Hydrate LogoHydrate

Install Hydrate

Get up and running in under 5 minutes

Compatible with Obsidian 1.0+
Step 1Open Obsidian Settings
Go to Settings → Community plugins
  • Click the gear icon in the bottom left of Obsidian
  • Navigate to 'Community plugins' in the left sidebar
  • Turn OFF 'Restricted mode' to enable community plugins
Step 2Install Hydrate
Search for Hydrate in the plugin browser
  • Click 'Browse' next to Community plugins
  • Search for 'Hydrate' in the search bar
  • Click 'Install' on the Hydrate plugin
  • After installation, click 'Enable' to activate it
Step 3Add Your API Keys
Configure your AI provider keys
  • Go to Settings → Hydrate
  • Enter your OpenAI, Anthropic, or Google API key
  • Keys are sent securely with requests—never stored on our servers
  • (Optional) Sign up for a license key if you want Pro features
Create Account
Step 4Start Using Hydrate
Open the chat panel and start chatting
  • Click the water droplet icon in the ribbon (left sidebar)
  • Or use the command palette: 'Hydrate: Open pane'
  • Drag files into the chat to give the AI context
  • Start asking questions or editing your notes!

Quick Start Guide

Learn what Hydrate can do in a few minutes

Chat with Your Vault
Ask questions, get answers based on your notes
  1. 1Open the Hydrate panel from the ribbon
  2. 2Type a question about your notes
  3. 3Drag files in for more context
Edit Notes from Chat
Let AI make changes, review before applying
  1. 1Ask AI to edit a specific file
  2. 2Review changes in the diff view
  3. 3Accept or reject the changes
Semantic Search
Find notes by meaning, not just keywords
  1. 1Enable embeddings in Hydrate settings
  2. 2Click 'Index Vault' to build the search index
  3. 3Ask questions—AI will find relevant notes automatically
Slash Commands
Create reusable prompts and templates
  1. 1Go to Settings → Hydrate → Format Registry
  2. 2Create a new slash command (e.g., /summarize)
  3. 3Type the command in chat to use it
Issue Board
View Markdown as a kanban board
  1. 1Add 'hydrate-plugin: issue-board' to note frontmatter
  2. 2Use H1 for groups, H2 for issues, H3 for sections
  3. 3Switch between Markdown and board view
MCP Integrations
Connect external tools (Pro feature)
  1. 1Get a Pro license key from your dashboard
  2. 2Go to Settings → Hydrate → MCP Servers
  3. 3Add and configure your MCP servers
Getting API Keys
You'll need at least one API key to use Hydrate

OpenAI

GPT-4.1, GPT-4.1 mini, o4-mini

Get Key

Anthropic

Claude Sonnet, Claude Haiku

Get Key

Google

Gemini 2.5 Flash, Gemini 2.5 Pro

Get Key

Note: Your API keys are sent directly to the AI providers with each request. We never store them permanently. You pay the providers directly at their standard rates.

Troubleshooting
Common issues and solutions

Plugin not appearing in Community Plugins?

Make sure Restricted mode is OFF in Settings → Community plugins. You need Obsidian 1.0 or later.

API key not working?

Double-check that you copied the full key. Make sure your API account has credits and the key has the right permissions.

Chat not responding?

Check your internet connection. If using a firewall or VPN, make sure api.hydrateagent.com is accessible.

Still having issues? Join our Discord for live help.