> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://mintlify.com/obsidianmd/obsidian-help/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Manage vaults

> Create, open, rename, move, and switch between Obsidian vaults using the vault switcher.

A **vault** is a folder on your file system that contains your notes, attachments, and a `.obsidian` configuration folder with Obsidian-specific settings. Each vault is independent — links, settings, plugins, and themes are all local to the vault.

For more on how Obsidian stores data, see [How Obsidian stores data](/files/how-obsidian-stores-data).

## Open the vault switcher

The vault switcher lets you manage all your vaults from one place.

* Select the **Vault profile** icon at the bottom of the left sidebar, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
* Or run **Open another vault** from the Command palette.

## Create a new vault

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vault switcher">
    Select **Vault profile** at the bottom left, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Create the vault">
    Next to **Create new vault**, select **Create**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Name and place the vault">
    Enter a vault name, click **Browse** to choose where it will be created, then click **Create**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Open an existing folder as a vault

You can turn any existing folder into a vault — Obsidian will add a `.obsidian` folder to it and leave your files untouched.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vault switcher">
    Select **Vault profile** at the bottom left, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open the folder">
    Next to **Open folder as vault**, click **Open**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Select the folder">
    Navigate to the folder you want to use, then click **Open**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

<Tip>
  To open a remote vault from Obsidian Sync, refer to the Obsidian Sync setup guide.
</Tip>

## Switch between vaults

To switch from the current vault to another:

* Select the **Vault profile** icon at the bottom of the left sidebar.
* Click the vault you want to open from the list.

Each vault opens in its own window. You can have multiple vaults open at the same time.

## Rename a vault

Renaming a vault also renames its underlying folder on disk.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vault switcher">
    Select **Vault profile**, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Open vault options">
    In the vault list, select **More options** next to the vault you want to rename.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Rename">
    Select **Rename vault**, enter the new name, and press `Enter`.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Move a vault to a different folder

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vault switcher">
    Select **Vault profile**, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Close the vault window">
    Close the vault window you want to move, leaving the **Manage Vaults** window open.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Move the vault">
    Select **More options** next to the vault, choose **Move vault**, and select the new location.
  </Step>
</Steps>

If your operating system does not allow moving vaults through the vault switcher, move it manually:

<Steps>
  <Step title="Close Obsidian">Quit the application completely.</Step>
  <Step title="Move the folder">Move your vault folder to the new location using your file manager. Avoid folders already synced by other services.</Step>
  <Step title="Reopen Obsidian">Launch Obsidian.</Step>

  <Step title="Open the moved vault">
    Select **Vault profile → Manage Vaults... → Open folder as vault**, then navigate to the new location.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Verify contents">
    Confirm the vault contents are unchanged. If needed, re-enable community plugins under **Settings → Community Plugins → Turn restricted mode off**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Remove a vault from the list

Removing a vault only removes it from the vault switcher list. The folder and all its files remain on disk.

<Steps>
  <Step title="Open the vault switcher">
    Select **Vault profile**, then choose **Manage Vaults...**.
  </Step>

  <Step title="Remove the vault">
    Select **More options** next to the vault, then choose **Remove from list**.
  </Step>
</Steps>

## Transfer settings to another vault

To reuse the same settings, plugins, and themes in a different vault, copy the `.obsidian` folder from the root of the source vault to the root of the destination vault using your file manager or terminal.

Restart Obsidian to apply the changes.

<Note>
  By default, most operating systems hide folders that start with a period (`.`). See [How Obsidian stores data](/files/how-obsidian-stores-data) for instructions on making hidden folders visible.
</Note>

## The .obsidian configuration folder

Each vault contains a `.obsidian` folder that stores all vault-specific settings:

* Hotkey customizations
* Installed themes and CSS snippets
* Community plugin data
* Workspace layout state

You can change the name of the configuration folder under **Settings → Files and links → Override config folder**. This is useful when testing different profiles in the same vault or when using a sync service.

For full details, see [How Obsidian stores data](/files/how-obsidian-stores-data).