Hey guys! Are you looking for a seamless way to keep your Obsidian notes synced and backed up? Well, you've come to the right place! In this article, we're diving deep into how to connect Obsidian with Google Drive. This setup ensures that all your precious notes, ideas, and research are safe, accessible, and always up-to-date, no matter where you are or what device you're using. Let's get started!

Why Sync Obsidian with Google Drive?

Before we jump into the how-to, let's quickly cover the why. Obsidian is an incredibly powerful personal knowledge management system, but its real strength shines when your knowledge base is accessible across all your devices. Here’s why syncing with Google Drive is a smart move:

• Data Security: Google Drive provides robust data security. By syncing your Obsidian vault, you ensure that your notes are backed up on Google’s secure servers, protecting them from local hardware failures or data loss.
• Accessibility: Imagine having all your notes available on your phone while you're on the go, or on your tablet when you're relaxing at home. Syncing with Google Drive makes this a reality, giving you access to your knowledge base wherever you are.
• Collaboration (Sort Of): While Obsidian is primarily a personal knowledge management tool, syncing with Google Drive can facilitate sharing notes with others, albeit indirectly. You can share specific notes or folders with collaborators, making it easier to work together on projects.
• Version History: Google Drive keeps a history of previous versions of your files. This means you can easily revert to an earlier version of a note if you make a mistake or want to restore deleted content. It’s like having a time machine for your notes!
• Peace of Mind: Knowing that your Obsidian vault is automatically backed up and synced gives you peace of mind. You can focus on writing and organizing your notes without worrying about data loss.

Methods to Connect Obsidian with Google Drive

There are several ways to connect Obsidian with Google Drive, each with its own set of advantages and disadvantages. We'll explore the most popular and reliable methods to help you choose the one that best fits your needs.

Method 1: Using Google Drive for Desktop

The simplest way to sync Obsidian with Google Drive is by using the official Google Drive for Desktop application. This method essentially treats your Google Drive as a local folder on your computer, making it easy for Obsidian to access and sync your vault.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop:
   • Head over to the Google Drive download page and download the application for your operating system (Windows or macOS).
   • Install the application and sign in with your Google account.
2. Choose a Sync Location:
   • When setting up Google Drive for Desktop, you'll be prompted to choose a location for your Google Drive folder. This is where all your Google Drive files will be stored locally on your computer.
   • You can either use the default location or choose a custom location. Make sure you remember where you choose to store it!
3. Move Your Obsidian Vault (or Create a New One):
   • If you already have an Obsidian vault, move the entire vault folder into your Google Drive folder. This will automatically start syncing your vault with Google Drive.
   • If you're starting fresh, create a new folder inside your Google Drive folder and name it something like "Obsidian Vault". This will be the location of your new vault.
4. Open Obsidian and Select Your Vault:
   • Open Obsidian and click on "Open folder as vault".
   • Navigate to the Google Drive folder and select your Obsidian vault folder.
   • Obsidian will now open your vault, and all changes you make will be automatically synced with Google Drive.

Pros:

• Easy to Set Up: This method is straightforward and requires no technical expertise.
• Automatic Syncing: Google Drive for Desktop automatically syncs your files in the background, so you don't have to worry about manually syncing your vault.
• Offline Access: You can access your Obsidian vault even when you're offline. Google Drive for Desktop will sync your changes when you reconnect to the internet.

Cons:

• Storage Space: Your Obsidian vault will take up storage space on your computer as well as in your Google Drive account.
• Potential Syncing Issues: While generally reliable, Google Drive for Desktop can sometimes experience syncing issues, especially with large files or slow internet connections.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Syncing Tools (e.g., Syncthing)

For those who want more control over their syncing process or prefer not to rely on Google Drive for Desktop, third-party syncing tools like Syncthing offer a viable alternative. Syncthing is an open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization application that allows you to sync folders between multiple devices.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install Syncthing:
   • Download Syncthing from the official website (https://syncthing.net/) for each device you want to sync your Obsidian vault with.
   • Install Syncthing on each device.
2. Configure Syncthing:
   • Open Syncthing on one of your devices. It will generate a device ID.
   • Share this device ID with your other device(s).
   • On the other device(s), add the first device as a remote device using its device ID.
3. Share Your Obsidian Vault Folder:
   • In Syncthing, create a new folder and specify the path to your Obsidian vault folder.
   • Share this folder with your other device(s).
4. Accept the Folder Sharing Request:
   • On the other device(s), you'll receive a request to accept the shared folder. Accept the request and choose a location on your device to store the synced folder.
5. Start Syncing:
   • Syncthing will now start syncing your Obsidian vault between your devices. Any changes you make to your vault on one device will be automatically synced to the other devices.

Pros:

• More Control: Syncthing gives you more control over the syncing process, allowing you to customize syncing schedules, ignore specific files or folders, and more.
• No Reliance on Google Drive: If you prefer not to use Google Drive, Syncthing provides a completely independent syncing solution.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: Syncthing is available for Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, making it a versatile option for syncing your Obsidian vault across different devices.

Cons:

• More Complex Setup: Setting up Syncthing can be more complex than using Google Drive for Desktop, especially for non-technical users.
• Potential for Conflicts: If you make changes to your Obsidian vault on multiple devices simultaneously, Syncthing may encounter conflicts. You'll need to resolve these conflicts manually.
• Requires Devices to Be Online: Syncthing requires your devices to be online and running in order to sync your files. If one of your devices is offline, changes made on other devices will not be synced until it comes back online.

Method 3: Using Git and GitHub (for Advanced Users)

For the more technically inclined, using Git and GitHub to sync your Obsidian vault offers a powerful and flexible solution. Git is a version control system that allows you to track changes to your files over time, while GitHub is a web-based platform for hosting Git repositories.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Create a GitHub Repository:
   • Create a new private repository on GitHub to store your Obsidian vault.
2. Initialize a Git Repository in Your Obsidian Vault:
   • Open a terminal or command prompt and navigate to your Obsidian vault folder.
   • Run the command git init to initialize a new Git repository in your vault.
3. Add Your Files to the Repository:
   • Run the command git add . to add all the files in your vault to the repository.
4. Commit Your Changes:
   • Run the command `git commit -m