Obsidian - Workspaces Plus

Workspaces Plus for Obsidian turns a messy “find the right note” workflow into instant, one-click navigation between pre-arranged layouts—an upgrade that matters most for people who need to switch contexts quickly during live sessions. Instead of manually hunting for a map, a rules page, or a DM reference note, users can jump between saved workspace configurations that restore not only the target page but also the window layout and sidebar state.

In practice, the workflow looks like this: while running a game and using Obsidian as a reference hub, the user clicks a workspace shortcut to open a specific page (for example, a map note). Another click returns to a different saved setup (like a “journey board” notes view). With a two-screen setup, the same workspace switch can also re-create the correct arrangement across screens, and it can jump back to a dedicated DM screen layout. The key benefit isn’t that navigation becomes faster in theory—it’s that the layout becomes predictable. Notes that are “always first” (like the starting board for the session) don’t require repeated searching or reconfiguring.

Obsidian’s built-in “Workspaces” core plugin provides the underlying capability: users can manage, save, and load workspaces, and can optionally assign hotkeys. The transcript walks through enabling the core plugin via Settings → Core plugins → Workspaces, then using the workspace controls to save configurations. A saved workspace can include multiple panes and columns, so switching workspaces can change the entire interface layout—not just the document shown.

The tutorial then contrasts the default approach with Workspaces Plus, a community plugin that adds a simpler, more accessible set of workspace buttons. Instead of relying on the core plugin’s button-heavy interface (which can feel overwhelming when many plugins are installed), Workspaces Plus places a compact control in the right-hand corner. From there, users can save a workspace by naming it (using Shift+Enter to confirm) and later load it directly from the same interface.

The overall takeaway is pragmatic: Workspaces Plus doesn’t introduce fundamentally new workspace mechanics, but it streamlines how those mechanics are accessed. For tabletop gaming in particular, that reduction in friction can mean fewer seconds spent locating known notes and more time running the session. The transcript closes with a reminder that the plugin is optional and that the core Workspaces plugin remains the foundation, while Workspaces Plus mainly improves day-to-day usability.