--- title: "Install Obsidian and Claude Code, then connect your first AI vault" description: "Follow eight installation and connection steps, write a short routing index, and test that Claude Code reads your first vault." canonical: "https://scalewithsearch.com/articles/how-to-set-up-ai-vault" date: "2026-01-28" modified: "2026-10-02" --- ## Site navigation - [Scale With Search](https://scalewithsearch.com/) - Real estate - Real estate - [Real estate](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/real-estate) - Work - Start here - [Send your brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#send-your-brief) - [Prepare your six-question brief](https://scalewithsearch.com/work#prepare-your-six-question-brief) - Build - [Site build, content library with SEO, signal desk](https://scalewithsearch.com/work) - For your business - Trades and home services - [Auto body and collision shops](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/auto-body-and-collision-shops) - [Foundation and home repair contractors](https://scalewithsearch.com/for/foundation-and-home-repair) - 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You use Claude every day, and every session starts with the same explanation of your business. You want Claude to start with that context already loaded. An AI knowledge vault is a folder of Markdown files that Claude reads at the start of a conversation. It gives Claude persistent memory without an algorithm that decides what to keep. You write down what Claude needs to know, and Claude reads it every time. You install Obsidian, create a small first vault, connect Claude Code, and test that it reads your files. Keep the first connection small. [The routed-vault guide](/articles/obsidian-ai-vault-setup-guide) owns the routing architecture; [the organization guide](/articles/how-to-organize-ai-knowledge-vault) owns reorganizing notes you already have. This article takes you through the eight install and test steps. ## Step 1: install Obsidian Obsidian is a Markdown editor that stores files on your own disk. Download it from obsidian.md and install it. Since February 2025, Obsidian no longer requires a paid license for work use; a commercial license is optional. When Obsidian opens for the first time, it asks you to create or open a vault. Create a new vault. Give it a clear name, such as "AI Vault," "Claude Memory," or your business name. Choose where on your disk the files live. Obsidian creates a folder at that location. Everything you write is a Markdown file in that folder. You can open the files in any text editor. Obsidian is an interface for managing them. ## Step 2: create the folder structure Inside the vault, create a folder for each area of your work or life. The areas depend on what you need Claude to help with. | Use | Example folders | |---|---| | Business | Clients, Projects, Standard Operating Procedures, Products, Brand, Team | | Personal | Work, Personal Projects, Learning, Household, Health | Each folder holds Markdown files with the information Claude needs about that area. Keep the structure flat at first. Add subfolders later as the vault grows. The [vault organization guide](/articles/how-to-organize-ai-knowledge-vault) covers domain limits, routing tables, and naming rules for the next stage. ## Step 3: write the master file Create a file named `CLAUDE.md` at the vault root. Claude Code reads this file first in every session. Use it as a short routing index with standing instructions and pointers to domain detail. Start with five sections: 1. WHO: who you are, what you do, and the background Claude needs. 2. WHAT: the domains Claude helps with. List each folder and its context-file path. 3. HOW: rules for how Claude works, including voice, formatting, and interaction rules. 4. NOW: a short pointer to current work in the domain files, rather than every project detail. 5. KEY FILES: links to important reference documents, templates, and procedures. Start with a short index you can read in one sitting. Keep detailed client records, project status, and procedures in domain files. Add their paths to the root index instead of copying them into it. The [CLAUDE.md business template](/articles/claude-md-template-business-context) shows a finished example. ## Step 4: add a context file to each domain In each folder, create a file named `_context.md`. It holds what Claude needs to know about that domain. | Folder | What `_context.md` includes | |---|---| | Clients | Client naming conventions, the standard client folder structure, communication guidelines, the billing process, and a one-line list of active clients | | Projects | Project status definitions, standard project phases, tools and systems, and current projects with status | | Brand | Voice guidelines, banned words and phrases, the target audience, and key messages | Each `_context.md` file is a reference document that Claude reads when it works in that domain. Keep each one focused on the essentials. Do not put everything you know into one file. Write the billing process, not billing data. Account numbers and card details do not belong in the vault. The [client data guide](/articles/client-data-in-ai-agent-memory) lists what else to keep out. ## Step 5: install and connect Claude Code Claude Code is the command-line interface that lets Claude read and write files on your computer. Install it with Anthropic's current setup instructions. In January 2026, the documented routes were a native installer and an npm package that needed Node.js. Claude Code also needs a paid Claude plan or an Anthropic Console account. On Mac, you run Claude Code in Terminal. On Windows, you run it in PowerShell or Command Prompt. The install is one command. The larger task is to write `CLAUDE.md`, which is a text document. Connect Claude Code to the vault by starting it in the vault folder: ```bash cd ~/Documents/AI-Vault claude ``` Claude Code works in the folder where you start it. If the vault holds client work that other sessions must not see, start Claude Code in a narrower folder instead. The [Claude and Obsidian connection guide](/articles/connect-claude-obsidian-business-memory) explains how to limit access to part of a vault. Test the connection. Start a session and ask Claude to read `CLAUDE.md` and summarize it. Claude must open the file and describe its contents. ## Step 6: create the first domain files Pick one area where you work often. Create two or three files with the information Claude needs there. If you have clients, create one file for each active client with: - the client name and contact; - the project scope; - preferences and requirements; - major decisions from past communication; - next steps. If you have repeating workflows, create one SOP file for each with: - the process name; - step-by-step instructions; - common variations; - the tools used; - the output format. Do not document everything at once. Start with the information you explain to Claude most often, and build from there. ## Step 7: test the setup Start a new Claude Code session. In the first message, refer to the vault: "Read my CLAUDE.md file and tell me what you know about my active projects." Claude must read the file and summarize from it. If Claude cannot find the file, check that you started Claude Code in the vault folder and that the file name is exactly `CLAUDE.md`. If Claude reads it, test a domain request: "Read Brand/_context.md and draft a social media post." Run three or four requests that touch different parts of the vault. Confirm that Claude can reach every folder and file you created. Ask Claude to list the files it read after each answer, and compare the list with what you expected. ## Step 8: set two maintenance habits The vault works only while it stays current. Build two habits. At the end of a significant session, update the relevant domain record with decisions, completed work, and changed context. Change the root NOW pointer only when the active domain or file changes. Allow 2 to 3 minutes. Once a week, review the domain files. Update project status, archive completed work, and add new clients or projects. This takes 10 to 15 minutes. Skip these reviews, and the information goes stale. Keep them, and the vault stays accurate. ## Avoid four setup mistakes Too much at once: do not document everything before you use the system. Start small and add information when you find a gap. Inconsistent names: pick one naming convention for files and folders and keep it. Inconsistent names make the vault harder to navigate. No update habit: without the maintenance habits, the vault is stale within two weeks. The information has value only when it is current. Careless storage of sensitive data: the vault files stay on your disk, but Claude Code sends the text of each file it reads to Anthropic for processing. Retention and training terms depend on your plan. If you sync the vault to cloud storage, encrypt or exclude sensitive information. Do not put passwords, API keys, or financial data in plain text. ## Check the results after two weeks After two weeks with a working vault, look for four changes: - Claude sessions start faster, because you do not supply context. - Claude makes fewer errors from misunderstanding your situation. - You repeat the same information less often across conversations. - Claude's suggestions fit your actual needs more closely. After two months, the vault can also serve as your own reference, not only Claude's. It becomes the source of truth for how the work runs. You can keep Notion or Google Docs. The vault does not replace them. One workable split is Notion for project management, and Obsidian with Claude Code for work where persistent context matters. The [Obsidian business-memory guide](/articles/obsidian-ai-memory-for-business) shows how to add source order, corrections, and receipts once the basic vault works. ## Related: AI memory - [Stop Re-Explaining Your Business to AI](/articles/stop-re-explaining-your-business-to-ai) - [Write one memory file and start Claude Code without any programming](/articles/ai-memory-for-non-technical-users) - [Set up an AI memory vault that Claude Code reads every session](/articles/ai-memory-setup-checklist) ---- ```text .|########||. .|########||. .|########||. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |##||. .||##|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#|. .|#|. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. .#| .#. .#| .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .# ||#########| #| .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. .#. |######||######|. .#. #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# #. .##|###|##|#|######| .# || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || || |##|#||||||||||||#||#| || # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. # |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # # .#||||||||||||||||||||||||#| # || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || || ....|||#||||||##|#|||#|#||##||||....|. || #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# #. . ....|# ....#||| ||| .#||| ....#. .# # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. # . ||||#| .#####|| . .#| .#||| ||||# #. .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || .| ||||| #. |#|||||. || #. |#||. .||||| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || || |.... #. ....|#. |. ...|. ....|| || #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# #. .||||||##||||||##||####|||||||#||||||#| .# # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .||####|###########################|. # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#||||||.#.|| # |. ..# #| #|||||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||||| .. |# ## |#| ...#|#|||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#|||#|# .# .#| #| ##|.#..#|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # .#||||||############|######|||||#| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # # |...||#||||||#||||#|#||||||#|||||#||| |.| # #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# #. .. ||||# .|||##|. |#| .|| || .|||#. #| # .# || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || | ...|| ...##| | #| .|. |. ##### .. .| || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || || ||||| || ||||#| . |. |. |#. ||||| |#| || || .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. .# |.....#|....|#.||||.|||##.|#|....||.#||.#. #. #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# #.|||||||#############################| ||| .# || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || || ##||#||#||||||#||#||#||#||##. || # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # # .#|||||||||#||#|||||||||||#| # || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||||||#| || .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. .# |#||||||||||||||||||||#| #. || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || || |#||||||||||||||||||#| || #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# #. .######|#|#########| .# .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. .#. |#####||||#####| .#. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ||########|| #. |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |# ...... #| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#. |#. .#. |#. .#. .#| |#. .#| |#. .#| |#. |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| |#| .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. .|#|. |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| |##||. .||##| .||########||. .||########||. .||########||. 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