Vault Relay moving a ChatGPT answer through the browser extension into an Obsidian save modal

Browser capture for Obsidian

Vault Relay

Save the useful parts of ChatGPT and the web into your vault, already shaped as Markdown.

A Chrome or Firefox extension talks to an Obsidian plugin over a local bridge, then asks you to confirm the folder, filename, content, and conflict behavior before a note is written.

Beta packages: Obsidian plugin, Chrome extension, and signed Firefox XPI.

Local bridge

Obsidian receives captures through 127.0.0.1 with a shared token.

Review before save

Confirm the note path, Markdown preview, and file conflict mode every time.

ChatGPT aware

Capture the latest answer, export the visible chat, or send page context to a prompt.

No analytics

No tracking scripts, account tokens, or hidden cloud service in the capture path.

Workflow

From useful answer to durable note.

Vault Relay is built for the moment after an AI answer becomes worth keeping. It keeps the capture narrow, visible, and editable before it touches your vault.

  1. Send

    Start with a page, selection, or ChatGPT thread.

    Use the extension popup, context menu, or ChatGPT page button to choose what should become a note.

  2. Shape

    Apply capture rules and Markdown defaults.

    Reuse prompt rules, filename patterns, frontmatter settings, folders, and save behavior across captures.

  3. Review

    Approve the Obsidian save modal.

    Edit the generated Markdown, check the destination, and choose append, overwrite, or numbered copy.

  4. Save

    Write the note into your vault.

    The plugin saves locally, can open the created note, and keeps queued captures available in the inbox.

Product

Every handoff stays visible.

Vault Relay extension popup
Extension popup Connection status, current page context, and settings are one click away.
Vault Relay button in ChatGPT
ChatGPT capture Save the latest answer or export the visible conversation when the response is ready.
Vault Relay Obsidian save modal
Obsidian save modal Edit Markdown and approve the path before a note is written.
Vault Relay extension settings
Settings Keep bridge, filename, prompt, metadata, and automation defaults in one place.

Install

Install Obsidian first, then connect the extension.

The beta release ships as three packages. Install the plugin, copy the bridge token, then paste it into the browser extension settings.

Download the beta release

Use the rolling beta-latest release while Vault Relay is pre-store. Keep the Chrome extension folder on disk after loading it unpacked.

Open releases
1

Obsidian plugin

  1. Download vault-relay-obsidian.zip.
  2. Unzip the package.
  3. Copy main.js, manifest.json, and styles.css into <vault>/.obsidian/plugins/vault-relay/.
  4. Restart Obsidian or reload plugins.
  5. Enable Vault Relay in Community plugins.
2

Bridge token

  1. Open Vault Relay settings in Obsidian.
  2. Enable the local bridge.
  3. Copy the generated bridge token.
  4. Leave Obsidian open while testing the extension.
3

Chrome or Firefox

  1. Chrome: unzip vault-relay-chrome.zip.
  2. Open chrome://extensions and enable Developer mode.
  3. Choose Load unpacked and select the unzipped folder.
  4. Firefox: install the signed vault-relay-firefox.xpi.
4

Connect

  1. Open extension settings.
  2. Set bridge URL to http://127.0.0.1:27191.
  3. Paste the bridge token.
  4. Click Test connection, then capture from a page or ChatGPT.

Capture options

Useful fallbacks for a moving web.

ChatGPT UI automation can change. Vault Relay keeps manual capture and whole-thread export available so the workflow does not collapse when one selector goes stale.

Save selected text

Select text on a webpage and send it to Obsidian for review.

Send page text to ChatGPT

Prepare a prompt from page content and your saved Markdown rules.

Save a ChatGPT answer

Capture the latest assistant response after generation completes.

Export the visible chat

Save a Markdown transcript when the whole thread matters.

Detect download controls

Highlight visible download buttons and optionally click them when enabled.

Queue captures in Obsidian

Use the inbox command to review captures that need a second pass.

Security

Local-first, narrow, and explicit.

Vault Relay is designed to keep the browser-to-vault handoff understandable. It does not add analytics or ask for account tokens.

The Obsidian bridge binds to 127.0.0.1, not a public network interface.

Requests require Authorization: Bearer <token> or X-Vault-Relay-Token.

Origins are checked when the browser provides them.

Vault Relay does not collect analytics, read ChatGPT cookies, or bypass login.

Prompt sending, capture saving, and download clicking are user initiated.

The download-button click path is disabled by default.

Help

Fix the usual setup snags fast.

Bridge test fails

Confirm Obsidian is open, the plugin is enabled, the local bridge is on, the URL is http://127.0.0.1:27191, and the token matches the extension settings.

Capture queues in the inbox

Open the Vault Relay inbox command in Obsidian, review the queued capture, then save it from the modal.

ChatGPT answer is not detected

Use Export visible chat, then update completion or download selectors in extension settings if ChatGPT has changed its page.

Filename already exists

Choose numbered copy, append, or overwrite in the Obsidian save modal before writing the note.

Firefox cannot load the extension

Use Firefox 142 or newer and install the signed vault-relay-firefox.xpi, not the Chrome zip or an unsigned development package.

Ready for beta use

Give your best AI answers a proper home.

Install the local bridge, connect the browser extension, and turn the next useful response into a clean Obsidian note.

Download beta