Videos are one of the most popular ways we learn today. From YouTube tutorials to Udemy courses and university lectures, so much knowledge is delivered in video format. But here's the challenge: our learning happens in videos, while our knowledge lives in Obsidian.
That gap between passive watching and active knowledge building has always been the problem for many video learners. You watch a lecture, take scattered notes, and a week later you've forgotten most of it.
The good news? There are now several tools that make video note-taking in Obsidian smoother, faster, and more effective.
In this guide, I'll walk you through the best options in 2025.
Traditional Plugin Approaches
If you want to stay fully inside Obsidian, plugins are the natural first step:
- Media Notes Plugin – Embed videos directly in your notes, add clickable timestamps, and navigate quickly.
- Timestamp Notes Plugin – Create timestamped notes that link back to exact video moments.
- Media Extended Plugin – Play videos inside Obsidian and add notes without leaving your vault.
- Native Embeds – Use Markdown syntax
to embed YouTube or local videos.
These plugins are great for learners who want everything in one place, though they don't usually go beyond timestamping.
Browser Extensions
Sometimes, you don't want to keep Obsidian open while watching a video — especially if you're on YouTube, Udemy, or Zoom. That's where browser extensions come in:
- YiNote – Lets you pause, capture screenshots with timestamps, and export notes directly to Markdown.
- HoverNotes – A newer option that turns video watching into an AI-driven note-taking session.
HoverNotes in particular takes a different approach with:
- ✨ AI-enhanced notes (tables, diagrams, code snippets)
- 📸 One-click screenshots + timestamps
- 💾 Local-first storage into your Obsidian vault
- 🎯 Works everywhere (YouTube, Udemy, Coursera, Google Meet, Zoom, offline videos)
- 🚫 Ad-free learning (blocks ads & distractions, even on YouTube)
Quick Comparison
| Tool / Plugin | Inside Obsidian? | AI Notes | Timestamps | Screenshots | Works in Browser | Ad-Free |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Media Notes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Timestamp Notes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Media Extended | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| YiNote | ❌ No | ❌ No | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No |
| HoverNotes.io | ❌ No (but saves to vault) | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes |
Why This Matters
Video learning often feels passive: you watch, you forget, and you have to rewatch. With the right tools, video learning becomes active and searchable inside your Obsidian vault. That means you learn once, and keep the knowledge forever.
The key is finding the workflow that fits your learning style. Whether you prefer staying inside Obsidian with plugins or using browser-based tools that sync to your vault, the important thing is making your video learning stick.
Getting Started
- Choose your approach: Plugin-based (stay in Obsidian) or browser-based (watch anywhere)
- Test the workflow: Try taking notes on a short video to see what feels natural
- Build the habit: Consistent note-taking is more valuable than perfect tools
- Review regularly: Use Obsidian's linking and search to revisit your video notes
The future of learning is active, not passive. These tools help bridge that gap between consuming video content and building lasting knowledge in your personal system.
Try HoverNotes
Ready to transform your video learning? Get HoverNotes from the Chrome Web Store and start turning every video into permanent knowledge in your Obsidian vault.
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