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You can sync an Obsidian vault through Google Drive, but it takes different steps on desktop and Android. On Windows or macOS, use Google Drive for desktop and keep the vault in its local Google Drive folder. On Android, keep the vault in device storage and use a separate file-sync tool to copy it to Drive. Google Drive is a third-party approach, not Obsidian’s first-party sync service.

Why Google Drive takes extra steps

An Obsidian vault is a folder of files, so a cloud-storage service can sync it as files. But having the Google Drive app on a device does not automatically give Obsidian a locally stored vault that stays synchronized. Obsidian’s Google Drive guidance describes a desktop-client workflow and calls for a third-party sync tool on Android. It recommends Windows, macOS, and Android for this method, and notes limited functionality on iOS.

Set up Google Drive on Windows or macOS

  1. Install Google Drive for desktop and sign in to your Google account.
  2. Place the vault folder inside the Google Drive folder structure on your computer. If creating a new vault, create it there; if using an existing one, move or copy it there as appropriate.
  3. In Obsidian, open the vault from that actual local folder. Confirm that Obsidian is using the folder managed by Google Drive for desktop, rather than a separate copy elsewhere on the computer.
  4. Allow Drive to finish synchronizing before opening or editing the vault from another device.

This arrangement makes Drive for desktop responsible for syncing the local folder. Obsidian describes it as a third-party cloud-storage method, rather than its officially supported first-party sync service.

Choose mirroring or streaming for desktop files

Google Drive for desktop offers two ways to make My Drive files available on a computer. The difference matters for a vault because it affects offline access and local storage.

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If you need to open and edit the vault without internet access, mirroring is the clearer fit because it maintains a local copy. Google’s explanation of the modes is available in its Drive for desktop streaming and mirroring guide.

Set up the Android side

  1. In Obsidian for Android, create or open the vault in the app’s device storage. Obsidian recommends this location for better compatibility with third-party sync tools and because the vault data persists if Obsidian is uninstalled. See its vault management guidance.
  2. Choose a third-party Android file-sync tool and configure it to synchronize the local vault folder with the corresponding folder in Google Drive.
  3. Run or schedule synchronization according to that tool’s available options, and let it finish before editing the same vault on another device.
  4. Check that the intended files appear in Drive and on the other device before relying on the setup for important notes.

The exact screens and options depend on the Android sync app and may change. Obsidian’s guidance establishes the need for a third-party tool, but does not provide verified, app-specific instructions. Simply opening Google Drive on Android is not a substitute for synchronizing the local Obsidian vault folder.

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Prevent conflicts and protect the vault

Obsidian warns against running overlapping sync services on one live vault because they can cause conflicts or data problems. Use one active sync system for the vault, and keep a separate backup plan; synchronization can also copy unwanted changes or deletions.

Conflicts can occur when the same file changes on multiple devices before synchronization finishes, and Obsidian says they are more likely when working offline. Wait for sync to complete before switching devices, and avoid editing the same file in parallel. Obsidian’s explanation of conflicts refers to its own Obsidian Sync behavior; that specific behavior should not be assumed to describe Google Drive or an Android third-party sync app.

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When Obsidian Sync may be simpler

Obsidian Sync is the first-party alternative documented by Obsidian for syncing across desktop and mobile. Google Drive can suit a folder-based workflow, but it requires Google Drive for desktop on computers and an additional sync tool on Android. Choose based on which setup you want to manage; neither choice removes the need for a separate backup strategy.

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