Please help a newbie change synced vault

[Tyner217]

What I’m trying to do

I’ve been using Obsidian for a while and had my vault (name: Tyner Vault) connected to iCloud, and use it on my iphone and my PC laptop. Everything’s been working smoothly.

Today I opened Obsidian on my laptop, and I think because the software updated (v. 1.6.7), it took me to the first page, where my options are to Create new vault, Open folder as vault, and Open vault from Obsidian Sync.

I couldn’t figure out how to Open folder as vault since it is in my iCloud. I got frustrated and signed up for the Obsidian Sync service for $48/year (though I think I can cancel after 7 days). I figured, fine, I’ll pay, if it will make this process easier. I assumed - wrongly - that EITHER the iphone or laptop would allow me to make Tyner Vault the synced vault. Wrong; I had to create a new vault (name: ETE Vault).

I just need one vault. I want to put all the files from Tyner Vault into ETE Vault
OR
I want to delete the empty ETE Vault and replace it with Tyner Vault
[whichever is simpler]

This is not my area of expertise at all, and I’m struggling. I don’t want to make a fatal error, and after an hour of searching for what I think should be a common question, I’m stumped. Can some kind soul send me a link with instructions? I promise to pass on good karma.

[LucilleAncrath]

Can you log into your iCloud on PC and find your Tyner Vault? That’s the most important thing and everything else shouldn’t be hard. After you locate it, the main question is, what do you want to do?

• Do you want to cancel the Obsidian sync and keep on syncing via iCloud?
• Or do you want to proceed with Obsidian sync?

Since iCloud worked fine for you so far, it probably makes more sense to cancel Obsidian sync and focus on opening back your Vault. Lemme know and I can tell you what to do next.

[Tyner217]

Yes, I see it in my iCloud drive. I’d rather keep doing that because of the $.

Thank you VERY much. I appreciate you.

[LucilleAncrath]

Its no trouble! Your files are safe, thats good to know! Do you have iCloud installed on your PC? I’m going to assume you do since idk how else you’d be able to sync files in the past. If you somehow don’t have iCloud installed, do that first and then follow the steps above.

To find the location of your iCloud files on Windows, look at the image below, see how it shows up in File explorer on the left side?

You can also check the default installation path, which should be:
C:\Users[user name]\iCloud Drive
You find C drive by clicking on “This PC”, and it should be under Devices and Drives.

You should also make sure the iCloud application is still syncing your files. Maybe you got logged out of the app on PC and that’s why Obsidian closed your vault.

Now that you hopefully see your iCloud files and know that they’re being synced…

1. open Obsidian application
2. open the left side panel
3. click on the Vault name (ETE Vault?) all the way at the bottom
4. click manage Vaults…

5. click “Open folder as Vault” and find your iCloud folder like you have in the steps above
6. click Open and that should be it

In case all of this works, you should be able to cancel Obsidian sync.
The next step would be to delete the unnecessary ETE Vault:

1. go back into Manage Vaults option
2. on the left side of that menu you should now have two Vaults, click on on the 3 dots next to ETE Vault (which you want to delete)
3. click “Reveal Vault in File explorer” (or whatever they call it)

4. delete that folder since its empty and you don’t need it.

• If you’ve already made some new files in it, copy them into Tyner Vault before deleting everything
• If it still shows up in the Vault list, repeat the steps and click Remove from list.

Let me know if this works for you!

[Tyner217]

It took me an embarrassingly long time to get to this (I do have good family & health excuses that I won’t bore you with) but your instructions were SO helpful and I’m incredibly grateful for your patience, time, and expertise. Thank you, thank you, thank you!