Sync-ing from macOS to iOS/iPadOS/Debian Trixie

Help
1

I have looked through both the help sub-site and previous posts here but found nothing that addressed my situation.

What I’m trying to do

Previously I stored my vaults on iCloud as my home setup was entirely Apple-based (Mac Mini, MacBook Pro, iPad, and iPhone) with the desktop being the primary environment but have recently introduced a RaspberryPi (specifically a 500+ and monitor). The iCloud storage was not entirely satisfactory as the other Apple devices either did not see all the documents or there was occasional corruption. With the introduction of the RaspberryPi iCloud is no longer a viable option so want to use Obsidian Sync.

I have setup a sync account. Created a new macOS folder where the vaults will be homed and moved my vaults to that new location. Now I’m stuck.

Things I have tried

Tried to link the new vaults folder to the sync account. Reading through the help files I cannot quite understand how that link is to be achieved; I need it spelt out in simple steps. (There feels like there is a section missing — or I am simply being stupid.)

Environment

Mac Mini running Tahoe 26.2
MacBook Pro running Tahoe 26.3
iOS 26.3.1
iPadOS 26.3.1
RaspberryPi Debian Trixie
Obsidian 1.12.4 on all devices
Both Mac Mini and MacBookPro to be updated to 26.3.1 soon

2

A couple of questions:

  1. Did you sign up for Obsidian Sync? (It’s a paid service)
  2. If yes to question 1 did you turn on Sync in settings and then connect the local Vault to your sync account?
3

I have the same issue Glimfeather. I have signed up for the sync account for 12 months but I find the process very clunky. I now understand why other users suggest a seperate notes app and using obsidian on a desktop/laptop. I might go to an old-fashioned paper notebook yet.

4

Yes, I did that.

It is on but the dialog box wants a remote vault whereas I havelocal ones (which are the ones that I want to sync between devices).

This is where it feels to me that there is a step missing in the instructions..

5

Once everything is all set up there won’t be a “main” device, but pick the device you want to create the remote vault from initially and follow these steps:

https://obsidian.md/help/sync/setup#Create+a+new+remote+vault

Once the remote vault has been created and those local files fully uploaded, you can connect other devices to that remote vault:

https://obsidian.md/help/sync/setup#Sync+a+remote+vault+on+another+device

6

Hello. So I ran into a similar problem that is related to @ariehen ‘s reply.

I was also trying to figure out best practices for file/vault storage based on my setup.

I have a home server that is setup as a file share where I have, until recently, been storing my vault/files. I was then using my Linux Laptop with a mounted drive/folder to the SMB file share and Obsidian on the same laptop to make changes to my files. IF my needs ended there, OR any additional needs allowed for mounting a drive/folder with the SMB share (IE: another PC on the network) I would have been fine.

However, I added mobile devices (Android and iOS) which messed me up until I changed my way of thinking. As soon as I added Obsidian Sync I should have dropped the mounted drive/folder to the SMB share on my laptop and simply used Obsidian Sync to handle everything.

I haven’t done this yet, but will be soon:

  1. I will setup up the headless sync that is currently in beta OR simply install Obsidian on my home server (I have a Desktop Environment on my server).

  2. I will then connect the vault/folder on my server to Obsidian Sync. If I decide not to use the headless sync at this time I will just need to open Obsidian on my home server every so often so it can refresh the files with the changes stored in Obsidian Sync.

  3. I will remove all “local” vaults on my laptop and then setup Obsidian Sync and connect it to a new folder.

  4. I will repeat step 3 on my Mobile Devices.

At this point there will be an encrypted vault filled with my files via Obsidian Sync which will then be considered the “base vault” which will sync the files to the local devices when Obsidian is open.