Open Settings in a new window by default

Feature requests
21

Use case or problem

The overall experience with thh settings menu is quite strange and feels hindering, especially when you are like me trying out everything Obsidian and the comunity plug ins have to offer.

When trying out new themes or plugins or settings, I brows them, install them and then I want to be able to quickly navigate through my files to explore the new looks/features. I’d have to close the settings to do that

And this problem in my opionion interrupts the flow of the sandbox like character of obsidian.

  1. Activate new setting
  2. close settings menu
  3. look for whats changed
  4. Want to adapt the setting?
  5. search for the setting again
  6. adapt it
  7. repeat from point 3

That workflow is just not encouraging users to try out everything Obsidian has to offer. I want to have a look at the plugin descriptions/hotkey settings/theme browser completely seperate from working environment.

Proposed solution

Make the settings a seperate window
If it is a seperate window, you could tab out of it and quickly tab into it again. No interruption whatsoever.
Whats also possible (but it’s just a workarround) the sidebars and panes for second window so you could try out the settings in the second Obsidian window. This is already requested a while ago.

Current workaround (optional)

Opening a new window would be currently the best workaroound. However, the problem with the latter is, that a second Obsidian window is only an editor view without the sidebars and tehrefore another hassle to try everything out as many plugins have pane options for example.

Related feature requests (optional)

The option for pop out windows to have panes as a main window was already suggested in 2022. Why is it still only an editor with tabs?

1 Like
22

Not sure if there is way to vote for this so I’m piling on here. Currently, it is very cumbersome to onboard new plugins, tweak settings, etc. without being able to see what they do.

23

I am adding my voice here as well
It is frustrating to have to go in and out of the settings pane just to see changes
PLEASE have it open in a detached window

24

I don’t know whether adding a +1 post onto a thread does anything on top of liking the thread, but - I’d really, really love this too!

25

This is something that’s bothered me for quite a while. I would love for the settings to be a pop-out or floating window.

Thanks to the folks who suggested opening a new tab, popping it out and then opening the settings there. I had no idea that could be done, but it works.

2 Likes
26

I absolutely agree !
This is nothing to add in a dev way but so much easier as a UX.
It also would be cool to have a shortcut for opening the settings.

27

It also would be cool to have a shortcut for opening the settings.

If you mean a keyboard shortcut, the default is Ctrl/Cmd+, (that’s a comma).