Sync Obsidian Vault Across Devices: iCloud vs Syncthing

This guide walks you through syncing an Obsidian vault across multiple devices using either iCloud Drive or Syncthing, and compares the two methods so you can choose the right one. You’ll learn the exact steps for each setup, what to avoid, and how to fix common problems.

What You’ll Need

• Obsidian installed on all devices you want to sync (desktop, mobile, or both).
• An iCloud account (for the iCloud method) with enough storage for your vault.
• Syncthing installed on each device (for the Syncthing method). Free download from the official site.
• A basic understanding of file paths on your devices.

Step-by-Step

Option A: Sync with iCloud Drive (Apple devices)

1. Create or locate your vault. On your Mac, open Obsidian and create a new vault, or note the folder path of an existing one. For example, ~/Documents/MyVault.
2. Move the vault into iCloud Drive. In Finder, drag the vault folder into iCloud Drive (usually under ~/Library/Mobile Documents/com~apple~CloudDocs/). Wait for the upload to finish (look for the cloud icon to clear).
3. Open the vault from iCloud on the same Mac. In Obsidian, click “Open folder as vault” and select the folder inside iCloud Drive. This ensures Obsidian uses the iCloud copy, not a local duplicate.
4. On your iPhone/iPad: Install Obsidian from the App Store. In the app, tap “Open” and navigate to the iCloud Drive location. Select the vault folder. Obsidian will now sync notes automatically via iCloud.
5. On another Mac: Install Obsidian, then open the same vault from iCloud Drive. Make sure to choose “Open folder as vault” and select the iCloud copy.
6. Test sync. Create a test note on one device and verify it appears on another within a few seconds.

Option B: Sync with Syncthing (cross-platform, no cloud)

1. Install Syncthing on all devices. Download from the official website for Windows, macOS, Linux, or the Syncthing-Fork app for Android. For iOS, use Möbius Sync (a Syncthing client).
2. Set up a shared folder. On your first device (e.g., a PC), open Syncthing’s web UI (usually at localhost:8384). Click “Add Folder”, give it an ID (e.g., obsidian-vault), and set the folder path to your Obsidian vault folder.
3. Connect devices. On the second device, install Syncthing and add the first device using its Device ID (found under Actions > Show ID). Accept the connection on the first device.
4. Share the folder. On the first device, edit the folder, go to “Sharing”, and check the second device. On the second device, accept the shared folder and choose a local path (e.g., D:/ObsidianVault).
5. Repeat for all devices. Connect each new device to the existing cluster and share the folder to it.
6. Open the folder in Obsidian. On each device, open Obsidian and select the folder you just synced. The vault is now available everywhere.
7. Test sync. Add a note on one device and watch it appear on others (Syncthing syncs within seconds on LAN, slower over the internet).

Common Mistakes

• Opening the wrong copy. With iCloud, if you open a local copy instead of the iCloud one, changes won’t sync. Always open the vault from the iCloud path.
• Ignoring file conflicts. Syncthing creates conflict files (e.g., note (conflicted copy).md) when two devices edit the same note simultaneously. Don’t delete them blindly; check which version is correct.
• Using iCloud on Windows. iCloud for Windows is unreliable for syncing folders like Obsidian vaults. Prefer Syncthing for mixed OS setups.
• Not waiting for initial sync. Large vaults take time to upload/download. Don’t edit notes on multiple devices until the initial sync completes.
• Forgetting to enable Syncthing on startup. If Syncthing isn’t running, no sync happens. Set it to start automatically on each device.

Tips

• Keep your vault small. Both methods work best with text-only notes. If you store large attachments, consider using a separate folder for media and exclude it from sync.
• Use the Obsidian Sync plugin (paid) for simplicity. It’s the official solution and handles conflicts better, but it costs money. If you want free, Syncthing is the best alternative.
• Set up a backup. Even with sync, back up your vault regularly (e.g., to an external drive or a cloud storage like Dropbox). Sync is not backup.
• For iCloud, disable “Optimize Mac Storage” for the vault folder if you experience missing files. Right-click the folder in Finder and select “Keep Downloaded”.
• Use Syncthing’s versioning. Enable “File Versioning” in folder options to keep old versions of notes, protecting against accidental deletions.

Troubleshooting

• Changes not appearing on other devices. Check that Obsidian is closed on all devices except the one you’re editing, or ensure the sync app is running. For iCloud, confirm the cloud icon next to the vault folder shows a green checkmark (fully uploaded). For Syncthing, check the web UI for errors and ensure devices are connected.
• Conflicts appearing frequently. This happens when two devices edit the same note before sync completes. Wait a few seconds after editing before switching devices. If conflicts are constant, reduce the number of devices or use Obsidian Sync.
• iCloud says “This folder is in use” or fails to upload. Close Obsidian, restart the Mac, and try again. Also check that the vault path doesn’t contain special characters.
• Syncthing shows “Out of Sync” but no progress. Check the “Global State” in the folder overview. If it says “Not enough disk space”, free up space. If it says “Permission denied”, check folder permissions.
• Vault appears empty on a new device. Make sure you’ve pointed Obsidian to the correct folder. For iCloud, ensure the vault is fully downloaded (cloud icon with down arrow). For Syncthing, verify the folder path is correct and the folder is marked as “Shared” with that device.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is iCloud or Syncthing better for Obsidian?

For Apple-only users, iCloud is simpler and integrates natively. For cross-platform (Windows/Android) or privacy-focused users, Syncthing is more reliable and doesn’t rely on a cloud service.

Can I use both iCloud and Syncthing at the same time?

Technically yes, but it’s not recommended. Running two sync engines on the same folder can cause conflicts and data duplication. Pick one.

Does Obsidian Sync (paid) work better than these?

Yes, it’s the most reliable and offers end-to-end encryption, version history, and no file conflicts. But it costs a monthly fee. If you’re a heavy user, it might be worth it.

Will syncing with iCloud work on Android?

No, iCloud is not available on Android. Use Syncthing or another method like Git or a cloud folder (Dropbox/OneDrive) for Android.

How long does initial sync take?

It depends on vault size and internet speed. A small vault (a few MB) takes seconds to minutes. A large vault with many attachments can take hours over a slow connection.

What happens if I edit a note on two devices at the same time?

With iCloud, you may get a duplicate note or the last write wins. With Syncthing, you get a conflict file that you can manually merge. To avoid this, edit on one device at a time.

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