A local-first Markdown workspace for your Chrome new tab.
Turn your Google Chrome browser new tab into a fast, private note-taking workspace. Write in Markdown, clip web articles, support Arabic and Hebrew RTL, and sync with your local Obsidian vault folder.
- Your thoughts are yours.
- Vault New Tab stores notes privately on your computer using Chrome local storage and optional direct folder access. Zero telemetry, no accounts required, and 100% offline functionality.
- Universal BiDi and RTL writing.
- Automatic per-paragraph direction detection for Arabic (العربية), Hebrew (עברית), Persian (فارسی), and Urdu (اردو). Technical terms, inline code, and URLs stay cleanly aligned without breaking paragraph flow.
- Your knowledge should last.
- Notes are saved in open, human-readable plain text Markdown (.md). Connect your local Obsidian vault folder directly using the native File System Access API with no cloud lock-in.
Designed for effortless daily writing.
Capture notes, organize research, clip web articles, and manage your focus the moment you open a new tab in Google Chrome.
Triple-Mode Markdown Engine
Switch freely between Live Preview (inline WYSIWYG formatting), synchronized Split Mode, and raw Markdown Source Mode.
Headers, bold, italics, tables, and callouts render inline as you type in your Chrome new tab.
Universal BiDi and RTL Support
Automatic per-paragraph direction detection for Arabic, Hebrew, and Persian with preserved inline code and URLs.
ملاحظات سريعة: تم حفظ الملف في Notes.md بنجاح!
محاذاة تلقائية لجميع الفقرات دون التأثير على الكود الإنجليزي.
Smart Chrome Web Clipper
Right-click any web selection to "Add to Note". Automatically preserves article titles, canonical URLs, and authors.
Daily Focus Dashboard and Pomodoro
Orient your day with a 25/45/5 minute Pomodoro timer, urgent scratchpad checklist, custom RSS feeds, and bookmarks.
Sync locally.
Access your notes across your local file system, secured with zero cloud intermediaries.
Download complete snapshot of all notes, tags, and settings.
Save current note as standard Markdown file to disk.
Test RTL / LTR Direction Detection
Type in Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, Urdu, or English. Vault automatically calculates text direction per-paragraph without breaking technical punctuation or code.
ملاحظات سريعة: تم حفظ الملف في مسار C:\Vault\Notes.md بنجاح!
استخدم الأمر git commit -m "update" لمزامنة التغييرات فوراً.
10 Calibrated Themes
Switch between deep blacks, warm pastels, retro palettes, or clean daylight paper with zero eye fatigue.
Vanilla AMOLED
Pure true black with glowing purple accents
Obsidian Default
Original Obsidian dark charcoal interface
Kepano Minimal
Clean, subtle monochrome aesthetics
Cultured Things
Refined dark slate with deep blue highlights
AnuPpuccin Mocha
Warm Catppuccin pastel dark palette
Blue Topaz
Deep sapphire navy with neon cyan radiance
Obsidian Nord
Arctic icy-blue pastel dark theme
Atom One Dark
Iconic code editor syntax styling
Obsidian Gruvbox
Retro warm earthy amber palette
Paper Light
Crisp white paper with high-contrast typography
Keyboard Shortcuts
Designed for frictionless typing. Never lift your hands from the keyboard.
| Key Combination | Action | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ctrl + N | Create New Blank Note | Instantly opens a new note ready to write |
| Ctrl + S | Save Active Note | Forces an immediate save to local storage or folder |
| Ctrl + E | Cycle View Modes | Cycles between Live WYSIWYG, Split, and Source |
| Ctrl + K | Insert / Edit Hyperlink | Opens the link popover |
| Ctrl + Shift + D | Insert Timestamp | Inserts current formatted date & time header |
| Ctrl + \ | Toggle Left Sidebar | Expands or collapses the note list |
| Ctrl + Z / Ctrl + Y | Undo / Redo | Full historical undo and redo in both Live & Source |
| Ctrl + B / I / U | Bold, Italic, Underline | Standard inline Markdown formatting |
| Ctrl + Click | Open Hyperlink | Opens any clicked link in a fresh browser tab |
Community and Support
Vault New Tab is an independent project by Bilal Ahfid with public feedback and a transparent roadmap.
Feedback & Roadmap ↗
Suggest new features, report bugs, and vote on upcoming releases on our public UserJot board.
Visit UserJot Board →Support on Ko-fi ↗
Help keep Vault New Tab independent, fast, and free of subscriptions or advertisements.
Buy a Coffee on Ko-fi →Rate on Chrome Web Store ↗
Leave a review on the Chrome Web Store to help other note takers discover Vault New Tab.
Write a Review →Documentation & Guides →
Master keyboard shortcuts, Obsidian vault sync setup, BiDi writing tips, and backups.
Read Documentation →Frequently Asked Questions
Everything you need to know about Vault New Tab, privacy, Obsidian sync, and data safety.
Do I need to create an account or sign up to use Vault New Tab?
No. Vault New Tab is 100% local-first and account-free. When you install the extension, your workspace is ready immediately. Notes, settings, tasks, and clippings are saved securely in your browser or local vault folder.
How does the Obsidian Local Vault sync work?
Vault New Tab utilizes the modern W3C File System Access API. In Settings, you can choose any existing folder on your computer (such as your Obsidian vault directory). Vault New Tab reads and writes standard human-readable .md Markdown files directly. Any edit in Chrome updates the file instantly, and Obsidian sees the changes immediately.
Is connecting a local folder mandatory?
No, choosing a folder is completely optional. If you do not choose a folder, all your notes and clips are stored securely in Chrome extension local storage with unlimited quota.
How does the Arabic and RTL text detection work?
Vault New Tab has an advanced Unicode BiDi analyzer built into its Markdown parser. It evaluates every paragraph, heading, list item, and table cell independently. If a paragraph starts with or predominantly contains Arabic, Hebrew, Persian, or Urdu, it aligns right-to-left while preserving English code terms and URLs in correct left-to-right order.
What data does the Chrome Web Clipper capture?
The clipper only activates when you explicitly right-click a selection and select "Add to Note". It extracts the selected text, the source webpage URL, article title, and visible author handles. It never tracks background browsing history.
Can I export or backup my notes?
Yes. You can export any active note as a standard .md file, or export your entire workspace (notes, settings, shortcuts, and reminders) as a single JSON backup. You can also merge backups back anytime safely.
Does the extension make background cloud calls?
Vault New Tab operates 100% offline. Network calls only occur when you interact with opted-in features: loading weather forecasts from Open-Meteo (if you enable weather), fetching live RSS headlines from publishers you choose, or requesting website favicons.
It is your time to write.
Free forever, 100% private, and local-first for Google Chrome.