How do I create a wikilink in Obsidian?
Type two opening square brackets [[ and start typing the note name. Obsidian shows an autocomplete list; pick a note or type a new name to create a link (and the note) on the fly.
Obsidian Wikilinks
Quick answer
Link to another note in Obsidian by wrapping its name in double square brackets: [[Note Name]]. Add a pipe for a label [[Note|label]], a # to target a heading, and a leading ! to embed the note with ![[Note Name]].
Wikilink Syntax
Basic wikilink
[[Page Name]]Link to another note by its file name
Alias (display text)
[[Page Name|Display Text]]Show custom text instead of the note name
Link to a heading
[[Page Name#Heading]]Jump to a specific heading in a note
Link to a subheading
[[Page Name#Heading#Subheading]]Chain headings to reach a nested section
Link to a block
[[Page Name#^block-id]]Link to a specific paragraph or block
Heading in the same note
[[#Heading]]Link to a heading within the current note
Embed a note
![[Note Name]]Transclude the full note inline
Embed a section
![[Note#Heading]]Embed just one section of a note
Embed an image
![[image.png]]Show an image stored in your vault
Embed a block
![[Note#^block-id]]Embed a single referenced block
Wikilinks vs Markdown Links
| Feature | Wikilinks | Markdown links |
|---|---|---|
| Syntax | [[Note]] | [text](note.md) |
| Autocomplete | Yes, on typing [[ | Limited |
| Auto-updates on rename | Yes | Only if configured |
| Link to heading/block | [[Note#Heading]] / [[Note#^id]] | [text](note.md#heading) |
| Embeds / transclusion | ![[Note]] | Not supported |
| Portable outside Obsidian | No (Obsidian/wiki-style only) | Yes (standard Markdown) |
Examples
Link with a friendly label
See the [[2024-Q3 Roadmap|Q3 roadmap]] for context.
The text after the pipe is what readers see; the part before it is the actual note name.
Link straight to a section
Details live in [[Onboarding#Step 2]].
Use # followed by the exact heading text to jump to that section.
Embed a reusable snippet
![[Disclaimer]]
Embedding transcludes the whole note, so editing the source updates every place it appears.
Reference a single block
As noted here: ![[Meeting 2024-05-01#^decision]]
Add ^block-id at the end of a paragraph, then reference it with #^block-id.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between wikilinks and Markdown links in Obsidian?
Wikilinks use [[Note]] syntax with autocomplete, automatic rename updates, and embeds via ![[Note]]. Standard Markdown links use [text](note.md) and are portable to any Markdown app but lack transclusion and some automation. You can switch the default in Settings → Files & Links → Use [[Wikilinks]].
How do I add display text to a wikilink?
Use a pipe: [[Note Name|Display Text]]. Obsidian shows the display text while still linking to the note.
How do I link to a heading or block?
For a heading use [[Note#Heading]]. For a specific block, add ^ and an id after the block ([[Note#^block-id]]); Obsidian can generate the block id for you when you type #^.
How do I embed a note instead of linking to it?
Put an exclamation mark before the wikilink: ![[Note Name]]. This transcludes the note inline. You can embed a section with ![[Note#Heading]] or an image with ![[image.png]].