Sync Obsidian using Google Drive between 2 Computers

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Obsidian is an amazing note-taking and personal knowledge management app. However, it works offline and if you want to use it on multiple devices you’d either need to get Obsidian Sync or use any cloud storage service like Google Drive or pCloud.

You can use Google Drive to sync Obsidian between 2 computers, for free. You don’t even need the Obsidian Sync subscription for that.

Let’s see how to get going with that…

Obsidian + Google Drive

For this setup, you’d need Obsidian and Google Drive desktop client installed on both computers.

You can download Obsidian and Google Drive desktop client by clicking on the below links (if you haven’t already):

Now, on the first computer:

Copy and paste your existing Obsidian Vault folder to the Google Drive synced folder so that all the notes and files get uploaded to the cloud

Here’s how the synced vault folder looks on my computer:

On the second computer:

Set up Google Drive to sync remote folders (including the Obsidian vault folder from the first computer) on this computer
Open the folder as vault that you synced from the first computer by clicking on the Open button (see below screenshot)

Now, wait for a few seconds for everything to load properly and now you should be able to see all your notes from the first computer.

You can not just sync 2 computers but, technically, an unlimited number of computers with this setup. And, this works on both macOS and Windows.

And, any changes you make in the notes from either of the computers will be synced to the other one within 2-4 seconds.

🎯 Also see: How I used Obsidian + Syncthing

That’s it.

If you have any related queries, feel free to let us know in the comments below.

Tech

Comments

8 responses to “Sync Obsidian using Google Drive between 2 Computers”

November 16, 2021

Naveen

Hey Deepak,
thanks for this great hack, I was wondering if I could sync my android & windows computer this way too.
Have you testing this possibility

Reply
1. November 16, 2021
  
  Deepak K
  
  Glad you found it useful, Naveen.
  
  You can sync between Windows and Android devices using Syncthing (both computers should be on same network) or by using Google Drive through Autosync app (but sometimes you will have to manually sync the changes by opening the app.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Thanks.
  
  Reply
November 23, 2021

Andre Lazo

Hello Im having trouble figuring out how to get this whole process to work. If its not too much trouble could you explain each process in greater detail? This would be amazing if I could get it to work but some parts in the second computer steps are difficult for figure out how to work out.

Reply
1. November 23, 2021
  
  Deepak K
  
  Hi Andre,
  
  Let me simplify it even more for you.
  
  First, you need to install Google Drive desktop client and Obsidian app on both your computers. Now, follow the steps below:
  
  Create a new Obsidian vault (if not already created) on the first computer
  
  Add the vault folder to the Google Drive sync on first computer
  
  Sync the folder from first computer to the second computer by using Google Drive
  
  Select “Open folder as vault” option in Obsidian on 2nd computer
  
  And, you’re done!
  
  However if you still get stuck somewhere feel free to email me at deepak[at]compile.blog, I’ll try my best to resolve the issue.
  
  Hope this helps.
  
  Thank you.
  
  Reply
April 22, 2022

Luka

I believe I have everything set up correctly, however I find that my notes aren’t synced live as I edit them? For example if I edit my notes in obsidian, when I go to check the google drive on my desktop it says everything is up to date, however when I open the file from my computer using notepad the note hasn’t been edited. I’m not sure what’s going on? The note is edited in obsidian but on my computer when opening with text editor it hasn’t been edited and drive is saying it’s up to date? Any advice?

Thanks I’m advance

Reply
1. April 22, 2022
  
  DeepakNess
  
  Hi Luka,
  
  If everything is set up properly, then the only problem that I see might be related to the Google Drive desktop client. There might be some issues that are causing the Google Drive client to not detect the changes made in the files.
  
  I’d recommend removing the Google Drive client and then re-installing it on your computer.
  
  Hope it helps.
  
  Thanks.
  
  Reply
July 26, 2022

Peyden

What do you mean by “Sync the folder from first computer to the second computer by using Google Drive”.

I have both programs on both of my computers. I have even opened the vault on my second computer.

Reply
1. July 26, 2022
  
  DeepakNess
  
  Hey Peyden,
  
  I mean, install Google Drive desktop client on both the computers and put the Obsidian vault in a folder which is synced to your Google Drive, so that the changes on the first computer gets synced to the second and vice versa.
  
  If you’re still having problems with the set-up, first, add some dummy files in the Google Drive shared folder on the first computer and see if they are being shown on the Google Drive shared folder on the second computer. If the files are being synced, move your Obsidian folder to the Google Drive shared folder and it will be synced to the 2nd computer and vice versa.
  
  Now, you have to open Obsidian on both the computers and select the option of “Open another vault” and choose the synced folder by selecting “Open folder as vault” option in Obsidian.
  
  Hope it helps.
  
  Thanks.
  
  Reply