI uses the vault in your current terminal directory, or the most recently active vault. To target a specific vault, add vault=<name> before your command:
obsidian vault="My Notes" help
4

Install Wispr Flow (optional)

This step is optional. Wispr Flow lets you speak instead of type — handy if you prefer talking over typing. Skip this step if you’d rather type your prompts.
Sign up using this invite link to get a free month of Pro: https://wisprflow.ai/r?CHAN115Both you and the tutorial author benefit — you get a free month of Pro, and they get a free month when you dictate 2,000 words!
  1. Sign up at wisprflow.ai/r?CHAN115
  2. Download and install the app for your operating system
  3. Configure settings — enable these options for the best experience:
    • Experimental > Command Mode — Enable advanced voice commands
    • Press Enter Command — Automatically press enter when you say “press enter”
    • Bulk Import — Import snippets and dictionary items
Wispr Flow is a voice-to-text tool that lets you dictate instead of type. It works in any application, including your terminal. Instead of typing a long prompt to Gemini CLI, you can just say it out loud. This is especially useful if you find typing slow or tiring.
5

Check your vault

Let’s make sure Gemini CLI can talk to your Obsidian vault. Start Gemini CLI:
Copy this command
gemini
Then say or type this prompt:
Say this or copy this prompt
How many files and folders are in my Obsidian vault?
Gemini CLI should return information about your vault — the number of files, folders, and possibly the vault name and path. If it does, everything is connected.
Multiple vaults? If you have more than one vault, Obsidian CLI uses your default vault. You can switch vaults in the Obsidian app settings.
6

Create sample notes if your vault is empty

If you have a fresh vault with no notes, give Gemini CLI these prompts one at a time. This creates sample notes so the tutorial has material to work with.
Say this or copy this prompt
Create a note in Obsidian called 'Meeting Notes - March 15' with a heading Team Meeting, some discussion points about the project timeline, two checkbox tasks about reviewing the budget and sending an update to Sarah, and tag it with meeting and work
Say this or copy this prompt
Create a note called 'Recipe - Banana Bread' with ingredients list and tag it recipe and baking
Say this or copy this prompt
Create a note called 'Book Notes' with a reading list of Atomic Habits and The Lean Startup, tagged books and reading
Say this or copy this prompt
Create a note called 'Project Ideas' with three career-related ideas, tagged ideas and career
Say this or copy this prompt
Create a note called 'Untitled' with some random unstructured text and no tags
Already have notes? Skip this step. These sample notes are only for people starting with an empty vault so the tutorial has something to work with.

​
Verify your setup

Running node --version in your terminal shows a version number.
Running gemini in your terminal starts the AI assistant and shows a prompt where you can type.
Running obsidian version in your terminal shows a version number.
Asking Gemini CLI about your vault returns file and folder counts.
You can speak and see text appear in your terminal.
All set? Head to Search, audit, and organise to start exploring your vault.