Obsidian is popular as a free and highly functional memo app (markdown editor), but when trying to synchronize between Mac and iPhone using iCloud, many people are having problems such as ``notes written on Mac don't appear on iPhone'' or ``Vault is empty when opened on iPhone.''

As of February 2026, issues with iCloud sync are being continuously reported on Obsidian's official forum, and the fundamental limitations are due to the mechanism of iCloud. In this article, we will summarize the reasons why Obsidian's iCloud sync does not work and explain specific solutions one by one.

How does Obsidian's iCloud sync work?

Obsidian has an official synchronization service "Obsidian Sync' (starts at $4/month), but if you only use it with Apple products, you can also sync for free using iCloud Drive.

The mechanism is simple: place Obsidian's Vault (note storage) in the iCloud Drive folder on your Mac, and open that vault from the Obsidian app on your iPhone. However, this is not an official feature of Obsidian and is a piggyback ride on Apple's file syncing service.

In other words, synchronization may be delayed or stopped due to circumstances on the iCloud side, and it is not possible to "force synchronization now" from the Obsidian app. This is the biggest point of trouble.

5 reasons why iCloud synchronization cannot be performed or is not reflected

We have compiled a list of common causes based on Obsidian forums and user reports.

Cause 1: Optimize Storage is enabled on your Mac

This is the most common cause. If "Optimize Mac Storage" is turned on in "System Settings" → "Apple ID" → "iCloud" → "iCloud Drive" on your Mac, files on iCloud may be deleted locally on your Mac to save space.

Obsidian is a system that directly reads local files, so if the file is only in the cloud (a cloud mark ☁ appears next to the file name in Finder), it cannot be read.

Workaround: Turn off "Optimize Mac Storage". Additionally, right-click the iCloud Drive → Obsidian folder in Finder and select Download Now to drop all files locally.

Cause 2: iCloud Drive on your iPhone is disabled

If your iPhone's "Settings" → "Your Name" → "iCloud" → "iCloud Drive" is turned off, it will naturally not sync. Also, make sure thatthe Obsidian app itself is allowed iCloud access.

Workaround: Go to "Settings" → "Your Name" → "iCloud" → turn on "iCloud Drive" and check if Obsidian is turned on in the list of "Apps using iCloud Drive".

Cause 3: Vault creation order is incorrect

What is often overlooked is Which device did you create the Vault on first? According to Obsidian forum report, if you first create a vault on your Mac and then try to open it on your iPhone, you may receive the error "Your iCloud vault was not detected".

Workaround: If it doesn't work, Create a new Vault in the Obsidian app on your iPhone and check "Save to iCloud." Then, wait for Vault to appear in the iCloud Drive → Obsidian folder in your Mac's Finder, then select the folder from "Open Vault" in Obsidian for Mac.

Cause 4: iOS sync timing cannot be controlled from the app

According to iCloud Drive technical research, iOS prioritizes battery and performance, so iCloud Drive synchronization timing is completely controlled by the OS. You cannot command "sync now" from the app.

In other words, it is by design that there is a time lag of several minutes to several tens of minutes after saving on a Mac. The synchronization priority changes depending on the Wi-Fi environment and whether or not the device is charging.

Workaround: Connect your iPhone to Wi-Fi, connect it to the charger, and wait a few minutes with the Obsidian app open. Also, check if Obsidian is turned on in Settings → General → Background App Refresh.

Cause 5: Not enough iCloud space

iCloud's free plan is only 5GB. If it's full of photos or backups, you won't be able to sync new files.

Workaround: Check the free space in "Settings" → "Your name" → "iCloud" → "Manage account storage." If you don't have enough backups, consider deleting unnecessary backups or upgrading to iCloud+ (starting at 130 yen per month).

Three methods to try when it still doesn't work

If the synchronization still does not occur after checking the above, please try the following.

Method 1: Turn iCloud Drive off then on again

On both your Mac and iPhone, turn off iCloud Drive, wait a few minutes, and then turn it back on. This will rebuild the iCloud index and may restart any stopped syncs. * Please back up your important notes before turning it off.

Method 2: Separate .obsidian folders by device

You may have problems synchronizing the .obsidian folder that contains Obsidian's configuration files. In particular, if the support status of plug-ins is different between Mac and iPhone, conflicts in configuration files are likely to occur.

According to penchi.jp explanation, it is effective to separate the settings folders for Mac and iPhone (iOS). For example, on the Mac side, you can use .obsidian as is, and on the iOS side, use "Override config folder" and change the folder name to .obsidian-mobile to avoid conflicting settings.

Method 3: Consider switching to Obsidian Sync

If it is still not stable, you should definitely switch to the official Obsidian Sync. As of February 2026, prices start from $4 per month (annual payment, 1GB plan). It supports end-to-end encryption and can be stably synced across Mac, iPhone, iPad, Windows, Android, and Linux.

A 40% discount will be applied to students, faculty, staff, and non-profit organizations, so please check if this applies to you.

Be careful when combining Windows and iPhone

By the way, trying to use iCloud sync between a Windows computer and an iPhone is even more difficult. There have been multiple reports of file duplication and file name conflicts with the Windows version of iCloud Drive, and there are many voices on the Obsidian forums saying that ``iCloud synchronization on Windows is not recommended.''

For Windows and iPhone, consider Obsidian Sync or another sync method such as Self-hosted LiveSync (free but a little more complicated to set up).

FAQ

Is Obsidian's iCloud sync free?

Yes, you can sync Apple products (Mac, iPhone, iPad) for free using iCloud Drive. However, this is not an officially supported method, and the stability of syncing depends on the behavior of iCloud. Synchronization with Windows is not recommended as it can cause problems.

Why isn't it reflected on my iPhone immediately even though I edited it on my Mac?

In iOS, the OS controls the synchronization timing of iCloud Drive in order to prioritize battery and performance. Since it is not possible to force synchronization from the app, a time lag of several to ten minutes may occur. It is easiest to synchronize when connected to Wi-Fi and charging.

What if I get the error “Your iCloud vault was not detected”?

Create a new Vault using the Obsidian app on your iPhone (check Save to iCloud), then try opening the same Vault from your Mac. This error tends to occur if you create a Vault on the Mac side first.

How is it different from Obsidian Sync?

Obsidian Sync is an official paid synchronization service (starting at $4/month) with features such as end-to-end encryption, version history, and support for all operating systems. iCloud synchronization is limited to Apple products and is free, but it is unstable and is not officially supported.

If a note disappears or conflicts, is there a way to restore it?

For iCloud Drive, you may be able to restore files from "Recently Deleted Files" on iCloud.com within 30 days. However, this is not reliable, so we recommend periodically backing up important notes to Git or a local folder.

References