⚠️ Minimal 6.0 is currently in beta and requires Obsidian version 0.16+. Please be aware that Obsidian 0.16 beta contains many breaking changes, and is being frequently updated based on insider feedback. Updating to Minimal 6.0 will likely reset some of your preferences in Style Settings and Minimal Settings. I would encourage you to join the #minimal channel Obsidian Discord if you have any questions.

My new default theme for Obsidian

As you may have heard, the Obsidian team asked me to create the new default theme for Obsidian. The new default theme is now available in the beta builds of Obsidian 0.16. Learn more about Obsidian 0.16. You can access beta builds by becoming a Catalyst member.

You might be wondering, what does this mean for Minimal? Below are a few frequently asked questions.

Is Minimal the new default theme for Obsidian?

No. The new default theme is a brand new theme. It was written from scratch to be the default for new users, and the foundation for all community themes. However, the new default theme does have similar priorities to Minimal, in that it aims to make Obsidian feel more like a native app on your operating system.

Will Minimal continue to exist as a separate theme?

Yes. Minimal will continue to exist, and will continue to be improved for my personal usage of Obsidian.

How does Minimal differ from the new default theme?

Going forward I would describe Minimal as the “Pro” version of the default theme. It is designed for more advanced users of Obsidian who are looking for more customizability and advanced features.

Most of the features described in the Minimal Documentation at minimal.guide will not be added to the default theme because they depend on community plugins and non-standard Markdown features.

Minimal includes features that can only be used by installing Minimal Theme Settings and Style Settings plugins, such as Hotkeys, Color schemes, Block widths, Focus mode, Image grids, Helper classes, etc.

Minimal 6.0 beta

Please note that Minimal is undergoing a major rewrite because 0.16+ significantly streamlines theme development. The good news is that the Minimal codebase will become much slimmer and more maintainable. However, you may experience a few bugs while the transition is happening.

Colorful frame

Obsidian 0.16+ introduces a revamped window frame for the new Tabs feature. With Minimal Theme Settings you can now activate the Colorful frame toggle (also available as a hotkey). This is especially useful if you use multiple Obsidian vaults and would like to color-code them. The color is automatically derived from your preference in the new Accent color in Obsidian Appearance settings, but you can also customize it further via Style Settings plugin.

Light mode

Dark mode

Other changes

New in Style Settings

• Tabs were added in Obsidian 0.16.0 and can be customized with a few new options:
  • Tab bar height
  • Tab style
• Tab stacks were added in Obsidian 0.16.2, similar to Sliding Panes plugin. You can now use Style Settings to control the following options:
  • Stacked tab width
  • Spine width
  • Spine text orientation
• Titles settings allow you to customize the new Inline title and Tab title bar
• Translucent background color offers improved customization of the translucent sidebar
• Window frame settings provides additional customization for the colorful frame feature described above

Deprecated options

Removed from Minimal Theme Settings:

• Accent color now part of the default app’s Appearance settings
• Custom icons toggle these are now included in default theme
• Colorful cursor no longer works since Obsidian uses the native cursor

Removed from Style Settings:

• Sidebar tab styles need to be revamped for 0.16

Moved from Minimal Theme Settings to Style Settings:

• Dataview preferences have moved from Minimal Theme Settings to Style Settings:
  • Max column width
  • Trim columns