Sync not pushing full update

Bug graveyard
1

Steps to reproduce

Create a new file and type into it.

Looks like Sync now has a threshold for sending the file to the server, and very often the last few words don’t get synced. This may happen on any device (using Macbook, iPad, and iPhone).
It doesn’t sync the last few words if I turn off the screen, then I have to turn it on again, type in a few more words, and delete them for the update to be pushed and synced onto other devices.

This only started happening in the last month maybe, I haven’t experienced this before, so maybe it is related to some recent update where there is some threshold for syncing.

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y/N]

Yes.

Expected result

The full file is synced every time I stop typing, not just stop at some arbitrary point.

Actual result

Some words are missing.

Environment

SYSTEM INFO:
Obsidian version: v1.8.4
Installer version: v1.8.4
Operating system: Darwin Kernel Version 24.3.0: Thu Jan 2 20:23:36 PST 2025; root:xnu-11215.81.4~3/RELEASE_ARM64_T8112 24.3.0
Login status: logged in
Language: en
Catalyst license: none
Insider build toggle: off
Live preview: on
Base theme: dark
Community theme: Things v2.1.19
Snippets enabled: 0
Restricted mode: off
Plugins installed: 2
Plugins enabled: 1
1: Markdown Formatting Assistant v0.4.1

RECOMMENDATIONS:
Custom theme and snippets: for cosmetic issues, please first try updating your theme and disabling your snippets. If still not fixed, please try to make the issue happen in the Sandbox Vault or disable community theme and snippets.
Community plugins: for bugs, please first try updating all your plugins to latest. If still not fixed, please try to make the issue happen in the Sandbox Vault or disable community plugins.

Additional information

If you require more info let me know, I think I covered everything.

2

I joined the forum because of this. I feel it’s the one piece missing from otherwise perfect app.

The missed sync gets more pronounced in the scenario where one “quickly writes something and lock your phone / switch to a different app”. There are similar reports from multiple users in a different feature request titled “Make Obsidian Sync work in background (on Mobile)” (link seems to be forbidden?)

It looks like the iOS app may either: A. not have a way to complete the upload once it enters the background; B. prioritizing uploads other than the most recently edited file; or C. the feature is broken.

If A: iOS has an API explicitly for this purpose called beginBackgroundTask. Presumably third party apps like Google Keep and Notion use this to complete syncing of the most recently typed text even after the app enters the background.

This method requests additional background execution time for your app. Call this method when leaving a task unfinished might be detrimental to your app’s user experience. For example, call this method before writing data to a file to prevent the system from suspending your app while the operation is in progress.

If C: perhaps the debouncing interval has been increased too long that it goes over the background task’s allotted time of 5 seconds?

SYSTEM INFO:
	Operating system: ios 26.1 (Apple iPhone18,3)
	Obsidian version: 1.10.6 (256)
	API version: v1.10.6
	Login status: logged in
	Language: en
	Catalyst license: none
	Live preview: on
	Base theme: light
	Community theme: none
	Snippets enabled: 0
	Restricted mode: off
	Plugins installed: 0
	Plugins enabled: 0

RECOMMENDATIONS:
	none

Steps to reproduce:

  1. Create a file in macOS app.

  2. In iOS app, type something but IMMEDIATELY go to homescreen.

  3. Wait forever in macOS app for what you just typed in iOS app.

3

There is no threshold for sending file. However, sync does not work in the background, so if you close the app (or just minimize the app in the mobile case) before sync has completed you may miss the last words. Sync picks back up when you reopen the app.