Obsidian integration for iPhone

Write on iPhone. Find it in your chosen Obsidian note.

Q: Which note does it append to, and in what format?

"Daily note" uses today’s yyyy-MM-dd.md in your selected folder. "Custom note" uses your chosen filename, with Inbox.md as the default. The default format is - HH:mm memo. Use "Append format" to change timestamps and templates before or after the text, separately for iPhone and Apple Watch. Appending preserves existing note content.

Choose a folder in your Obsidian vault, run the write test, then save a short memo from iPhone. Successful direct writes append without opening Obsidian. Check the note on iPhone first; email delivery and sync to another device are separate results.

This app is an independent product by YURIKA, K.K. and is not an official Obsidian app or plugin. Obsidian is a trademark of Dynalist Inc.

See setup steps

By AI ATAKA · Updated September 9, 2026

A consistent destination for your next note

Simple Memo can append text to a daily note or a fixed inbox in the folder you select on iPhone. Enable the integration, choose the target and verify a write first. Direct writes need no community plugin; the folder and file must remain available with permission to write.

Choose a destination once

Set the folder and filename in advance, then use the same destination for short memos. Find the first saved text before relying on the workflow.

Review and add context

Capture a useful point on iPhone, then add links or context in Obsidian. A second brain workflow depends on returning to notes and using them.

Choose whether to also email

Normal mode also sends to your configured address. Obsidian-only mode has its own activation conditions below. An email copy does not replace a backup of your whole vault.

How saving works

With the integration enabled, the iPhone attempts to append to your selected note. In normal mode, a missing folder or failed direct write may fall back to an Obsidian URI that opens the app. Verify the saved text in the target note.

Write a memo→Use the selected destination→Check the saved note

Fictional formatting example. Output depends on the append template you select.

# 2026-09-09

- 09:14 Ask which draft needs a diagram

Daily note or fixed inbox

Daily notes use yyyy-MM-dd.md in the selected folder. Custom notes use the filename you choose, with Inbox.md as the blank-name default. Simple Memo does not read Obsidian's Daily Notes folder or date format automatically.

Folder access before automation

Select a vault folder accessible through Files, grant access and run the write test. Direct folder writes need no community plugin.

Prepare files for offline use

Direct writes can work offline when the folder and target file are downloaded and writable. Keep pending memos until saving is confirmed. Email and remote sync need connectivity.

Where the text goes

The direct file append runs on iPhone. If email is enabled, its body passes through the Relay API and delivery provider. AES-GCM protects the app's on-device queue and history; it does not make an ordinary email or exported Markdown file end-to-end encrypted. See the Privacy Policy for processing and storage details.

Setup: check your first saved memo

Simple Memo installed on iPhone (iOS 16.0 or later)
Obsidian installed on the same iPhone
Your Obsidian vault is on iCloud Drive or "On My iPhone" and accessible from the Files app. Download iCloud folders to your iPhone first

Open the Obsidian section in Settings
In Simple Memo's Settings, find "Obsidian" and turn on "Obsidian integration."
Choose the folder that should receive your notes
Tap "Choose" in the "Folder" row and select the folder inside your vault where you want memos saved. If your daily notes live in a subfolder, select that subfolder.
Match the destination and note name
Under "Destination," choose "Daily note" for a note per day or "Custom note" for one inbox. For a custom note, set "Note name"; leaving it blank uses Inbox.md. Daily notes use yyyy-MM-dd.md in the selected folder. Direct writes do not require Obsidian's Daily Notes feature to be enabled, but Simple Memo does not automatically read its folder or date-format settings.
Run "Test Obsidian write"
This writes "Obsidian integration test" to your chosen note without sending email. Check the filename in the "Written to Obsidian" message, then open that note in Obsidian on your iPhone. Finding the test text confirms the folder connection.
Send one short memo and check the same note
Try "Ask about the next meeting" and confirm it was appended to your chosen note. Normal mode also sends email, so check your email inbox separately. Send your next thought to the same destination without repeating setup.

If the write test fails

If you see "Couldn’t write," check that the folder opens in Files and is downloaded to your iPhone. Select it again under Settings → Obsidian → Folder, then rerun the write test first. If the test succeeds but the note is missing on another device, check that both devices use the same vault and that sync is working. iCloud sync time varies with connection conditions.

If you skipped this during onboarding, start from the Obsidian section in Settings whenever you are ready.

Check saving, email and sync separately

Three results to check. Scroll horizontally.
Result	What confirms it	If it is missing
Saved on iPhone	Open the filename from the write-test result and find the text.	Check Files access, downloads, folder and destination name; rerun the test.
Email delivered	Find the memo in the configured inbox when email is enabled.	Check pending sends, the recipient address and the receiving mailbox.
Available on another device	Open the same vault and note on that device.	Check sync after confirming the local write.

The email and Obsidian workflow guide also distinguishes new iPhone memos from importing received mail.

Save to Obsidian without sending email

Enabling Obsidian-only mode requires Premium, the integration switched on, a selected folder and a successful write test. Review the confirmation in Settings before switching. While active, this mode saves to the vault without emailing the memo; failed saves remain pending.

An already active mode continues if Premium expires, with the free allowance of three saves per day. If you choose email rescue for a pending memo, that is a separate send. See the pricing FAQ for plan conditions.

Ways to use it

Capture-first

Use one inbox for useful fragments. Set a review time and move notes toward an action, a reference or deletion; handle deadlines separately.

Daily log / journaling

Timestamped lines in the daily note become a log of your day's thinking — a great fit for journaling.

Meeting notes

Capture a decision, owner and next action. Review saved notes against the discussion before turning them into minutes.

Reading & quotes

Record the source, page or URL and your own takeaway. See reading-note workflows for ways to revisit the material.

Requirements & caveats

The target folder must be accessible and writable

Choose a vault folder available through Files on iPhone and test the direct write. Using Obsidian Sync does not itself grant folder access to Simple Memo. If no usable folder is selected, normal mode may use an Obsidian URI; Obsidian-only mode requires a folder and a successful test.

Daily notes assume yyyy-MM-dd.md

Direct writes use yyyy-MM-dd.md in your selected folder and create the file if needed. If your usual daily notes use a different folder or name, match the folder or choose "Custom note" for a fixed inbox. Check the filename shown by the write test.

Writing on your iPhone and syncing are separate steps

A successful write test confirms that Simple Memo wrote to the file in your selected folder. Other devices still need to sync. Check the note on your iPhone first, then check sync on your Mac or other device.

FAQ

Do I need an Obsidian plugin?

No community plugin is needed for direct folder writes. Simple Memo writes to your selected folder on iCloud Drive or "On My iPhone." This method does not require the Daily Notes feature to be enabled. Use "Test Obsidian write" in Settings to check your destination first.

Does Obsidian open every time I send a memo?

A successful direct folder write appends without opening Obsidian. In normal mode, if no folder is selected or a direct write fails, the app may open Obsidian through its URL scheme to attempt the append. The write test in Settings checks direct folder writes only.

Which note does it append to, and in what format?

"Daily note" uses today’s yyyy-MM-dd.md in your selected folder. "Custom note" uses your chosen filename, with Inbox.md as the default. The default format is - HH:mm memo. Use "Append format" to change timestamps and templates before or after the text, separately for iPhone and Apple Watch. Appending preserves existing note content.

Does it work if I only use Obsidian Sync?

Direct writes require a folder accessible through Files and permission to write. Using Obsidian Sync alone does not grant Simple Memo folder access. Select a folder and run the test; check sync separately after finding the note on iPhone.

Can I use it on Android or desktop?

Simple Memo runs on iPhone with iOS 16 or later. Reading the same notes on another device requires a sync method that supports both platforms. Check Obsidian’s platform-specific sync guide; iCloud is not a universal solution for every OS.

Are my memos stored on your servers?

The direct Obsidian append runs on iPhone. When email is enabled, the body passes through the Relay API and delivery provider. Check the Privacy Policy for processing and storage details. On-device queue encryption does not make ordinary email end-to-end encrypted.

What happens to my regular email sending?

Normal mode also sends email; verify email delivery and the file write separately. Enabling Obsidian-only mode requires Premium, the integration on, a selected folder and a successful write test. An active mode continues after Premium expires with the free allowance of three saves per day.

Does it append to Obsidian even offline?

Yes, if the folder is downloaded to your iPhone and the app can write to it. Direct writes then work without an internet connection. Run the write test first. In normal mode, email waits in the Outbox; iCloud sync to other devices needs a connection again.

Can I collect everything in one Obsidian inbox note?

Yes. Select "Custom note" under "Destination" and set "Note name." Leaving the name blank uses Inbox.md. Memos append to that file in your selected folder. Run the write test and check its filename and text first. You can switch between a daily note and a custom note in Settings.

Does it work with Gmail, Outlook, or iCloud Mail into Obsidian?

Email delivery and direct folder writes are separate paths. A working Gmail, Outlook or iCloud inbox does not verify the file destination. In normal mode, check both results. While Obsidian-only mode is active, the memo is saved without being emailed.

Can I send to Obsidian from Apple Watch?

Watch input is handed to the paired iPhone, which performs the Obsidian write. Check that handoff completes and the memo appears in the selected note. Input on Watch alone does not confirm a vault save. See the Apple Watch page for the workflow.

Save your first memo to a verified destination

Free to download. Test your destination, then save your first memo.

Apple Watch × Obsidian Integration All Setup Guides Draft Auto-save Guide Turn Your Inbox into a To-Do List Second Brain Zettelkasten vs Obsidian Obsidian Share Sheet — Honest Comparison Privacy Architecture Note to Email

References

Obsidian Help — Official Obsidian Help for vault, daily notes, and sync behavior
Obsidian URI — Official docs for the standard obsidian:// URI used in the fallback path
Apple — iCloud — Official support for file sync via iCloud Drive
Simple Memo - for Obsidian — App Store — App Store download page