created: 2026-04-30
modified: 2026-05-09
reviewed: 2026-04-30
name: workspaces
description: "Obsidian editor workspace: list open tabs, recent files, saved Workspaces. Use when checking what's open, switching layouts, or opening files into tabs."
user-invocable: false
allowed-tools: Bash(obsidian *), Read, Grep, Glob
Obsidian Workspaces, Tabs & Recents
When to Use This Skill
| Use this skill when... |
Use the alternative instead when... |
| Inspecting the current workspace tree, tabs, or recently opened files |
Reading or writing note content — use vault-files |
| Saving / loading layouts via the Workspaces core plugin |
Switching between vaults — use vault-management |
| Opening a file into a specific tab group |
Triggering a generic UI command — use command-palette |
The Workspaces core plugin must be enabled for workspace:save / :load /
:delete and the workspaces list to return data. tabs, tab:open,
recents, and the bare workspace tree command work without it.
Prerequisites
- Obsidian desktop v1.12.4+ with CLI enabled
- Obsidian must be running
- For saved-layout commands: enable the Workspaces core plugin
Inspect the Current Workspace
# Tree of the active workspace (groups, splits, leaves)
obsidian workspace
# Include item IDs (needed for tab:open group=)
obsidian workspace ids
Tabs
# Open tabs in the active window
obsidian tabs
# Include tab IDs
obsidian tabs ids
# Open a file into a new tab (defaults to active group)
obsidian tab:open file="Notes/Recipe"
# Open into a specific group (use ids from `obsidian workspace ids` or `obsidian tabs ids`)
obsidian tab:open group=<group-id> file="Notes/Recipe"
# Open a non-file view (graph, file explorer, etc.)
obsidian tab:open view=graph
obsidian tab:open view=file-explorer
Recent Files
# Recently opened files (tab history)
obsidian recents
# Just the count
obsidian recents total
Saved Workspaces (core plugin)
# All saved layouts
obsidian workspaces
obsidian workspaces total
# Save the current layout
obsidian workspace:save name="Writing"
# Switch to a saved layout
obsidian workspace:load name="Writing"
# Delete a saved layout
obsidian workspace:delete name="Writing"
Common Patterns
"What is the user looking at right now?"
obsidian workspace
obsidian tabs
obsidian recents
"Open these three notes side-by-side, then save the layout"
obsidian open file="Brief"
obsidian command id=workspace:split-vertical
obsidian tab:open file="Spec"
obsidian command id=workspace:split-vertical
obsidian tab:open file="Notes"
obsidian workspace:save name="Triage"
"Restore the writing layout for a focused session"
obsidian workspace:load name="Writing"
"Open the graph view in a new tab"
obsidian tab:open view=graph
Agentic Optimizations
| Context |
Command |
| Workspace tree |
obsidian workspace |
| Workspace with IDs |
obsidian workspace ids |
| Open tabs |
obsidian tabs |
| Recently opened |
obsidian recents |
| Open file in new tab |
obsidian tab:open file=X |
| Open view (graph, etc.) |
obsidian tab:open view=Y |
| List saved layouts |
obsidian workspaces |
| Switch layout |
obsidian workspace:load name=X |
| Save layout |
obsidian workspace:save name=X |
Related Skills
- vault-files — Read or write the file you just opened
- command-palette —
workspace:split-vertical, workspace:split-horizontal, etc.
- vault-management — Switch vaults before inspecting their workspace
By