The Ultimate Self-Hosted Obsidian Sync Setup (PC & iOS)

Summary of "The Ultimate Self-Hosted Obsidian Sync Setup (PC & iOS)"

This video provides a comprehensive tutorial on how to set up a private, secure, and self-hosted synchronization system for Obsidian notes across Windows PCs and iOS devices, without relying on third-party cloud services like Google Drive, iCloud, or Obsidian Sync.

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Key Technological Concepts & Tools:

• SyncThing: An open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool that allows direct device-to-device syncing without centralized cloud storage. It supports encrypted transfers, cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android), and can be self-hosted on a home server or PC.
• Tailscale: A mesh VPN service built on WireGuard, enabling secure, private, and seamless connections between devices across different networks. It facilitates NAT traversal, firewall circumvention, and creates a zero-trust private network ("tailnet") for SyncThing devices.
• Proxmox: Used to run a Linux container (LXC) hosting SyncThing, providing a virtualized environment on a home server (e.g., mini PC).
• Mobius Sync Pro (iOS app): A paid, one-time purchase app for iOS that integrates with SyncThing to sync files securely on iPhones and iPads, avoiding subscription fees and cloud reliance.
• WinSCP: Recommended for accessing SyncThing server files via SFTP for manual inspection or backup.
• WinMerge: Suggested for resolving sync conflicts in Obsidian configuration JSON files by comparing and merging changes.

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Problem with Existing Sync Solutions:

• iCloud and Obsidian Sync: Limited free storage, paid subscriptions, and data stored on third-party servers.
• Google Drive: Does not sync directly with Obsidian on iOS, has privacy concerns, and limited free storage.
• Cloudflare Tunnel: While it can encrypt traffic, it exposes some data to Cloudflare, which might not be ideal for privacy-sensitive data.

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Benefits of the Self-Hosted SyncThing + Tailscale Setup:

• End-to-end encrypted file synchronization.
• No cloud storage middleman — full data ownership and privacy.
• Works across networks without port forwarding or firewall issues.
• Zero-trust security model.
• Cross-platform compatibility (Windows, Linux, iOS, Android).
• Free for personal use (except Mobius Sync Pro one-time purchase on iOS).
• Control over where and how data is stored and transmitted.

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Step-by-Step Setup Overview:

1. Prepare SyncThing Server:
   • Install Proxmox on a home server or PC.
   • Create a Linux container (LXC) for SyncThing.
   • Install SyncThing via bash script in the container.
   • Configure SyncThing server: set admin username/password, add folder for Obsidian vault, configure file versioning.
2. Set up SyncThing on Windows PC:
   • Download and install SyncThing for Windows.
   • Configure SyncThing with the same folder ID and path to local Obsidian vault.
   • Connect PC as a remote device to SyncThing server by exchanging device IDs.
3. Set up SyncThing on iOS Devices (iPhone and iPad):
   • Purchase and install Mobius Sync Pro.
   • Install Obsidian app and create a vault (skip built-in sync).
   • Link Mobius Sync Pro to the Obsidian vault folder.
   • Add SyncThing server as a remote device by scanning QR code.
   • Sync vault files and configure Obsidian settings (themes, core and community plugins, CSS snippets).
4. Secure SyncThing Connections with Tailscale:
   • Sign up for Tailscale and install on SyncThing Linux container.
   • Enable network tunneling on container for virtual interfaces.
   • Install Tailscale on Windows PC, iPhone, and iPad.
   • Connect all devices to the same tailnet.
   • Update SyncThing device addresses to use Tailscale private IPs and port 22000.
   • Disable unnecessary connection methods in SyncThing (e.g., NAT traversal, global/local discovery), enable relaying.
   • Restart SyncThing services to apply changes.
5. Testing and Troubleshooting:
   • Verify devices show as "up to date" in SyncThing.
   • Check for and resolve sync conflicts in Obsidian config files using WinMerge.
   • Do not delete .stfolder inside Obsidian vault (SyncThing folder marker).

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Additional Notes:

• SyncThing creates a .stfolder in synced directories — do not delete this.
• Sync conflicts can occur in JSON config files; these should be manually resolved.
• The tutorial emphasizes manual backups before starting.
• Mobius Sync Pro is a one-time purchase app, preferred over subscription.