Obsidian sync on
iPhone & iPad
Keep the same vault on your iPhone, iPad, and computers — end-to-end encrypted, and simple where other tools fall down on iOS.
Syncing a plain-text vault to iOS sounds simple, but the options thin out fast: peer-to-peer Syncthing has no iOS app, and folder-based iCloud sync conflicts across devices. A managed, encrypted sync built as an Obsidian plugin — like Obsyncian — is the reliable way to get your notes onto iPhone and iPad.
How syncing to iOS works
- It's the same plugin. Install Syncian from Community plugins on iOS exactly as on desktop, log in with the same account, and pick your vault.
- Foreground only. iOS won't run any plugin in the background, so your iPhone syncs while Obsidian is open. Open the app and edits from your other devices arrive in seconds.
- Encrypted on-device. Set the same passphrase and your notes are AES-256 encrypted before they leave the phone.
- Two devices free. An iPhone plus a laptop already fits the free plan's two-device limit.
Set up your iPhone in two minutes. Install Syncian on iOS, get a login code from the Telegram bot, enter your passphrase, and choose your existing vault — it downloads and stays in sync whenever the app is open.
Why not Syncthing or iCloud on iOS?
Syncthing is great on desktop and Android but has no official iOS app, so it can't reliably sync an iPhone. iCloud/Dropbox folder sync works until two devices edit at once, then it silently creates duplicates. Obsyncian keeps both versions on a conflict instead of losing one, and works the same on every platform. See the full comparison.
Questions
Does Obsidian sync work on iPhone and iPad?
Yes. Obsyncian installs as a community plugin on iOS just like on desktop, so your vault syncs between iPhone, iPad, and your computers. Set the same encryption passphrase on each device and your notes converge.
Why doesn't Obsidian sync in the background on iOS?
That's an iOS limitation, not an Obsyncian one — Apple doesn't let any Obsidian plugin run while the app is closed. Notes sync while Obsidian is open (in the foreground); open the app and changes arrive within seconds.
Can I use Syncthing to sync Obsidian on iPhone?
Not really — Syncthing has no official iOS app, so it's a poor fit for iPhone or iPad. A managed, cloud-based sync like Obsyncian or official Obsidian Sync is the practical way to sync an Obsidian vault to iOS.
Is iPhone sync encrypted?
Yes. The same end-to-end encryption applies on iOS: your notes and file names are AES-256 encrypted on the device before upload, so what leaves your iPhone is ciphertext.
Is syncing to iPhone free?
Yes, within the free tier (50 MB, one vault, two devices). Your iPhone and a computer already fit the free two-device limit.