Hey guys! Ever wanted to keep your Obsidian notes safe and sound while also being able to access them from any device? Well, you're in luck! In this article, we're going to walk you through how to connect Obsidian with Google Drive. It's easier than you might think, and the peace of mind it brings is totally worth it. So, grab your favorite beverage, and let's dive in!

Why Sync Obsidian with Google Drive?

Before we get into the how, let's quickly touch on the why. Why should you bother syncing Obsidian with Google Drive? Here's the lowdown:

• Data Backup: Think of Google Drive as your digital safety net. If anything happens to your computer, your notes are safe and sound in the cloud.
• Accessibility: Access your notes from anywhere, whether you're on your phone, tablet, or another computer. No more being tied to a single device!
• Collaboration: While Obsidian isn't primarily a collaborative tool, syncing with Google Drive makes it easier to share your notes with others if needed.
• Version History: Google Drive keeps track of previous versions of your files, so you can easily revert to an earlier version if you make a mistake.

These benefits make syncing with Google Drive a no-brainer for anyone serious about using Obsidian for note-taking and knowledge management. It ensures that your precious notes are always available, secure, and up-to-date.

Method 1: Using Google Drive for Desktop

The simplest way to sync Obsidian with Google Drive is by using the Google Drive for Desktop application. This method essentially turns your Google Drive into a folder on your computer, which Obsidian can then access directly. Let's break down the steps:

1. Download and Install Google Drive for Desktop: Head over to the Google Drive website and download the desktop application. Once downloaded, install it on your computer. Follow the on-screen instructions to complete the installation process.
2. Sign In to Your Google Account: After installation, launch the Google Drive app and sign in with your Google account credentials. Make sure you use the account where you want your Obsidian vault to be stored.
3. Choose a Sync Location: Google Drive will ask you to choose a location on your computer to sync your Google Drive files. You can either use the default location or choose a custom folder. This folder will act as the bridge between your local files and your Google Drive cloud storage.
4. Create or Move Your Obsidian Vault: Now, you have two options. If you're starting a new Obsidian vault, create it directly inside the Google Drive folder on your computer. If you already have an existing vault, simply move the entire folder into the Google Drive folder. Make sure all your notes and attachments are included.
5. Open Obsidian and Select Your Vault: Launch Obsidian and click on "Open folder as vault". Navigate to the Google Drive folder on your computer and select your Obsidian vault. Obsidian will now recognize your vault as being stored in Google Drive.

That's it! Obsidian will now automatically sync your notes with Google Drive whenever you make changes. You can verify this by checking the Google Drive icon in your system tray or menu bar. It should show that it's syncing files.

Pros and Cons of This Method

Pros:

• Easy to Set Up: This method is straightforward and requires minimal technical knowledge.
• Automatic Syncing: Changes are synced automatically in the background, so you don't have to worry about manual backups.
• Offline Access: You can access your notes even when you're offline, as the files are stored locally on your computer. Changes will be synced when you reconnect to the internet.

Cons:

• Storage Space: This method requires you to have enough free space on your computer to store your entire Obsidian vault locally.
• Potential Sync Conflicts: In rare cases, you might encounter sync conflicts if you're editing the same note on multiple devices simultaneously. However, Google Drive usually handles these conflicts gracefully by creating duplicate files.

Method 2: Using Third-Party Syncing Tools

If you're looking for more advanced syncing options or want to sync Obsidian with Google Drive on devices that don't support Google Drive for Desktop (like Linux), you can use third-party syncing tools. These tools act as intermediaries between your Obsidian vault and Google Drive, providing more control over the syncing process.

Options for syncing tools

Here are a couple of popular options:

• Rclone: Rclone is a command-line tool that supports syncing with a wide range of cloud storage providers, including Google Drive. It's a powerful and flexible tool, but it requires some technical knowledge to set up and use.
• Syncthing: Syncthing is an open-source, peer-to-peer file synchronization tool. It allows you to sync files between multiple devices without relying on a central server. While it doesn't directly support Google Drive, you can use it in conjunction with Google Drive for Desktop to achieve the desired result.

Setting up Rclone with Google Drive

Let's take a closer look at how to set up Rclone with Google Drive:

1. Download and Install Rclone: Head over to the Rclone website and download the appropriate version for your operating system. Follow the installation instructions provided on the website.
2. Configure Rclone: Open a terminal or command prompt and run the command rclone config. This will guide you through the process of configuring Rclone to connect to your Google Drive account.
3. Create a New Remote: When prompted, choose "n) New remote". Give your remote a name (e.g., "googledrive").
4. Select Google Drive: Choose the option for Google Drive from the list of storage providers.
5. Authenticate with Google: Rclone will open a web browser and ask you to authenticate with your Google account. Grant Rclone the necessary permissions to access your Google Drive files.
6. Test Your Configuration: After completing the configuration, test your connection by running the command rclone lsd googledrive:. This should list the directories in your Google Drive account.
7. Create a Sync Script: Now, you can create a script to automatically sync your Obsidian vault with Google Drive. Here's an example script:

#!/bin/bash

# Source directory (your Obsidian vault)
SOURCE="/path/to/your/obsidian/vault"

# Destination directory (Google Drive)
DESTINATION="googledrive:/path/to/your/vault/on/google/drive"

# Rclone command to sync the directories
rclone sync "$SOURCE" "$DESTINATION" --verbose --transfers 32 --checkers 16 --delete-after

Replace /path/to/your/obsidian/vault with the actual path to your Obsidian vault on your computer, and replace /path/to/your/vault/on/google/drive with the desired path to your vault on Google Drive. Save the script to a file (e.g., sync-obsidian.sh) and make it executable by running the command chmod +x sync-obsidian.sh.

8. Schedule the Sync Script: Finally, you can schedule the sync script to run automatically at regular intervals using a tool like cron (on Linux) or Task Scheduler (on Windows). This will ensure that your Obsidian vault is always up-to-date with Google Drive.

Pros and Cons of This Method

Pros:

• More Control: Third-party syncing tools offer more control over the syncing process, allowing you to customize various settings and options.
• Cross-Platform Compatibility: These tools often support a wider range of operating systems and devices than Google Drive for Desktop.
• Advanced Features: Some tools offer advanced features like versioning, encryption, and conflict resolution.

Cons:

• More Complex Setup: Setting up and configuring these tools can be more complex than using Google Drive for Desktop.
• Command-Line Interface: Some tools, like Rclone, primarily use a command-line interface, which might be intimidating for some users.
• Potential Security Risks: When using third-party tools, it's important to choose reputable and trustworthy options to avoid potential security risks.

Method 3: Obsidian Sync

Obsidian offers its own built-in sync service called Obsidian Sync. This service is designed specifically for syncing Obsidian vaults across multiple devices. While it's a paid service, it offers a seamless and reliable syncing experience.

Setting up Obsidian Sync

Here's how to set up Obsidian Sync:

1. Subscribe to Obsidian Sync: Go to the Obsidian website and subscribe to the Obsidian Sync service. You'll need to create an Obsidian account and choose a subscription plan.
2. Enable Obsidian Sync in Obsidian: Open Obsidian and go to "Settings" -> "Core plugins". Enable the "Sync" plugin.
3. Configure Sync Settings: Click on the "Sync" icon in the left sidebar to open the sync settings. Sign in with your Obsidian account credentials.
4. Choose a Remote Vault: Obsidian will ask you to choose a remote vault to sync with. You can either create a new remote vault or select an existing one.
5. Configure Sync Options: Customize the sync options to your liking. You can choose which folders and files to sync, and configure various settings like sync frequency and conflict resolution.

That's it! Obsidian will now automatically sync your vault with the remote vault whenever you make changes. You can monitor the sync status in the sync settings.

Pros and Cons of This Method

Pros:

• Seamless Integration: Obsidian Sync is tightly integrated with Obsidian, providing a seamless and intuitive syncing experience.
• Reliable Syncing: Obsidian Sync is designed to be reliable and efficient, ensuring that your notes are always up-to-date across all your devices.
• Advanced Features: Obsidian Sync offers advanced features like version history, end-to-end encryption, and selective sync.

Cons:

• Paid Service: Obsidian Sync is a paid service, which might not be suitable for everyone.
• Vendor Lock-In: By using Obsidian Sync, you're relying on a specific vendor for your syncing needs. If you ever decide to switch to a different note-taking app, you'll need to find a different syncing solution.

Conclusion

So there you have it, guys! Three different ways to connect Obsidian with Google Drive. Whether you choose the simplicity of Google Drive for Desktop, the flexibility of third-party tools, or the seamless integration of Obsidian Sync, you can rest assured that your notes are safe, accessible, and always up-to-date. Now go forth and conquer your note-taking goals!

Remember to weigh the pros and cons of each method and choose the one that best fits your needs and technical expertise. Happy syncing!