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Copilot for Obsidian

Quick Chat

Quick Chat is Copilot V4’s lightweight conversation view. Use it for a short question, rewrite, or discussion that does not need agent tools or a project workspace.

On desktop, start with Agent Chat for multi-step work, reusable Skills, permissioned file changes, or project context. Click Open Copilot Agent Chat in the ribbon or run Open Copilot Agent Chat Window from the command palette. On mobile, where Agent Chat is unavailable, Quick Chat is the main conversation view. See Agent Chat.

Open Quick Chat

Run Open Copilot Chat Window from the command palette. On mobile, the Copilot ribbon button opens Quick Chat because Agent Chat requires desktop Obsidian.

Choose a model

Use the model picker below the message box. It shows only models enabled under Settings → Copilot → Basic → Agents → Quick Chat, including Copilot-hosted and bring-your-own-key models.

The Default model in that settings panel controls which model a new Quick Chat starts with. See Models, Effort, and Permissions to manage the list.

Ask with context

Quick Chat can include the active note, selected text, other notes, folders, and images; on desktop it can also include open Web Viewer tabs. The selected model must support images. Context appears above the message box, where you can review or remove it before sending.

  • Use Add context (+) or type @ to find context.
  • Type [[Note Title]] to reference a note directly.

By default, a new chat includes the active note. A text selection takes priority over the full active note. For all supported context types, see Context and Mentions.

Send and manage messages

Press Enter to send by default. You can switch this to Shift + Enter under Settings → Copilot → Basic → General → Send Shortcut. Use the stop button to interrupt a response.

Hover over a message to use its actions:

  • Your messages: Copy, Edit, and Delete.
  • Copilot responses: Insert / Replace at cursor, Copy, Regenerate, and Delete.

After a response, the token counter in the top bar shows the context used for the latest response when the provider reports token usage.

Start or reopen a chat

Use New Chat in the top bar or run New Copilot Quick Chat. Starting over clears the current messages and resets context to the active note when automatic context is enabled.

Use Chat History to search saved conversations, reopen one, rename it, open its Markdown source, or delete it.

Autosave Chat as Markdown is enabled by default. Copilot saves after each user message and response under <Copilot folder>/copilot-conversations/. If autosave is off, use Save Chat as Note in the top bar. Change autosave and Conversation Filename Template under Settings → Copilot → Basic → Saving conversations.

Chat settings

Use Chat Settings (gear) to choose a System Prompt for the current chat or reset the session choice. These settings do not configure Agent Chat, which reads AGENTS.md instead. See Instructions for Agent Chat and Quick Chat.

Quick Ask

For one question or rewrite without opening a chat pane, run Quick Ask from the command palette or the editor’s Copilot menu. Quick Ask uses a Quick Chat model, not the model in your Agent Chat session. See Copilot Commands and Quick Ask.