Hey guys! Are you looking for a seamless way to keep your Obsidian notes synchronized across all your devices? Well, you've come to the right place! In this article, we're going to dive deep into how you can connect Obsidian with Google Drive, ensuring that your precious thoughts and ideas are always backed up and accessible, no matter where you are. We'll explore different methods, from using official tools to third-party plugins, and even some clever workarounds. So, buckle up and let's get started!

Why Connect Obsidian with Google Drive?

Before we jump into the how, let's quickly cover the why. Obsidian is a fantastic note-taking app that allows you to create a personal knowledge base using Markdown files. But what happens if your computer crashes, or you want to access your notes on your phone while you're on the go? That's where Google Drive comes in. By connecting Obsidian with Google Drive, you get:

• Automatic Backup: Your notes are automatically backed up to the cloud, protecting you from data loss.
• Cross-Device Synchronization: Access your notes from any device with Google Drive installed.
• Collaboration: Share your notes with others and collaborate on projects seamlessly.
• Version History: Google Drive keeps a history of your file changes, allowing you to revert to previous versions if needed.

These benefits make connecting Obsidian with Google Drive a no-brainer for anyone serious about their note-taking. Now, let's explore the different ways you can achieve this.

Method 1: Using Google Drive for Desktop

The most straightforward method to sync Obsidian with Google Drive is by using the official Google Drive for Desktop application. This application creates a virtual drive on your computer that mirrors your Google Drive account. Any changes you make to files within this virtual drive are automatically synced to the cloud.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop: Head over to the Google Drive website and download the Google Drive for Desktop application. Install it on your computer, following the on-screen instructions.
2. Sign In to Your Google Account: Once installed, sign in to your Google account within the Google Drive for Desktop application. Make sure you use the same account you want to use for syncing your Obsidian notes.
3. Choose a Sync Location: Google Drive will ask you which folders on your computer you want to sync with Google Drive. Alternatively, you can choose to sync only the Google Drive folder to your computer. For Obsidian, we recommend syncing your Obsidian vault folder.
4. Move Your Obsidian Vault to Google Drive: If your Obsidian vault is not already in your Google Drive folder, move it there. This will ensure that all your notes are automatically synced to the cloud.
5. Configure Obsidian: Open Obsidian and navigate to "Open another vault". Select the vault that you just moved into your Google Drive folder. Obsidian will now automatically save all changes to your notes in the Google Drive folder, which will then be synced to the cloud.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros:
  • Simple and easy to set up.
  • Uses the official Google Drive application.
  • Automatic and continuous synchronization.
• Cons:
  • Requires installing the Google Drive for Desktop application.
  • Can consume local storage space if you sync a large Google Drive account.
  • May experience sync conflicts if multiple devices are editing the same notes simultaneously.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Syncing Tools

If you're not a fan of the official Google Drive for Desktop application, or you need more advanced syncing options, you can use third-party syncing tools like GoodSync or rclone. These tools allow you to create custom sync profiles and schedules, giving you more control over how your Obsidian notes are synchronized with Google Drive.

GoodSync:

GoodSync is a powerful and versatile syncing tool that supports a wide range of cloud storage services, including Google Drive. It offers advanced features like real-time synchronization, block-level data transfer, and version control.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install GoodSync: Download GoodSync from the GoodSync website and install it on your computer.
2. Create a New Sync Job: Open GoodSync and create a new sync job. Select your Obsidian vault folder as the source and your Google Drive folder as the destination.
3. Configure Sync Options: Configure the sync options according to your needs. You can choose between one-way or two-way synchronization, set up filters to exclude certain files or folders, and schedule automatic syncs.
4. Run the Sync Job: Run the sync job to synchronize your Obsidian notes with Google Drive. GoodSync will automatically detect any changes and synchronize them accordingly.

rclone:

rclone is a command-line tool that supports a wide range of cloud storage services, including Google Drive. It's a powerful and flexible tool that's ideal for advanced users who want to automate their syncing tasks.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Download and Install rclone: Download rclone from the rclone website and install it on your computer. Follow the instructions on the rclone website to configure rclone to access your Google Drive account.

2. Create a Sync Script: Create a script that uses rclone to synchronize your Obsidian vault folder with your Google Drive folder. You can use the rclone sync command to synchronize the files. For example:

   rclone sync /path/to/your/obsidian/vault googledrive:/path/to/your/google/drive/folder
   

3. Schedule the Sync Script: Schedule the script to run automatically using your operating system's task scheduler (e.g., cron on Linux or Task Scheduler on Windows).

Pros and Cons:

• Pros:
  • More control over the syncing process.
  • Advanced features like real-time synchronization and version control.
  • Support for a wide range of cloud storage services.
• Cons:
  • More complex to set up than using Google Drive for Desktop.
  • May require technical knowledge to configure and use.
  • Some tools may require a paid license for advanced features.

Method 3: Using Obsidian Sync (Official)

Obsidian offers its own official sync service called Obsidian Sync. While it's a paid service, it provides the most seamless and integrated experience for syncing your Obsidian notes across all your devices. It's designed specifically for Obsidian and offers features like version history, end-to-end encryption, and selective sync.

Step-by-Step Guide:

1. Subscribe to Obsidian Sync: Subscribe to Obsidian Sync from the Obsidian website.
2. Enable Obsidian Sync in Obsidian: Open Obsidian and navigate to Settings > Core plugins and enable the Sync plugin.
3. Configure Obsidian Sync: Click on the Sync icon in the left sidebar to open the Sync settings. Connect to your Obsidian account and choose the vaults you want to sync.
4. Enjoy Seamless Synchronization: Obsidian will automatically sync your notes across all your devices that are connected to your Obsidian account.

Pros and Cons:

• Pros:
  • Seamless and integrated experience.
  • Designed specifically for Obsidian.
  • Offers advanced features like version history and end-to-end encryption.
• Cons:
  • Requires a paid subscription.
  • Only works with Obsidian.

Method 4: Git and GitHub (Advanced)

For the more technically inclined, using Git and GitHub can be a powerful way to sync Obsidian with Google Drive. This method involves storing your Obsidian vault in a Git repository and using GitHub as a remote backup and synchronization service. While this method requires some technical knowledge, it offers excellent version control and collaboration features.

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. Initialize a Git repository using the git init command.
3. Commit Your Obsidian Notes: Add your Obsidian notes to the Git repository using the git add . command. Commit your changes using the `git commit -m