Save Handwritten Notes to Obsidian
To save your handwritten notes to Obsidian, snap a photo of the page in the Flowstate app. Flowstate transcribes the handwriting and saves each note as its own Markdown file in your vault, usually within a couple of minutes.
Updated July 2026
Why Obsidian can't do this on its own
A photo of your notebook page is just an image. Drop it into your Obsidian vault and it stays a flat picture — not searchable Markdown — and Obsidian can't read your handwriting or follow your shorthand.
Snap a photo
- Open the Flowstate app and tap the camera. Line up your page and take a photo. Or choose some from your gallery.
- If you want, you can give Flowstate optional instructions for how to read your notes. For example, tell Flowstate how to interpret your shorthand, or how to turn handwritten symbols into formatting, tags, and more.
- Send it off!
Flowstate takes it from there
After you send in your note, Flowstate transcribes it, adds a title, and automatically saves it to the location you chose in Obsidian using the Flowstate Obsidian plugin. It usually takes just a couple minutes.
A copy of the original handwriting or audio file is also saved to your attachment folder and embedded within each note.
Common questions
How messy can the handwriting be?
Messier than you'd think. If you use shorthand or your own symbols, add custom instructions telling Flowstate how to read them.
What format do the notes arrive in?
Plain Markdown. Each note becomes its own file in the folder you choose, or gets appended to an existing file.
Do I need a plugin?
Yes. Notes sync into your vault through the Flowstate Obsidian plugin — the full guide walks you through installing it.
How much does it cost?
Flowstate runs on credits. One page of handwriting, or one minute of audio, is one credit. You start with 50 free credits, no card required, and top up whenever you're running low. Purchased credits never expire.
Does Flowstate rewrite my notes?
No. It transcribes what you wrote, cleans up the formatting, and files it where it belongs. Your words stay your words.
Save your handwritten notes to Obsidian
Start with 50 pages free — no card required.
Start with Flowstate →Want all the options? See the full Handwritten notes guide.
Other destinations: Notion, Google Drive, OneNote