---
title: "Plugins and the mobile app"
description: "Extending Obsidian + using it on the Galaxy S26+."
source: "Obsidian Academy"
source_url: https://obsidian-academy.pages.dev/basics/05-plugins-and-mobile/
saved: 2026-05-16
tags: [obsidian-academy, saved-from-web, basics]
---

Obsidian out of the box is a markdown editor with backlinks. Plugins turn it into a Swiss army knife.

## Two kinds of plugins

| Type | What they are | Where you find them |
|---|---|---|
| **Core plugins** | Built by Obsidian devs, ship with the app | Settings → Core plugins |
| **Community plugins** | Built by third parties | Settings → Community plugins → Browse |

Core plugins are safe by default. Community plugins are user-contributed — read the readme, check stars, install from the official directory only.

## The 5 community plugins you'll actually use

Install these via Settings → Community plugins → Browse:

| Plugin | What it does | Why you need it |
|---|---|---|
| **Local REST API** | Exposes vault over HTTP | Powers Claude Code's Obsidian MCP |
| **Dataview** | Query frontmatter and tags | Required for several workflows |
| **Templater** | Smarter templates with variables | Better than the built-in template plugin |
| **Tasks** | Advanced task filtering | If you live in checkboxes |
| **Obsidian Git** | Auto-commit to a git repo | Free version history beyond Syncthing's |

You already installed Local REST API (it's what powers the Claude integration). Install Dataview next — several skills on this site degrade without it.

## The mobile app

Install **Obsidian** from the Google Play Store on your Galaxy S26+.

Opens the same vault, same notes. The interface adapts to touch:

- Sidebar swipes from the left
- Long-press a note for options
- Pin notes to the home screen as Android shortcuts
- Quick capture: home screen widget for "new note" or "append to today's daily note"

> [!NOTE]
> **Community plugins on mobile** — most work, but some don't (the ones that depend on Node APIs). Dataview, Templater, Tasks all work on mobile. Local REST API doesn't need to — your phone hits the desktop's API via Syncthing-pushed files, not directly.

## Mobile-specific gotchas

- **Frontmatter editor** — the mobile UI for editing frontmatter is clumsier than desktop. Edit YAML in source mode if you're picky.
- **Plugin install location** — community plugins must be re-enabled on the mobile install (the vault syncs them but they're disabled by default to be safe).
- **Performance** — vaults with 5000+ notes can be slow on mobile. Yours is small (~30 files), no problem.

## What's NOT on mobile

- Custom CSS snippets (the `.obsidian/snippets/` files don't apply on mobile)
- Some advanced themes (most do work though)
- Anything that needs a terminal — Claude Code runs only on desktop

## Quick capture from your phone

Two flows:

1. **Open Obsidian → tap + (new note) → type → save** — appears in `00-Inbox/` after sync (or wherever you tell it; configure default new-file location in Settings → Files & Links)
2. **Bixby Routine or HTTP Shortcut** → POST to `00-Inbox/inbox.md` via the Local REST API (covered in [Setup → Mobile sync](/setup/03-mobile-sync/))

## Next

[Sync via Syncthing](/basics/06-sync-via-syncthing/) — how your desktop vault stays mirrored with your phone.