Sync Restores deleted/moved files and folders

Steps to reproduce

Files and folders deleted on pc seem to be restored after syncing with mobile app. This includes files and folders which are moved to different locations. Both versions of the files and folders are present, so you aren’t loosing data, but it is frustrating to start working on a file you searched for only to realize it was the wrong version.

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide? [Y]

Expected result

I would expect deleted files and folders to be deleted on mobile, not restored to the pc from mobile.

Actual result

Files and folders deleted on pc seem to be restored after syncing with mobile app. This includes files and folders which are moved to different locations. Both versions of the files and folders are present, so you aren’t loosing data, but it is frustrating to start working on a file you searched for only to realize it was the wrong version.

Environment

macOS, iOS


Additional information

There are other reports in the sync chanel on the discord.

2 Likes

We are aware of another recent problem with sync that we fixed in 1.4.14. Let me know if your issue is solved when you get it.

still seems to be having the same issue.

If you have 1.4.14 and it still doesn’t work, can you provide sync logs (both desktop and mobile) when this issue happens?

1 Like

I experienced the same issue, only using Obsidian sync.

Environment

  • Windows 11 Pro (OS build 22621.2428) running Obsidian v1.4.16 (installer version: v1.4.13)
  • Android 13 running Obsidian 1.4.16 (114) API v1.4.16

I have added sync logs below.
Because of confidentiality, I selected lines related to a specific folder and its files, but the same happened with various other folders.

Please let me know if you need more information. It would be great to fix this issue.

On Windows
2023-10-14 15:08 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 15:09 - Deleting remote folder Resources/10 Work_SORT
2023-10-14 15:09 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 15:11 - Server pushed (folder) [Phone] Resources/10 Work_SORT
2023-10-14 15:11 - Creating local folder Resources/10 Work_SORT
2023-10-14 15:11 - Accepted Resources/10 Work_SORT
2023-10-14 15:11 - Fully synced

On Android
2023-10-14 15:11 - Deleting Resources/10 Work_SORT/stage-gate approach.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Accepted Resources/10 Work_SORT/stage-gate approach.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Downloading file Resources/Fleeting Notes/stage-gate approach.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Downloading complete Resources/Fleeting Notes/stage-gate approach.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Accepted Resources/Fleeting Notes/stage-gate approach.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Skipped Resources/10 Work_SORT/Connecting tags.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Skipped Resources/10 Work_SORT/Connecting tags.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Skipped Resources/10 Work_SORT/Connecting tags.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Deleting Resources/10 Work_SORT/Connecting tags.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Accepted Resources/10 Work_SORT/Connecting tags.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Deleting Resources/10 Work_SORT/Rythmic philosophy of deep work scheduling.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Accepted Resources/10 Work_SORT/Rythmic philosophy of deep work scheduling.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading Resources/FOLDERA
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading Resources/FOLDERB
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading Resources/FOLDERC
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading Resources/10 Work_SORT
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading file Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Upload complete Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Uploading file .obsidian/plugins/longform/data.json
2023-10-14 15:11 - Upload complete .obsidian/plugins/longform/data.json
2023-10-14 15:11 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Practice/…md
2023-10-14 15:11 - Fully synced

thank you very much for the log.

In here, you deleted the folder Resources/10 Work_SORT on desktop and it was later recreated, correct?

Was the android phone fully synced prior to folder deletion on desktop or there were other changes (related to that folder) queued up?

If you can/are willing, can you DM me the whole sync logs?

Both devices were fully synced indeed.

I tried reproducing the issue with other duplicated folders after confirming both devices were fully synced.
image

Observations
Folders and files were either moved or deleted on my laptop (multiple times), but some were not deleted on my phone. After I deleted these folders and files on my phone, the folders that again re-appeared on my laptop were deleted.

Sync logs laptop

2023-10-14 19:52 - Server pushed (folder) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 21:52 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 21:52 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 21:52 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 21:57 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 21:57 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 21:57 - Fully synced

2023-10-14 22:07 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/Building-Knowledge-Graphs-Practitioner’s-Guide-OReilly-book.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments/t.daily planner A5.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments/t.daily planner A5.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop (2) 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop (2) 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop (2).ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop (2).ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 22:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting Resources/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:15 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:15 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:15 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:19 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:19 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:19 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:30 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:30 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:30 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:36 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:36 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:36 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:40 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:40 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:40 - Fully synced

Sync logs phone

2023-10-14 21:54 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 21:54 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 21:54 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:00 - Uploading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Upload complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Uploading file Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Upload complete Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:00 - Uploading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Upload complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-14 22:00 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:01 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments
2023-10-14 22:01 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments
2023-10-14 22:01 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:01 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 22:01 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Laptop] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:01 - Uploading Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments
2023-10-14 22:01 - Uploading Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments
2023-10-14 22:01 - Uploading Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:01 - Uploading Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 22:01 - Uploading Resources/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:01 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/Building-Knowledge-Graphs-Practitioner’s-Guide-OReilly-book.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments/t.daily planner A5.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments/t.daily planner A5.pdf
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop (2) 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop (2) 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop (2).ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop (2).ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop 1.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/desktop.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/desktop.ini
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/attachments
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes
2023-10-14 22:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Fleeting Notes 1
2023-10-14 22:10 - Fully synced
2023-10-14 22:19 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:19 - Unable to connect to server.
2023-10-14 22:22 - Connecting to server
2023-10-14 22:22 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-14 22:22 - Fully synced

To see if I would get the exact same copy of my vault on my tablet, I also enabled syncing PDF and audio, which were not synced before.

(For some reason syncing stopped a couple of days ago on my tablet. I was still logged into my account but had to select and unlock the vault to start syncing again.)

Syncing completed and many folders and files re-appear again on my laptop.

Audio I moved from a resources sub-folder re-appeared there on my phone, but only the folders came back on my laptop.

What would be the best way to prevent duplicates?

Thanks for the further details. We will prioritize this issue. I’ll keep you updated in this thread.

You’re welcome, and thank you for prioritising the issue.

After syncing my tablet, folders and files I have removed (now multiple times) are back again.

Sync log laptop

2023-10-14 23:00 - Server pushed [NoteAir2P] Resources/Fleeting Notes 1/Fleeting Notes/Building-Knowledge-Graphs-Practitioner’s-Guide-OReilly-book.pdf

2023-10-14 23:00 - Downloading file Resources/Meta/PKB/most policy debates relevant to science and emerging technologies are not simply technical issues.md

2023-10-14 23:00 - Downloading complete Resources/Meta/PKB/most policy debates relevant to science and emerging technologies are not simply technical issues.md

2023-10-14 23:00 - Accepted Resources/Meta/PKB/most policy debates relevant to science and emerging technologies are not simply technical issues.md

While the syncing issue above was reproduced while the Obsidian Git plugin (2.22.0) was disabled (since 11-10-2023), I suspect the plugin has interfered with syncing and checked it this morning.

Could this be part of the issue?

Did you follow the troubleshooting guide?

No, sorry. I’ll share it hoping it is helpful still.

  • All plugins and themes were up-to-date.
  • No CSS snippets enabled.
  • Using the default theme.
  • Obsidian Git (2.22.0) was enabled with adapted settings (shown below) to see if this would resolve the sync issue.
  • Obsidian Git only runs on my laptop
  • “Auto pull” has been disabled since installing the plugin.
  • I checked the repository’s history to confirm git was indeed not interfering with sync when I reproduced the issue. Last event before reproducing the issue: image

Steps to reproduce

  • used “Move file to” to move a pdf and its folder on my phone

Expected result

The folder and file are also moved on all other devices using Obsidian Sync - i.e. my laptop and tablet.

Actual result

On phone

  • folder re-appeared, but without the pdf (then I deleted the folder)

On laptop

  • the folder appears on the new location, but without the pdf
  • folder and pdf remain in the old place

Sync logs

Sync log phone
2023-10-15 12:09 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:10 - Deleting remote file Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory/!! Working Memory.pdf
2023-10-15 12:10 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Uploading Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Uploading file Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory/!! Working Memory.pdf
2023-10-15 12:10 - Upload complete Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory/!! Working Memory.pdf
2023-10-15 12:10 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:10 - Server pushed (folder) [Laptop] Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Creating local folder Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Accepted Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:11 - Deleting remote file Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1/Notepad1.pdf
2023-10-15 12:11 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Uploading Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Uploading file Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1/Notepad1.pdf
2023-10-15 12:11 - Upload complete Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1/Notepad1.pdf
2023-10-15 12:11 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:11 - Server pushed (folder) [Laptop] Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Creating local folder Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Accepted Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:12 - Deleting remote folder Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:12 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:13 - Server pushed (folder) [Laptop] Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:13 - Creating local folder Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:13 - Accepted Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:13 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:38 - Uploading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Upload complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Uploading file Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Upload complete Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:38 - Uploading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Upload complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:39 - Server pushed [Laptop] Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Downloading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Downloading complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Accepted Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Fully synced

Sync log laptop
2023-10-15 12:09 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:10 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory/!! Working Memory.pdf
2023-10-15 12:10 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Server pushed (folder) [Phone] Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Creating local folder Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Accepted Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Server pushed [Phone] Practice/01 Personal/!! Working Memory/!! Working Memory.pdf
2023-10-15 12:10 - Uploading Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:10 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:11 - Server pushed (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1/Notepad1.pdf
2023-10-15 12:11 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:11 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Server pushed (folder) [Phone] Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Creating local folder Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Accepted Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Server pushed [Phone] Practice/01 Personal/Notepad1/Notepad1.pdf
2023-10-15 12:11 - Uploading Resources/Notebooks/01. Personal/Notepad1
2023-10-15 12:11 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:12 - Server pushed (folder) (deleted or renamed) [Phone] Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:13 - Uploading Resources/Notebooks/!! Working Memory
2023-10-15 12:13 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:21 - Connecting to server
2023-10-15 12:21 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-15 12:21 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:28 - Connecting to server
2023-10-15 12:28 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-15 12:28 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:32 - Connecting to server
2023-10-15 12:32 - Connection successful. Detecting changes…
2023-10-15 12:32 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:38 - Server pushed [Phone] Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Server pushed [Phone] Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Accepted Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading file Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading complete Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Accepted Resources/Changelog/Changelog.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:38 - Server pushed [Phone] Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Downloading complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Accepted Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:38 - Fully synced
2023-10-15 12:39 - Uploading file Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Upload complete Resources/attachments/01 Journals/Working memory/!!Working memory.md
2023-10-15 12:39 - Fully synced

Additional info

I assumed syncing images, audio, video and PDF was enabled on my laptop as it used to be, but I just found out it was not for some reason. I don’t know why and when this happened, But I expect it to be relevant as many issues involve folders with attachments.

Seems to be working for me now.

It seems to be working for me too now @WhiteNoise

Is it possible that you were creating a race condition with another sync system (like the git plugin)?

If anyone else has this problem, open a new bug report, follow the bug report template, and provide sync logs from all devices.