How to sync Obsidian between your PC and mobile step by step

The Obsidian app has become a favorite tool among those looking to take organized and highly customizable notes. However, one of the most common questions among its users is: How to sync content between your computer and mobile, especially without paying for Obsidian Sync, the platform's official solution.

There are several ways to achieve this synchronization for free, using services like Google Drive, Syncthing, or even cloud storage solutions like Dropbox. In this article, we'll review The best ways to sync Obsidian between PC and Android (or iOS), its advantages, possible problems and how to solve them.

Why sync Obsidian across devices?

One of Obsidian's great advantages is its flexibility. This app works with local Markdown files, which allows us to have complete control over our notesHowever, this initial advantage becomes a challenge when we need to keep those same files up to date, both on our mobile phone and our computer.

If you work from different devices throughout the day, you want your notes to be synchronized in real time Or at least without the hassle of manual copies. So, let's explore reliable methods for achieving this.

Option 1: Synchronization via Google Drive

A fairly practical way to do this is by using Google Drive as a shared storage folder.

On your computer, simply install Google Drive (desktop version), create a folder for your vault (we recommend a folder just for Obsidian), and save it inside your synced Google Drive folder.

On mobile, things are a bit more complicated because Obsidian doesn't allow direct access to Google Drive. This is where an additional app comes into play: FolderSync (available on Android).

Main steps to configure this option:

• Install Google Drive on your PC and set up your folder Obsidian inside a synchronized folder.
• on your phone, Install Obsidian and FolderSync.
• From FolderSync, create a Sync between the local folder where Obsidian saves data and your Google Drive (the same folder you use on your PC).

So, when you open Obsidian on both your PC and your mobile device, you'll access the same file source. Just make sure FolderSync is running before opening Obsidian, or you may experience version conflicts.

Important tip: This option works best if you don't make changes on both devices at the same time, as conflicts can occur if you sync different versions of the same file.

Option 2: Using Syncthing for direct synchronization

Syncthing is one of the most popular tools among Obsidian power users.. What it does is sync folders directly between devices without going through the cloud.

To use Syncthing you need:

• Install Syncthing on your PC.
• Install a fork like Syncthing-Fork on Android, as the official mobile app isn't always well-optimized.
• Configure shared folders and set up two-way synchronization.

This method has the advantage of being totally private and free from third parties, but it requires having both devices turned on and connected to the same local network (or allowing remote connections if you configure it that way).

The good? You don't rely on third-party services or external storage, as everything goes through your local or remote network, directly from device to device.

The complicated part? Initial setup can be intimidating for those unfamiliar with networks or advanced syncing apps. But once set up, it works like clockwork.

What about the official Obsidian Sync app?

Obsidian offers its own official sync system, but it is paid. Although most users seek to avoid this cost, it is worth knowing what it offers:

• Automatic and real-time synchronization on all your devices.
• Version history and file recovery.
• End-to-end encryption.

If you have a budget and want to avoid technical complications, It may be the most comfortable and safe optionBut if you prefer free alternatives, the options above are not far behind.

Other useful considerations and tips

Whether you use Google Drive or Syncthing, there are a few tips to keep in mind:

• Avoid editing notes simultaneously on two devices. This can cause conflicts that are difficult to resolve.
• Make regular backups, even if your sync method already saves them.
• Check sync before closing Obsidian or turn off the device, to ensure that there are no pending changes.
• Configure the access routes correctly both on the PC and on the mobile so that they point to the same synchronized folder.

Common case: synchronization between Android and PC

Let's summarize a typical case where a user wants to have their Obsidian notes synchronized between an Android phone and their Windows PC:

• Choose whether you want to use Google Drive or Syncthing (We recommend starting with Google Drive for ease of setup.)
• On the PC, set the location of your vault inside the synced Drive folder.
• On mobile, install FolderSync, Connect your Google Drive account and sync the folder corresponding to the local Obsidian folder.
• Check periodically that the files have been updated correctly.

With this setup, you should be able to write a note on your phone in the morning, expand it on your laptop at the office, and review it from home, all without losing any data between versions.

Obsidian is a very flexible tool, and although its official synchronization system has a cost, there are Free and effective solutions that allow you to keep your notes synchronized between devicesWhether through Google Drive and FolderSync or using Syncthing for direct connections, you can adapt Obsidian to your workflow without sacrificing the convenience of having everything up to date wherever you are. Taking the time to properly set up one of these systems can make the difference between a smooth or frustrating experience with your daily notes.