A simple, free, and private way to keep your Obsidian vault in sync between Android and Linux using Syncthing.
Why I Wanted This
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I dont wanna pay for Obsidian Sync Subscription
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My notes is not staying in cloud , Nope.
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Or setting up something complex with script
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Works offline
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Reliable On Android and Linux
Solution : Syncthing — Obsidian Sync
Syncthing is an open-source tool that syncs folders between devices over local network or internet — privately and securely.
It doesn’t upload your data anywhere. Your files stay on your devices, synced in real time.
Setup Guide
Works on any Linux distro (Windows too) and any Android phone. Tested on Arch Linux + Android 15.
Step 1: Install Syncthing
On Android:
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Download Syncthing-Fork from F-Droid (Recommended over Play Store version)
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Allow necessary permissions for file access
On Linux:
# For Arch-based distros
sudo pacman -S syncthing
# Start Syncthing
systemctl --user enable syncthing.service
systemctl --user start syncthing.service
Step 2: Open the UI
On your Linux system, open a browser and go to:
http://localhost:8384
This is the Syncthing control panel.
Step 3: Pair Devices
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Open Syncthing on both Android and Linux
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Add device on either side (QR or Device ID)
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Accept the pairing request on the other device
NOTE : Both devices needs to be connected on same network in order to show up in the devices list
Step 4: Share Your Obsidian Vault
On Android:
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In Syncthing-Fork, go to Folders → Add Folder
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Select your Obsidian vault (usually in
/storage/emulated/0/Documents/Obsidian/) -
Share it with your Linux device
On Linux:
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Accept the shared folder
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Choose a destination path (like
~/Documents/Obsidian/) -
Thats it.
Now whenever you write or edit notes, they sync automatically in both directions.
Note
- Android: Enable background sync in Syncthing-Fork settings
- Linux: Already enabled via `systemctl`
- Syncthing handles versioning if you edit the same file from both sides
- Both devices needs to be connected on same network