How to Insert Images as Files in Obsidian

How to Insert Images as Files Instead of Links in Obsidian

There are several ways to insert images as files instead of links in Obsidian: use plugins to automatically download external images, apply manual methods for inserting files, or encode images in base64. The preferred method is to use specialized plugins like Obsidian Local Images or Local Img, which automatically convert external image links to local files in your vault.

Table of Contents

• Manual methods for inserting images as files
• Plugins for automatically converting links to files
• Base64 image encoding
• Best practices for working with images
• Configuring Obsidian for file work

Manual methods for inserting images as files

The simplest way to insert an image as a file instead of a link is to use Obsidian’s built-in functions:

Inserting through menu

1. Press Ctrl+Shift+V (or Cmd+Shift+V on Mac) to insert an image
2. Select the “Insert as file” option instead of “Insert as link”
3. The image will be copied to your vault’s attachment folder

Dragging with Ctrl key held down

As mentioned in discussions, you can hold the Ctrl key and drag a file from File Explorer into Obsidian — this will create a link to the local file without copying it to your vault. To insert as a file, simply drag the file without holding Ctrl.

File embedding syntax

For manually embedding files, use the syntax:

![[filename.jpg]]

This method will create a local copy of the file in the attachment folder and embed it in the note.

Plugins for automatically converting links to files

There are several powerful plugins that automatically convert external image links to local files:

Obsidian Local Images

This plugin by aleksey-rezvov automatically:

• Finds all external image links in notes
• Downloads images and saves them locally
• Updates links in notes to point to local files

To install:

1. Go to Settings → Community plugins → Browse
2. Search for “Obsidian Local Images”
3. Install and activate the plugin

Local Img

A more powerful plugin by hulebaji with additional features:

• Converts online image links to local files
• Makes notes more portable and resistant to “link rot”
• Provides additional image management options

Img_link_to_local_markdown

A Python script that can be integrated with Obsidian to:

• Automatically download images when inserting links
• Convert external links to local files
• Works as a standalone tool or in conjunction with Obsidian

Local images plus

As noted by users, this plugin allows you to:

• Select text and images from web pages
• Automatically download images to the assets folder
• Rewrite image links to point to local files

Base64 image encoding

For those who prefer to encode images directly into notes, there’s a base64 method:

![Alt text](data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAAUAAAAFCAYAAACNbyblAAAAHElEQVQI12P4//8/w38GIAXDIBKE0DHxgljNBAAO9TXL0Y4OHwAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==)

Advantages:

• Image is stored directly in the note
• Complete autonomy and offline access
• No need for separate files

Disadvantages:

• Significantly increases note size
• More difficult to edit images
• May slow down Obsidian with many images

As users mention, base64 encoding “very quickly makes files bulky,” so this method is only suitable for small images.

Best practices for working with images

File organization

1. Create a separate folder for images (e.g., images/)
2. Use meaningful file names
3. Group images by category or project

Storage method selection

Automation setup

Configure plugins to automatically:

• Download images when inserting external links
• Optimize image sizes
• Generate thumbnail previews

Configuring Obsidian for file work

Attachment folder settings

1. Go to Settings → Files → Attachments
2. Enable the “Create folder for attachments” option
3. Set the path for the image folder

Keyboard shortcuts for image work

• Ctrl+Shift+V: Insert image as file
• Ctrl+P: Quick search and insert files
• Ctrl+Shift+E: Embed file in note

Integration with other tools

Use plugins for:

• Synchronizing images between devices
• Backing up important files
• Optimizing image sizes

Sources

1. Obsidian Local Images - GitHub
2. Local Img Plugin - GitHub
3. Img_link_to_local_markdown - GitHub
4. Obsidian Forum - How to easily create local copies of linked graphics
5. Obsidian Help - Embedding files
6. Reddit r/ObsidianMD - How to locally link images

Conclusion

To insert images as files instead of links in Obsidian, we recommend:

1. Use plugins - the most effective way to automatically convert external links to local files
2. Set up manual methods - for control over the image insertion process
3. Apply base64 encoding - only for small images that need to be completely autonomous
4. Organize storage structure - create a clear system for managing images

The most recommended plugins for your problem: Obsidian Local Images and Local Img, which will automatically handle downloading external images and saving them to your vault. This will ensure full offline access to images and eliminate synchronization issues.