Outline plugin: Always expanded on file open and after tab switch

Bug reports
,
1

Steps to reproduce

  1. Open any Markdown file with headings.
  2. Open the Outline core plugin pane.
  3. Observe that all headings are expanded by default.
  4. Click the toggle icon in the Outline header (which incorrectly shows “Expand all” even though everything is already expanded).
  5. Collapse all headings using the same toggle.
  6. Switch to another file tab, then switch back to the previous one.
  7. Observe that all headings are expanded again.

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

  • Tested in the sandbox vault: Y
  • No community plugins, no CSS snippets, default theme: Y

Expected result

  • The Outline should load in a collapsed state by default when opening a file.
  • The toggle icon should correctly reflect the current state:
    • When everything is expanded → show “Collapse all”
    • When everything is collapsed → show “Expand all”
  • Collapsed/expanded state should persist when switching tabs.

Actual result

  • Outline always loads fully expanded.
  • The toggle icon incorrectly shows “Expand all” even though everything is already expanded.
  • After collapsing all and switching tabs, the Outline resets to fully expanded again.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
	Obsidian version: v1.10.2
	Installer version: v1.6.7
	Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 25.0.0: Wed Sep 17 21:41:50 PDT 2025; root:xnu-12377.1.9~141/RELEASE_ARM64_T6030 25.0.0
	Login status: logged in
	Language: en
	Catalyst license: insider
	Insider build toggle: on
	Live preview: on
	Base theme: adapt to system
	Community theme: Things v2.1.20
	Snippets enabled: 0
	Restricted mode: off
	Plugins installed: 16
	Plugins enabled: 12
		1: Settings Search v1.3.10
		2: Automatic Table Of Contents v1.7.3
		3: Code Editor Shortcuts v1.14.0
		4: Style Settings v1.0.9
		5: Templater v2.16.1
		6: Nuke Orphans v1.2.5
		7: Home tab v1.2.2
		8: Advanced Tables v0.22.1
		9: Quick Tagger v2.2.3
		10: Pixel Perfect Image v1.0.22
		11: Go To Heading v0.2.2
		12: Kanban v2.0.51

Additional information

  • The issue persists consistently across different vaults and files.
  • Screenshots:

Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 10.58.55
Screenshot 2025-11-05 at 10.58.55732×550 27.6 KB

2

thanks

3

Hoping to see this one fixed soon. Thank you.

4

Not only does Obsidian reset the Outline state every time you switch tabs, but the Expand / Collapse All button also doesn’t reflect the current state of the headings in the Outline.

  1. Click Collapse All – all headings will be collapsed
  2. Switch to another tab and return to the initial one
  3. The state of all headings in the Outline will be reset, and they will be expanded. The state of the Expand / Collapse All button will remain the same – Expand All, not Collapse All – in accordance with the reset state of the headings in the Outline.
  4. To collapse all headings again, you’ll have to expand the headings that are already expanded, and only then collapse them again.

This is just awful.

Obsidian_wQahrBzoWi

Just to clarify, I’m not asking for the Expand / Collapse All button to match the state of the headings, which is reset every time.
I would like the state of the headings in the Outline to not be reset every time, and for the Expand / Collapse All button to correctly reflect its state based on the state of the majority of headings in the Outline:

  • If the majority of headings are expanded, then the button should be in the Collapse All state
  • If most headings are collapsed, then the button should be in the Expand All state

Please do something about this. The Outline is a basic feature that enables file navigation, which is likely needed by nearly every user.