How to add a note shortcut to the homescreen on Android

Share & showcase
1

A quick guide to adding a shortcut to a note on Android.

(Find an updated version on my Publish here (including instructions on using Automate, a free app.)

Downloads

  • Download the Obsidian mobile app
  • Install the “Advanced URI” plugin
  • Download Tasker, an automation app

Setup

Obsidian

  • Open the command pallete in the Obsidian app (swipe down by default).
  • Search for “Advanced URI” and select with file you want to copy a link to.

Tasker

  • Open Tasker. Through the + icon, create a new task and give it a name.
  • Add an action with the + icon. Select “Browse URL”.
  • Paste the copied URI in the “URL” box.
  • With the arrow back, go to the task overview and select an image by tapping the icon in the middle at the bottom.
  • Save the task and exit Tasker.

Homescreen

  • Add a widget to the homescreen. Select “Task Shortcut” in the “Tasker” section.
  • There you go! By long-pressing you can customize the name or icon.
  • Now you can add shortcuts to anything!

Let me know if you run into any issues!

18 Likes
2

Genius! Are there other ways you use Tasker for Obisidian?

1 Like
3

Not yet, but I have a bunch of ideas :grinning:

1 Like
4

This is great, but tasker is not free. There is other automation apps out there. Do you know “automate”? If so could you make an alternative guide, that uses it?

5

For Automate it’s almost the same.

1 Like
6

Thanks @Bounz, you just right beat me to it! My version is slightly different but yours is even easier!

I created a flow in the Automate community that you can easily download and modify: Open Daily Note in Obsidian ⋅ Community ⋅ Automate for Android

I also updated my guide with instructions for Automate: How to add an Obsidian note to the home screen on Android.

7

The is an even simpler way with a more appropriate app named Shortcut Maker. Just go to Activities → Obsidian Main Activity → Paste the URI in Data

Actually this way doesn’y really work. I used the Tasker method and it worked fine instead.

1 Like
8

The Shortcut Maker app does work if you add the obsidian URI as a website shortcut, remove the http:// it automatically adds in the data field, and then select Obsidian as the default app.

Screenshot_20210819-202458_Shortcut Maker
Screenshot_20210819-202458_Shortcut Maker1080×1060 91.4 KB

Screenshot_20210819-202620_Shortcut Maker
Screenshot_20210819-202620_Shortcut Maker1080×1089 74.9 KB

6 Likes
9

Amazing, thanks for sharing!

1 Like
10

Just want to drop a message to thank you for the instructions Joschua! Just switched to Android from an iphone and figuring things out

2 Likes
11

I’ve created the button using the following Tasker task to add Zettelkasten-like notes

<TaskerData sr="" dvi="1" tv="5.14.6">
 <Task sr="task2">
  <cdate>1638645183701</cdate>
  <edate>1640665610787</edate>
  <id>2</id>
  <nme>Create Obsidian Note</nme>
  <pri>7</pri>
  <Action sr="act0" ve="7">
   <code>123</code>
   <Str sr="arg0" ve="3">date "+%Y-%m-%d-%H-%M-%S"</Str>
   <Int sr="arg1" val="0"/>
   <Int sr="arg2" val="0"/>
   <Str sr="arg3" ve="3">%formattedDateTime</Str>
   <Str sr="arg4" ve="3"/>
   <Str sr="arg5" ve="3"/>
  </Action>
  <Action sr="act1" ve="7">
   <code>104</code>
   <Str sr="arg0" ve="3">obsidian://advanced-uri?vault=Obsidian&amp;filepath=__Inbox\%2F%formattedDateTime.md&amp;mode=append</Str>
  </Action>
  <Img sr="icn" ve="2">
   <cls>md.obsidian.MainActivity</cls>
   <pkg>md.obsidian</pkg>
  </Img>
 </Task>
</TaskerData>
2 Likes
12

Is there a way to display the preview of a note as a widget?

5 Likes
13

Maybe with Markdown Widget (ch.tiim.markdown_widget)? But it seems like the App is not ready to download from Github or F-Droid?

1 Like
14

I second using the shortcut maker app. Free and and faster than Automator. https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.deltacdev.websiteshortcut

3 Likes
15

Thank You Very Much for the link & app name. I found this to be the simplest solution!

1 Like