When newly created notes are synced, Android app fails to read their contents

Bug reports
, ,
1

Derived from:
Obsidian Sync intermittently empties incoming notes on Android and does not recognize the diff - Bug reports - Obsidian Forum

Steps to reproduce

In everyday use, this issue occurs couple of times a month. I can intentionally reproduce it with the following steps:

  1. Disable all plugins except for Sync on both devices.
  2. Set conflict resolution to create conflict file on both device.
  3. Preparation on the Android:
    1. Wait until the Sync icon stays green.
    2. Disable all plugins except for File recovery, Files and Sync.
    3. Rebuild vault cache.
    4. Close all apps.
  4. Preparation on the desktop:
    1. Create 30 notes with the following commands or something:
      # In vault root
rm -rf sync_test && mkdir sync_test
for i in $(seq -w 30); do echo "# Test" > "sync_test/t_$i.md"; done
    2. Wait until the Sync icon stays in green.
  5. On the Android.
    1. Open the Obsidian app.
    2. Wait until the Sync icon stays green.
    3. Check the 30 notes.

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

Yes.

Expected result

Each note contains the # Test text.

Actual result

  • 2–4 files of 30 files looks empty.
  • No conflict file is created.
  • The latest sync version history for an “empty” file is the modification on the laptop.
  • The local history for an “empty” file is just a empty note creation.
  • The “Files by Google” app says every file is 7 B even for “empty” notes. It cannot preview Markdown files though.

Restarting the device resolve the case. The following operations cannot:

  • Restarting the Obsidian app.
  • Rebuilding vault cache.

Environment

The Android

SYSTEM INFO:
	Obsidian version: 1.12.7 (303)
	API version: 1.12.7
	Operating system: Android 13 (Sony XQ-BC42)
	Webview version: 146.0.7680.177
	Login status: logged in
	Language: en
	Catalyst license: none
	Live preview: off
	Base theme: dark
	Community theme: none
	Snippets enabled: 0
	Restricted mode: off
	Plugins installed: 8
	Plugins enabled: 0

RECOMMENDATIONS:
	none

Storage: 381 GB free of 512 GB

The desktop

SYSTEM INFO:
	Obsidian version: 1.12.7
	Installer version: 1.6.5
	Operating system: Windows 11 Home 10.0.26100
	Login status: logged in
	Language: en
	Catalyst license: none
	Insider build toggle: off
	Live preview: off
	Base theme: dark
	Community theme: none
	Snippets enabled: 0
	Restricted mode: off
	Plugins installed: 8
	Plugins enabled: 0

RECOMMENDATIONS:
	none

Storage: 109 GB free of 464 GB

Additional information

  • My vault contains 4112 files, 38 MiB.
  • Renaming notes also causes the case.

Screenshots

Sync version history of a normal note:

Screenshot_20260412-120139 Sync version history of a normal note
Screenshot_20260412-120139 Sync version history of a normal note822Ă—1920 32 KB

Content of an “empty” note:

Screenshot_20260412-120201 Content of an "empty" note
Screenshot_20260412-120201 Content of an "empty" note822Ă—1920 13.8 KB

Sync version history of an “empty” note:

Screenshot_20260412-120206 Sync version history of an "empty" note
Screenshot_20260412-120206 Sync version history of an "empty" note822Ă—1920 32.4 KB

Trying to restore the “empty” note:

Screenshot_20260412-120211 Trying to restore the "empty" note
Screenshot_20260412-120211 Trying to restore the "empty" note822Ă—1920 16.6 KB

Local history of the “empty” note:

Screenshot_20260412-120218 Local history of the "empty" note
Screenshot_20260412-120218 Local history of the "empty" note822Ă—1920 19 KB

File info of the normal note:

Screenshot_20260412-120336 File info of the normal note
Screenshot_20260412-120336 File info of the normal note822Ă—1920 42.7 KB

File info of the “empty” note:

Screenshot_20260412-120344 File info of the "empty" note
Screenshot_20260412-120344 File info of the "empty" note822Ă—1920 43.3 KB

Sync activity logs

Sync activity log on the descktop:

2026-04-12 11:59 - Connecting to server
2026-04-12 11:59 - Connection successful. Detecting changes...
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading sync_test
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Uploading file sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Upload complete sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 11:59 - Fully synced

Sync activity log on the Android:

2026-04-12 12:00 - Connecting to server
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed (folder) [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Server pushed [DESKTOP-J4VCPP3] sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Connection successful. Detecting changes...
2026-04-12 12:00 - Creating local folder sync_test
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_30.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_29.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_28.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_27.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_26.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_25.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_24.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_23.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_22.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_21.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_20.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_19.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_18.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_17.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_16.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_15.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_14.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_13.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_12.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_11.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_10.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_09.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_08.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_07.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_05.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_06.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_04.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_03.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_02.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading file sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Downloading complete sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Accepted sync_test/t_01.md
2026-04-12 12:00 - Fully synced

Sync activity log on the Android after restarting the device:

2026-04-12 12:05 - Connecting to server
2026-04-12 12:05 - Connection successful. Detecting changes...
2026-04-12 12:05 - Fully synced
2

Thank you for the report. I will set some time aside this week to try to reproduce what you are describing.

3

@WhiteNoise Ah, why did you change the category? I think this is still a bug in Obsidian app.

Appendix: Tests with a Templater folder template

  • If the template temporarily disables the Sync (source), its content is inserted before the target note is fully synced, so the conflict file could be created (not every time in my observation).
  • If not, Templater overwrite the synced “empty” note and conflict file is not created.

I think it could be the root cause of the past data-loss reports like this, e.g. 94663.

4

Sorry, this is still in br queue. I meant to change another report.

1 Like