Graph View UI and filters non-functional in main vault; filter panel missing entirely in new vault (macOS Ventura)

[KseniaB]

Steps to reproduce

In main vault:

1. Open global Graph View
2. Try any of the following:

• Type tag:#yourtag into filter field
• Toggle on/off: Incoming links, Outgoing links, Existing files only
• Adjust Node size, Link thickness, or Text fade threshold

3. Observe: Nothing changes in the graph

In new vault:

1. Create a new vault with default theme and no plugins
2. Add notes with #tagname
3. Open global Graph View
4. Observe: No filter sidebar appears

• 3-dot menu shows no option to enable filters
• Right-clicking does nothing
• Cannot search or adjust anything

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Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y]

Fresh install (manually deleted app + ~/Library/Application Support/obsidian)
New test vault created with no plugins or CSS
Default theme
Workspace reset
GPU disabled via launch flag
Light/Dark mode tested
Confirmed on version 1.9.x (latest as of April 2, 2025)

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Expected result

• In main vault: filter options and toggles should affect graph in real-time
• In new vault: filter sidebar should be visible and interactive
• Filter bar and toggles should work like the regular search view (which works fine)

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Actual result

• In main vault:
  • Filter bar is visible but completely non-functional
  • No filter, toggle, or slider has any effect on the graph
• In new vault:
  • Filter bar is missing entirely
  • 3-dot menu and right-click offer no way to show filters
  • Graph is static and unresponsive

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Environment

OS: macOS Ventura 13.6.1
Obsidian version: 1.9.x
Sandbox/Test Vault:
Plugins:
CSS snippets:
GPU Disabled:

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Additional information

• Tag filtering does work in normal file search panel (see screenshot #1), but does not work at all in Graph View (screenshot #2)
• Graph UI seems completely disconnected from the controls
• Can provide screen recording if needed

[WhiteNoise]

You did not include the output of show debug info command.

[KseniaB]

Hi, sorry, I forgot. I am not tech savvy so I’m using Chat GPT to help me figure out what to do. I realized that actually I’m still running Obsidian v1.8.9

Here’s debug info:

SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: v1.8.9
Installer version: v1.8.9
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 22.6.0: Wed Oct 4 21:25:40 PDT 2023; root:xnu-8796.141.3.701.17~4/RELEASE_ARM64_T8103 22.6.0
Login status: not logged in
Language: en
Insider build toggle: off
Live preview: on
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: none
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: on

RECOMMENDATIONS:
none

I attach screenshots again. So basically in my main vault I have two filter tabs. The one on the left doesn’t work. Im my test vault I only have one tab and it does work. I am not sure why my main vault has two.

[ariehen]

It appears you have two Graph views open: one in the sidebar and one in the main window. They are separate.

If you collapse Filters, Groups, etc., for the one in the sidebar, you should be able to see the Graph under the Graph settings.

You can right-click and close that tab if you don’t want it in the sidebar.

[KseniaB]

Thank you, that helps I closed it and now there’s only one Filter tab. However, out of curiosity, I still don’t understand why this tab wasn’t working. I collapsed it like you showed in the video, but it didn’t reveal a graph, just an empty space. Also under “filters” it has “Incoming links” and “Outgoing links” (see previous screenshot) which the graph on the right doesn’t have. Anyway, thank you for your help!

[ariehen]

The one with “Incoming links” and “Outgoing links” listed is the Local Graph view and it’s linked to a note that is currently open/focused. I missed that looking at the screenshots.

Graph view - Obsidian Help

[KseniaB]

That what it was! Thank you, I understand now!