# Coming from Obsidian or Notion

> There is no import wizard because your files are already the format.

Kempt has no import wizard, and that is on purpose. Everything in Kempt is a plain markdown file in one local folder, so "importing" just means putting your files there. No converter runs, nothing gets transformed, and there is no lock-in in either direction.

## Try this

Point Kempt at your notes. If you use Obsidian, your vault already works as a Kempt home.

1. On first launch, pick **Choose an existing folder**.
2. Select your Obsidian vault. Your files are untouched; Kempt only adds `_config` and `_claude` folders.
3. Watch the status indicator. With many files it shows **Updating...** while Kempt builds its search index in the background. You can use the app meanwhile.
4. Open a note and click a wikilink. It resolves, including shortest-name links.

That is the whole migration.

## From Obsidian

There are two paths. Pick whichever fits how much you want to bring.

**Point Kempt at your vault.** Follow the steps above. The vault becomes your home as it is, files untouched.

**Copy folders in.** If you already have a Kempt home and only want part of your vault, copy the folders you want into it. Kempt picks them up and indexes them.

Either way, nothing is converted. The files stay ordinary markdown.

> **Warning:** If your vault lives inside a cloud-synced folder (OneDrive, Dropbox), Kempt will warn you when you pick it. A plain local folder is safer. See [where your data lives](/help/data).

## What carries over

- **Wikilinks** resolve in Kempt, including shortest-name links.
- **Tags** are read and browsable.
- **Frontmatter properties** are read and browsable.

See [notes](/help/notes) for how tags and properties surface in the app.

## Keep using Obsidian if you want

You can keep Obsidian open on the same folder after you switch. Kempt detects edits made outside the app and never silently overwrites them. See [where your data lives](/help/data) for how outside edits are handled.

## From Notion

Notion needs one extra step because its data is not files yet.

1. In Notion, export your workspace or pages as **Markdown and CSV**.
2. Unzip the export.
3. Drag the folders into your Kempt home, or into a workspace folder inside it.

Your pages arrive as markdown files. Kempt indexes them like any other note.

## First indexing

With many files, Kempt builds its search index in the background. The status indicator shows **Updating...** while it runs, and you can keep working in the app the whole time.

## Leaving Kempt

It works the same way in reverse. Your notes are markdown files in a folder you can open with anything. Copy the folder and you have everything. It is yours.

Next: [get to know notes](/help/notes), or [set up planning](/help/planning). Questions welcome on [Discord](https://discord.gg/ktE8eUeyTj) or at [hello@kempt.md](mailto:hello@kempt.md).