Summary
Enable the ability to drag files directly from the Obsidian file explorer into browser upload fields, such as those used in ChatGPT, Google Drive, or email clients.
Problem
Currently, the file explorer in Obsidian is a virtual UI element. This means I cannot drag a file from the sidebar into a browser window to upload it—I must first right-click and choose “Reveal in system explorer”, then drag from the OS file manager.
Why This Matters
This adds unnecessary friction to workflows where markdown files need to be regularly shared or uploaded. Examples include:
- Uploading finalized
.md
threads to ChatGPT for summarization - Submitting vault notes as attachments in email clients
- Dragging files into online publishing tools or collaborative editors
For users working across apps, especially those integrating Obsidian into structured external workflows, this would streamline productivity meaningfully.
Suggested Implementation
Allow drag-and-drop behavior from the file explorer to expose actual file handles that browsers can interpret as valid upload targets—similar to how dragging a file from Finder/Explorer works.
Alternatively, even an optional plugin hook or developer API that enables this would be helpful.
Workaround
The current process:
- Right-click the file in the sidebar
- Choose “Reveal in system explorer”
- Drag from OS file manager into browser window
This works, but adds extra steps for something that could be fluid.
Thank You
This would be a small but powerful improvement for vault users who frequently interact with web-based tools. Thank you for your incredible work and attention to community feedback.