Sync Duplication

Help
1

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What I’m trying to do

The Obsidian Synch software creates massive duplication of (largely) empty folders.

Things I have tried

I have repeatedly, manually deleted duplicate folders. Is there something I’m doing wrong? Or are there tools/plug-ins to 1.) Identify empty duplicate folders; 2.) Delete such duplicate empty folders?

2

What I’m trying to do

The Obsidian Synch software creates massive duplication of (largely) empty folders.

Things I have tried

I have repeatedly, manually deleted duplicate folders. Is there something I’m doing wrong? Or are there tools/plug-ins to 1.) Identify empty duplicate folders; 2.) Delete such duplicate empty folders?

3

Is your Obsidian-Synced vault in a OneDrive, Google Drive, iCloud, etc., folder also synced with another device or anything like that?

2 Likes
4

No it is not. My vault resides on my iPad, but it does not synch using Apple cloud.

5

You’ll need to give more info if you would like some help.

How many devices are you syncing? Is it just the iPad? I assume you have other devices if you are using Obsidian Sync. If so, what OS? What is the full vault path on those devices? Are you 100% sure they aren’t stored in another cloud tool?

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I primarily use Obsidian via my iPad. I also use my iPhone. I have also tried to synch via my Windows desktop. I formerly used my iCloud as the synching location for using Obsidian Synch. This has not been the case for over 4 months. For reasons that nobody seems to be able to explain, while Obsidian Synch runs (generally constantly in the background), I will see a ridiculous amount of folder duplication. Not topic (*.md file) duplication, just folder duplication. While I have patiently tried to delete such duplicate folders, I am rapidly losing my patience with hours of duplicated work. I don’t want to give-up on Obsidian, but I’m not getting any useful advice as to how to stop this…

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It sounds like you have been mixing multiple syncing tools. That could absolutely be the reason you have duplicating folders. You shouldn’t do this.

Can you share the full path to your vault on desktop? (Hide your username or any info you don’t want to share.)

Are you sure you are no longer using iCloud? Are you 100% sure? Maybe it is still on an iCloud folder on your mobile devices.

You said you are no longer using iCloud for 4 months. Also on Windows, you might be storing your vault in a default folder that is configured to sync with OneDrive. That’s why I’d like to know your full paths, to verify you are actually in a local location.

Also iCloud on Windows is known to cause a lot of problems. Don’t use that configuration.

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Here are the file locations on my desktop for my Obsidian vaults:

Root —-> C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Obsidian Vault

Cybersecurity Master ——> C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Cybersecurity Master

Cybersecurity Backup ——> C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Cybersecurity Backup

Projects Master ——> C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Projects Master

Thinking Master ——> C:\Users\Owner\Documents\Thinking Master

Are these last four vaults mis-located? Should they be sub-directories of the Root?

I have an iCloud Drive and 2 Microsoft OneDrive external storage locations.

None of these Obsidian files or folders are mapping-to or contained-in these 3rd Party storage apps.

Thanks for your ongoing support….

Please tell me how to fix this…

9

I believe the Documents folder can be configured to backup in OneDrive. Please ensure it isn’t:

From some MS help page:

Turn off the OneDrive sync for the Documents and Pictures folders by going to the OneDrive cloud icon on the taskbar > OneDrive Settings > Sync and backup > Manage backup and toggle those folders to OFF.