# How to Link file from anywhere outside Obsidian Vault

**URL:** <https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969>\
**Category:** Help\
**Created:** [September 26, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969 "2024-09-26T03:37:15Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![fajar](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/f/4da419/32.png) [@fajar](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/fajar)\
**Post date:** [September 26, 2024, 3:37am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969/1 "2024-09-26T03:37:15Z")

</div>

Hi guys i’m trying to link my files that i save outside obsidian vault, like i put file on my Downloads folder. I want to link that file on my notes but when I create link like this for instance  
[Resolve](file:///Users/myusername/Downloads/Resolve%20Manual.pdf)

When I click the link then this happen I already change the files permission to read&write but nothing changes  
 ![image](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/1/a/1aa7063f7efbcb72f444802bb08506067e7c7453.png)

Is there something I can do about it?

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![Schnarchler](https://forum.obsidian.md/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/s/85f322/32.png) [@Schnarchler](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/Schnarchler)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 7:49am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969/2 "2024-09-27T07:49:05Z")

</div>

I had the same problem when the file name contains a space. Rename the document to “ResolveManual.pdf” and then it works for me…  
` [Resolve](C:\Users\myusername\Downloads\ResolveManual.pdf)`

Since I use OneDrive anyway, I often create a shared link to my documents and then paste that link into Obsidian

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ariehen](https://forum.obsidian.md/user_avatar/forum.obsidian.md/ariehen/32/46932_2.png) [@ariehen](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/ariehen)\
**Post date:** [September 27, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969/3 "2024-09-27T07:59:14Z")

</div>

Their syntax looks good and the `%20` will take care of the space though.

Something else is going on 🤔

Lots of examples here:

> [@Linking to external files & folders link](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/linking-to-external-files-folders/70121):
>
> Linking to external files is mentioned in the [drag and drop](https://help.obsidian.md/User+interface/Drag+and+Drop) help documentation Hold Ctrl on Windows/Linux or Option on macOS to create file:/// absolute links to those files instead of importing a copy. but there aren’t any examples of the options available. I’ll write up a request to add some examples to the official help documentation, but for the time being, here’s a list I’ve collected. Windows UPDATE: from Obsidian v1.5.11 on, use forward slashes in paths UPDATE2: Not sure when it ha…

---

<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![system](https://forum.obsidian.md/uploads/default/original/3X/b/e/bec35fbd23ab28909bb6bfe62cb32eb82dd34019.png) [@system](https://forum.obsidian.md/u/system)\
**Post date:** [December 26, 2024, 7:59am UTC](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/how-to-link-file-from-anywhere-outside-obsidian-vault/88969/4 "2024-12-26T07:59:44Z")

</div>

Closed on December 26, 2024, 7:59am UTC

This topic was automatically closed 90 days after the last reply. New replies are no longer allowed.