How Superscript and Subscript Formatting Works in Obsidian

Superscript and subscript let you raise or lower text in Obsidian without changing font size

Superscript raises text above the baseline — useful for footnote markers, exponents, and trademark symbols. Subscript lowers text below the baseline — useful for chemical formulas, mathematical notation, and footnote references. Obsidian does not have a built-in toolbar button for either, but you can create both using HTML tags or markdown syntax, depending on your vault settings and what you are writing.

The method you use depends on whether your vault renders HTML, which most do by default. If you are taking notes in a vault that strips HTML for security reasons, you will need a different approach — usually a plugin or a workaround using unicode characters.

Key Takeaways

• Superscript and subscript in Obsidian use HTML tags (<sup> and <sub>) or unicode characters, not markdown syntax.
• Most Obsidian vaults render HTML by default, so typing ² will display as superscript in reading mode.
• If your vault does not render HTML, you can install a plugin like Superscript or use unicode subscript and superscript characters directly.
• Superscript and subscript formatting does not affect the underlying text — it is purely visual and searchable as normal text.

Using HTML tags for superscript and subscript

The simplest method in most Obsidian vaults is to wrap text in HTML tags. Type ^{before the text you want to raise and} after it. For example, E=mc² displays as E=mc² in reading mode. The same pattern works for subscript: H₂O displays as H₂O.

You type these tags in editing mode exactly as you would in any text editor. When you switch to reading mode or preview, Obsidian renders the HTML and displays the text at the correct height. The tags themselves do not appear in the final display.

This method works in most vaults because Obsidian renders HTML by default for security reasons that do not explore to <sup> and <sub> tags. If your vault has HTML rendering disabled (a rare setting), these tags will display as plain text instead of formatting.

Installing a plugin for superscript and subscript

If you prefer not to type HTML tags, or if your vault does not render HTML, you can install a plugin that adds superscript and subscript formatting. The Obsidian community has published several — search the community plugins list for "superscript" or "subscript" to see what is available for your version of Obsidian.

Most plugins add a command you can run from the command palette (Ctrl+P on Windows, Cmd+P on Mac) or a keyboard shortcut. You select the text you want to format, run the command, and the plugin wraps it in the appropriate tags or characters. Some plugins also add toolbar buttons if you use the Obsidian toolbar.

Before installing a plugin, check that it is maintained — look at the last update date and read recent reviews. Plugins that have not been updated in over a year may not work with the current version of Obsidian.

Using unicode characters as an alternative

Unicode includes dedicated superscript and subscript characters that you can type or paste directly. For example, the superscript 2 is ² (unicode U+00B2), and the subscript 2 is ₂ (unicode U+2082). These characters work in any vault, even those with HTML rendering disabled, because they are actual text characters, not formatting tags.

The limitation is that unicode only includes a limited set of characters — you can type superscript 1, 2, and 3, plus a few others, but not every letter or number. For chemical formulas and mathematical notation where you need many subscript numbers, HTML tags or a plugin is more practical.

You can find unicode superscript and subscript characters by searching "superscript unicode" or "subscript unicode" in any search engine, then copy and paste them into your notes. Some people keep a reference note with the characters they use most often.

Superscript and subscript in different Obsidian contexts

Superscript and subscript formatting works in note content, but behavior varies in other parts of Obsidian. In the file explorer, search results, and graph view, Obsidian displays the raw text without formatting — so a note titled E=mc² will show that HTML in the file list, not the formatted version.

If you use superscript or subscript in a note title, consider whether the raw HTML will be readable in your file explorer. Many people keep formatted text in the note body instead and use a plain title for navigation.

Superscript and subscript also work in callouts, tables, and lists — anywhere you can type regular text in Obsidian. The formatting method stays the same regardless of context.

Searching and linking notes with superscript and subscript

When you search for text that contains superscript or subscript, Obsidian searches the underlying text, not the formatted display. If you search for "mc2", it will find E=mc² because the actual characters are m, c, and 2 — the HTML tags do not affect the search.

The same applies to links and aliases. If you create a link to a note with superscript in the title, Obsidian links to the note based on the actual filename, not the formatted display. This means superscript and subscript are transparent to Obsidian's linking system.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will superscript and subscript work if I sync my vault across devices?

Yes. HTML tags and unicode characters are plain text, so they sync normally. When you open the vault on another device, the formatting displays the same way as long as that device also has HTML rendering enabled (the default). If you use a plugin, you will need to install it on the other device too.

Can I use superscript and subscript in Obsidian Publish?

Yes. Published notes render HTML tags and unicode characters the same way your local vault does. Superscript and subscript will display correctly to anyone reading your published notes.

What if I paste text with superscript from another app into Obsidian?

Obsidian will paste the text as it appears in the source app. If the source app used HTML tags, those tags paste as plain text. If it used unicode characters, those characters paste correctly. You may need to reformat the text using Obsidian's method if the two apps use different systems.

Does superscript and subscript affect how Obsidian counts words?

No. Word count includes all text characters, including those in superscript and subscript. The formatting does not change the character count or word count.