Steps to reproduce
- Create folder in sandbox vault that contains a word document (.doc file) - not a supported file.
- Configure Obsidian desktop on mac to sync a vault
- Configure Obsidian desktop on mac to sync unsupported file types
- Sync vault completely
- Install Obsidian on Android
- Connect Obsidian sync on Android to the same vault as desktop above
- Leave the default settings to NOT sync unsupported files
- Sync vault
Note: I tried to get this to reproduce in a new Sandbox vault, but there is some subtle timing issue or sequence of events that happens on Android with the vault that I am not able to reproduce with the small sample vault. The vault that this happens in has 31,375 files.
Because I noticed it was the mobile device that starts the loop by sending a delete message for the local folder, I tried to delete the empty folder on Android to trigger this, but it didn’t happen. I also connected a third device to the sync (iPad) to see if that caused it, but it still didn’t happen.
Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]
Y
Expected result
When syncing folders that ONLY contain unsupported files, I would expect that other devices would either ignore the folders or sync empty folders but not the files. They should not send delete messages for the folder during sync. If they do send a delete message and another device re-syncs the same file/folder, I would also expect the device to accept or ignore the folder/file – not to send another delete message.
Actual result
The android device keeps sending delete messages for a list of folders that contain ONLY unsupported files. The desktop Obsidian then re-uploads those files/folders. The android device then sends delete messages again. This continues forever.
Environment
SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: v1.9.14
Installer version: v1.9.12
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 24.6.0: Mon Jul 14 11:30:34 PDT 2025; root:xnu-11417.140.69~1/RELEASE_ARM64_T8103 24.6.0
Login status: logged in
Language: en
Catalyst license: vip
Insider build toggle: off
Live preview: on
Base theme: adapt to system
Community theme: none
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: on
RECOMMENDATIONS:
none
Additional information
There is not just one type of unsupported file in the folders. One has a .doc. Others have .ged or .xlsx.
A snippet of the log file from Desktop Obsidian during the loop is below (scrubbed names):
2025-10-02 11:13 - Fully synced
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:13 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Android] Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Some Article Title
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/Different Article
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/werk/Templates/util/Templater
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Web Clippings/_resources/AHPcalc-2018-09-15
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2015-2016_Elephants/General
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/AnotherFolder2009-2010_SoulBossaNova
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading AnotherFolder/LetterOfRecommendation
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Templates/util/templater_js
2025-10-02 11:14 - Uploading Notes/familytree
2025-10-02 11:14 - Fully synced