1.2.0
Sidecar is a simplified Obsidian popout window for navigating and editing project notes while the main window stays untouched. Perfect for parking next to your web browser.
Window creation uses Obsidian's own popout API (the same mechanism behind "Open in new window"). Sidecar gives that window a clean, narrow, minimal look and a sensible default size and position. The note opens as a real Obsidian MarkdownView, so you keep live preview, your theme, and your other plugins — full editing, not a stripped-down view.
A nice way to use it: keep a hand-maintained index note full of [[links]] to your projects, set it as the default note, and open it in a Sidecar with one keystroke. The Sidecar becomes a self-curated project browser you can use alongside other apps more easily than the main Obsidian interface.
What you get
- Open the current note or a configured default note in a tall, narrow popout — via command, hotkey (
Cmd/Ctrl+Shift+Sopens the default note), the ribbon, a file-tree right-click, the editor toolbar, or a left-sidebar button. - Open as many independent Sidecars as you like.
- A minimal in-window bar: back/forward, a home button (→ default note), pop-in (→ return the note to the main window), and an always-on-top pin.
- Configurable width and height; the window opens offset from your main window's corner. Desktop only.
What's new in 1.2.0
- Left-sidebar launcher button — opens the default note from the left sidebar's tab bar, for those who keep the ribbon hidden.
- Re-style popouts on reload (opt-in) — re-applies Sidecar styling to popout windows Obsidian restores after a reload.
- Close leftover popouts on reload (opt-in) — closes the dead duplicate popout windows Obsidian leaves behind after "Reload app without saving."
- Back/forward and home buttons now show by default.
- Refreshed icons (open:
arrow-up-right, pop-in:arrow-down-left).
Install
Download main.js and manifest.json below into <your vault>/.obsidian/plugins/sidecar/, then turn off Restricted mode and enable Sidecar under Community plugins. (Desktop only.)