iCloud: data loss issue / sync conflict handling

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1

Hello,

I encountered a data loss issue that appears to be related to sync conflict handling.

I using iCloud

Here is the exact sequence:

  1. I created and edited a large note on my laptop (with internet connection).

  2. I then closed the laptop and later opened Obsidian on my iPhone.

  3. The note title was visible, but the content was empty.

  4. I did not manually edit or delete the content on mobile.

  5. Later, when I returned to my laptop, the note content was completely gone — replaced by an empty version.

This suggests that an empty file from mobile overwrote the existing note, possibly due to a sync conflict where the empty version was treated as the latest.

This is critical because:

  • There was no warning about a conflict

  • No duplicate or “conflict file” was created

  • The original content appears to be permanently lost

For comparison, apps like Apple Notes merge or preserve versions instead of overwriting content silently.

Could you clarify:

  • How Obsidian handles sync conflicts in this scenario?

  • Why an empty note might overwrite a populated one?

  • Whether there is any way to recover the original content?

  • What safeguards are recommended to prevent this in the future?

This behavior creates a risk of silent data loss, especially when switching between desktop and mobile.

Thank you,
Alex

2

Can you share all the devices involved here? Is Windows part of the mix?

1 Like
3

MacBook Pro (macOS 15.5) and iPhone 12 Pro Max (iOS 18.4.1)

Today the issue happened again. First, I intentionally tested it: I wrote a sentence on my MacBook, then opened Obsidian on my iPhone and it appeared there. Then I deleted it and wrote a new sentence on the iPhone, and it appeared on the MacBook.

After that, I started working on yesterday’s long text on the MacBook. After a few paragraphs I checked, and on the iPhone the note was still showing yesterday’s version. I closed the note on the MacBook, reopened it on the iPhone, and it was still the old version. Then when I opened the note again on the MacBook, the new text was replaced by the old iPhone version.

I then re-edited the note again on the MacBook, and noticed that if I fully closed Obsidian on the iPhone and reopened it, it would sometimes update correctly.

It feels like there is some internal prioritization happening, instead of merging based on the latest edit. I just tested it by typing one number on the iPhone and a different number on the MacBook. It seemed like sometimes the iPhone version was prioritized and only one number remained. Ideally, both edits should remain.

Example scenario: I have the same note on MacBook and iPhone. I edit it on the MacBook, close it, then open it on the iPhone while I’m out, but the updated text doesn’t appear. Then I open the MacBook again, but at that moment there’s no internet, and a conflict happens because the “last opened” state seems to take priority.

4

Got it!

The first thing to check is to make sure “Keep Downloaded” is set for the Obsidian folder in iCloud Drive (your vault or vaults are in there).

On macOS in the Finder, right click and “Keep Downloaded”.

On iOS in the Files app, long press and “Keep Downloaded”.

This could be an issue as well – I’m not sure how iCloud Drive handles things when there’s no connection.