I replaced Apple Notes, Google Keep, and OneNote with Obsidian, and its biggest mobile flaw is finally gone

For many people, their notes are scattered across two or more applications, such as Apple Notes, Google Keep, and OneNote. While these apps are convenient for capturing quick thoughts, they can make it difficult to organize and access the information later. Obsidian, a desktop application, has been a popular choice for many, and its mobile app has recently improved its usability.

However, the mobile version still has some drawbacks, particularly in terms of quick capture on certain devices. Obsidian saves all notes as plain Markdown files in a folder on the device, allowing any text editor to open them. This approach provides a high degree of portability and avoids vendor lock-in. The latest update to Obsidian's mobile app introduces a feature called Quick Capture, which allows users to create notes from the lock screen, control center, home screen widgets, or shortcuts without waiting for the vault to load.

This feature is currently available only on iOS 26. Users can set up Quick Note as a control in the control center, which opens an empty screen with a prompt for a new thought and the keyboard already active. The note can be saved in various ways, such as creating its own note or adding it to a daily note or a specific note. The user interface is designed to be fast and intuitive, with the ability to create and access notes quickly, even when the phone is locked.

This improvement in user experience has made Obsidian a more attractive option for mobile note-taking, potentially reducing reliance on other apps like Apple Notes, Google Keep, and OneNote.