How to Fix Obsidian Search: Prioritizing Titles and Navigating Faster
- Aisha Washington
- 4 days ago
- 6 min read
You know the file exists. You created it two years ago. You type the exact filename into the sidebar, but the note you are looking for isn't at the top. Instead, you get a list of twenty Daily Notes from last week where you happened to mention that word in passing.
This is the most common friction point for users as their vault grows. Obsidian Search is powerful, but out of the box, it is terrible at simple file navigation. It defaults to sorting by date or file name, not by relevance.
If you are tired of scrolling past irrelevant results to find the note that matches your search query exactly, you need to change your workflow. This guide covers how to stop fighting the sidebar, how to master the Quick Switcher, and how to install the tools that actually prioritize your file titles.
The Problem: Why Your "Old" Notes Disappear
Before fixing the issue, you have to understand why Obsidian Search acts the way it does. The native search sidebar is a data-mining tool, not a navigation tool. It treats every occurrence of your keyword as equal, whether it is in the title, the H1, or a footnote.
My Experience: The Obsidian Search Sort Order Trap
I struggled with this for years. I have a file named "Wife." It contains static information—birthday gift ideas, sizes, important dates. I created it years ago and rarely edit it.
When I typed "Wife" into the sidebar, my target file was buried at position #15. The top results were recent journal entries ("Dinner with wife," "Wife asked me to fix the sink").
I tried to fix this by toggling the sort order.
If I sorted by Modified Date (New to Old), my target file sank to the bottom because it hadn't been touched in months.
If I sorted by Modified Date (Old to New), I found the file, but then my search was broken for everything else (like finding a recent project).
I was stuck constantly toggling the sort settings just to find a file I knew the name of. The system lacked "Title Priority." It didn't care that the filename was an exact match; it only cared about the date stamp.
Understanding the Hardware: Search vs. Navigation
To fix this, you must separate your intent.
Use Obsidian Search when you want to find information inside notes (e.g., "Find all quotes about Stoicism").
Use Quick Switcher when you want to find a note (e.g., "Open the Stoicism definition file").
The breakdown happens when you use the Search tool for a Switcher job.
Step 1: Use the Quick Switcher for Navigation (Not Search)
If you know the filename (or even part of it), do not use the sidebar. The sidebar is too slow and too literal. You need the Quick Switcher.
The Quick Switcher uses a completely different logic than the sidebar. It prioritizes:
Exact filename matches.
Partial filename matches.
Recently opened files.
It ignores the content of the note body. This is exactly what you want when navigating.
Retraining Your Muscle Memory
Stop clicking the magnifying glass icon. By default, the shortcut for the Quick Switcher is Cmd/Ctrl + O.
When you hit this shortcut and type "Wife," the system filters only by file path. Since I have a file named "Wife.md," it is the first and only result. It doesn't matter that I wrote the word "wife" in a journal entry this morning; the Switcher ignores the journal entry because the filename doesn't match.
Configuring Quick Switcher for Speed
To get the most out of this:
Go to Settings > Core Plugins > Quick Switcher.
Ensure "Show existing only" is disabled if you want to use it to create new files on the fly.
Verify that you haven't excluded your main folders.
If you find the native switcher too basic, many power users disable it and replace it with the Quick Switcher++ community plugin, which adds the ability to search headers and symbols using the same prioritized logic.
Step 2: Use Native Operators to Force Title Matches
Sometimes you do need the sidebar. Maybe you aren't sure of the exact filename, or you want to see the context surrounding the file.
You can force Obsidian Search to behave like the switcher by using search operators. You don't need to install anything for this; it is built into the core.
When you type in the sidebar, add file: before your query.
Bad Query: finance
Result: Shows every note containing the word "finance" in the body text.
Good Query: file:finance
Result: Shows only notes where the filename contains "finance."
This effectively filters out the noise. If you want to get even more granular, you can combine them. For example, file:project section:budget will look for a file with "project" in the title and "budget" in a header.
Memorizing file: is the quickest way to fix the sort order frustration without installing third-party tools.
Step 3: Install Omnisearch for a "Relevance-First" Experience
If you want a Google-like experience where you don't have to remember operators or switch between two different tools, the best solution is the Omnisearch community plugin.
This is the "nuclear option" for fixing navigation.
Why Omnisearch Beats the Native Algorithm
Omnisearch replaces the basic string-matching of Obsidian Search with a weighted text scoring system. It assigns "points" to matches based on location.
Match in Filename: High Score
Match in H1 Heading: Medium Score
Match in Paragraph: Low Score
When you install Omnisearch and type "Wife," it calculates that an exact filename match is more relevant than a body text match. The file named "Wife" appears at the top automatically, regardless of when it was last modified.
How to set it up:
Open Settings > Community Plugins > Browse.
Search for Omnisearch.
Install and Enable.
Go to Hotkeys and map Cmd/Ctrl + Shift + F (or your preferred key) to "Omnisearch: Search."
This effectively unifies the Quick Switcher and Obsidian Search. You get the deep content scanning of the search bar with the title-priority logic of the switcher.
How to Structure Your Vault for Better Findability
Even with the best tools, a messy vault is hard to navigate. You can make Obsidian Search work better by adopting a "Prefix" strategy for your filenames.
If you rely on the sort order of "A-Z," you can force important files to the top.
Projects: Prefix with numbers or codes (e.g., 10.01 - App Launch).
Concepts: Prefix with category (e.g., Def - Stoicism).
People: Prefix with role (e.g., @ - Wife).
By adding the @ symbol to the file named @ - Wife, I can simply type @ into the Quick Switcher, and all my people-related notes appear instantly. This bypasses the search algorithm entirely and relies on predictable sorting.
Do not rely on the "Modified Time" sort. It is volatile. Every time you fix a typo in an old note, it jumps to the top of your list, breaking your spatial memory. Rely on names, and use the tools that respect them.
FAQ Section
How do I search for a specific filename in Obsidian?
To search specifically for a filename, use the Quick Switcher (Ctrl/Cmd + O) instead of the sidebar search. If you must use the sidebar, use the operator file: followed by your keyword (e.g., file:meeting).
Can I change the default sort order for Obsidian Search?
Yes. In the search sidebar, click the "Sort" icon (arrows pointing up and down) next to the input field. You can sort by File Name, Created Date, or Modified Date. However, you cannot currently sort by "Relevance" or "Title Priority" without plugins like Omnisearch.
Why is Quick Switcher not finding my files?
If Quick Switcher isn't finding files, check your settings to ensure you haven't excluded the folder where those files live. Also, verify that the file isn't technically an attachment (like a PDF) if you haven't enabled attachment searching.
What is the best plugin for Obsidian search?
Omnisearch is widely considered the best plugin for improving search. It adds optical character recognition (OCR) for images and PDFs, creates a relevance-based ranking system, and prioritizes titles over body content.
How do I search for text inside a specific folder?
In the Obsidian Search sidebar, use the path: operator. For example, typing path: "Work/Projects" marketing will only search for the word "marketing" inside notes located in the "Work/Projects" folder.
