My question is probably simple enough, but I am a newbie to obsidian and there’s a few things I want to know before I really start using the software. I am also not that technically minded, but I do know the modern-day basics of computer use very well or parts of it very well in the past at different times. I have also seen an answer to this question online, but I had no idea what the person who gave the answer was stating in the answer, but at least I know there’s an answer in the positive and informative vain. Looking for someone to really explain explicitly and help me out., please.
My question is, if I am using Obsidian on my desktop without sync. And the desktop that I am using needs to be replaced, how do I move my Obsidian files from my old desktop to my new desktop, keeping all my notes and also being able to use Obsidian to create new notes and make connections to my old notes with the graph and write and read both new and old notes on the new desktop??
As I said I have seen an a answer from the forum on this question but I had no idea what it actually meant. Could someone explain this to me very explicitly.
Thanks for your answers in advance, looking forward to them.
Thanks for your response, I have a few questions though because I don’t, as it stands understand your answer.
If I copy my Obsidian Vault, I presume this is the folder called vault, or is it some other folder, its the one that has all the other folders and files within it, or do I copy more than one folder when copying to pendrive??
You also suggest to Zip my vault is it, firstly do you mean that theres two ways of copying Vault to pendrive un-zipped and zipped, is there 2 ways and whats the difference??
And after I copy to new desktop do I need to have Obsidian actually installed on the new desktop before I actually copy over the old files, or do I just need to copy over the files and they will be workable seamlessly ??
Thanks
I merely mentioned zipping that vault because copying e.g. 5888 files takes quite long, especially to an older pendrive or external drive.
You can do the copy any way you want, as long as you copy all files you know to be your vault.
Then the files you copy to your new PC. If you zipped the vault, you need to unzip it. No need to compress when zipping.
Now I regret I mentioned zipping… Then don’t zip.
When the vault is copied to your vault, you are half done.
You need to install Obsidian. In Obsidian, you open the folder you copied.
You cannot open something that is not there, correct?
This is one of my vault’s contents on Linux Mint:
I have more vaults (these are the top level folders, with the vault names used by Obsidian, based on the folder name):
Given the same situation, I would need to copy CORPUS, Dusk, etc. folders to a drive and copy to the new PC, then I would need to install Obsidian and OPEN the folder as vault:
Sorry about the zipped confusion, had to be clear.
Im nearly completely with you now, just a few questions.
What do you mean -‘When the vault is copied to your vault, you are half done.’??
Obsidian and your vault(s) are separate. You know them to be separate but you still asked the question in the first post because you wanted to be certain, correct?
Installing Obsidian on a new PC will not have your files magically appear from the other PC. You need to copy them over and open them on the new PC’s Obsidian which you need to install.
Open your vault, like this:
a. Manage vaults → Open folder as vault (browse to the vault you copied over in step 1)
b. Ctrl-P for command palette → Open another vault (another way to get to that browse)
c. Or if you don’t have a vault open, when you launch Obsidian you might end up in the vault manager by default.
Yes I am with you, so on the new desktop, do I download obsidian first before I copy over the old files from the old desktop, and then after I download the obsidian software I import the old files and I can use seamlessly as I previously put it!
Well no, you follow the steps we’ve listed. I don’t see any mention of dropping things in.
If you mean where you store the folder for your vault, that’s up to you. You do not put them inside any obsidian app installation folder. Save them somewhere where you store your other documents.
Hello, I am with you, but to put it one way, I understand the concept, but because I am a beginner I am lost on the practicalities, if you could just explain it to me from a practical point of view, literally the steps involved, describe them,
like I copy vault(s) to pendrive then I dont understand what I do with the vault(s), how do I join these vaults up with the Obsidian system that is set up on the new computer, do I just open the vaults on the new computer and they will be automatically added to the Obsidian software that is set up on new computer, or must I do something like drag the vaults on the pendrive and add them to the obsidian software on the new computer.
I did list the steps in bullet form. Since it seems you are asking hypothetical preparatory questions, I advise you to just try it with a test vault. And read the help documentation.
You can come back and ask specific questions if you get stuck. But at this point, I’m going to refer you to our Code of Conduct about “Feed Me” behaviour. Community code of conduct - Obsidian Help
Happy to help with specific questions. Be brave and give it a try with some test notes. You’ve got this! But please make sure you to put in a bit of effort before asking for further help.
Ok I see your point, I apolagise, I was just trying to understand everything clearly, that is all. But many thanks and I will be back regarding this question or not, thanks again
