Remapping keybindings

Every keybinding in Vim Motions is user-remappable. The mechanism depends on the context — editor keybindings use vim.keymap.set / nmap, oil explorer uses autocmds, the picker uses a dedicated keymap API, and global workspace navigation uses vim.obsidian.keymap.set / gmap.

Editor keybindings

All editor motions, actions, and operators have ex command aliases. Remap by mapping your preferred key to the ex command.

Lua (recommended)

vim.keymap.set('n', 'gh', ':nextheading<CR>', { desc = 'Next heading' })
vim.keymap.set('n', 'gH', ':prevheading<CR>', { desc = 'Previous heading' })
vim.keymap.set('n', '<leader>s', ':splitvertical<CR>', { desc = 'Split vertical' })

Vimrc

nmap gh :nextheading<CR>
nmap gH :prevheading<CR>
nmap <leader>s :splitvertical<CR>

Removing a default binding

To move a binding to a different key and disable the original:

vim.keymap.del('n', ']h')
vim.keymap.set('n', 'gh', ':nextheading<CR>')

See ex-commands > Navigation and action commands for the full list of ex command aliases.

Oil explorer keybindings

Oil keybindings are context-scoped — they only apply inside oil buffers. Use the OilEnter autocmd to set buffer-local keymaps.

Lua (recommended)

vim.api.nvim_create_autocmd('OilEnter', {
    callback = function()
        vim.keymap.set('n', 'l', function()
            vim.obsidian.oil.open_entry()
        end, { buffer = 0 })
        vim.keymap.set('n', 'h', function()
            vim.obsidian.oil.parent()
        end, { buffer = 0 })
    end
})

Vimrc

nmap <C-h> :oilparent<CR>

Vimrc oil mappings are global

Vimrc nmap cannot scope to oil buffers only. Mappings apply everywhere. Use Lua with { buffer = 0 } for oil-only bindings.

Oil Lua functions

Function	Description
vim.obsidian.oil.open(path)	Open oil for a directory
vim.obsidian.oil.close()	Close oil buffer
vim.obsidian.oil.parent()	Navigate to parent directory
vim.obsidian.oil.root()	Navigate to vault root
vim.obsidian.oil.refresh()	Refresh current listing
vim.obsidian.oil.toggle_hidden()	Toggle dotfile visibility
vim.obsidian.oil.cycle_sort()	Cycle sort order
vim.obsidian.oil.yank_path()	Copy file path to clipboard
vim.obsidian.oil.reveal()	Reveal in Obsidian file explorer
vim.obsidian.oil.open_entry()	Open file/directory under cursor

See oil-explorer > Remapping keybindings for the full ex command table.

Picker keybindings

The picker operates outside the vim keymap system. Configure its keybindings via Lua:

vim.obsidian.pick_keymap({
    move_down = { 'ArrowDown', 'C-n' },
    move_up = { 'ArrowUp', 'C-p' },
    confirm = { 'Enter' },
    split_h = { 'C-s' },
    split_v = { 'C-v' },
    open_tab = { 'C-t' },
    scroll_down = { 'C-d' },
    scroll_up = { 'C-u' },
    close = { 'Escape', 'C-q' },
})

Key format: ArrowDown, Enter, Escape for special keys; C-x for Ctrl+x. Only specified fields are updated — omitted fields keep their defaults.

Vimrc not supported

Picker keybindings cannot be configured via vimrc. Use Lua.

Global workspace navigation keybindings

Global keybindings apply in non-editor views (graph, PDF, canvas, etc.). Configure via vim.obsidian.keymap.set (Lua) or gmap (vimrc).

Lua

vim.obsidian.keymap.set('H', ':files', { desc = 'Find files' })
vim.obsidian.keymap.del('L')

Vimrc

gmap H :files
gunmap L

Ex command line

:gmap H :files
:gunmap L
:gmaps          " list all global mappings

The rhs must start with : — either :command (ex command) or :obcommand command-id (Obsidian command).

See vimrc > Global key mappings for details.

Summary

Context	Lua API	Vimrc	Ex command
Editor motions	vim.keymap.set	nmap key :excommand<CR>	N/A
Oil explorer	OilEnter autocmd + buffer-local	nmap key :oilcmd<CR>	:oilparent, etc.
Picker	vim.obsidian.pick_keymap(table)	Not supported	N/A
Global workspace nav	vim.obsidian.keymap.set/del	gmap / gunmap	:gmap / :gunmap