---
title: "Sync via Syncthing"
description: "Your desktop vault and Galaxy S26+ stay mirrored automatically."
source: "Obsidian Academy"
source_url: https://obsidian-academy.pages.dev/basics/06-sync-via-syncthing/
saved: 2026-05-16
tags: [obsidian-academy, saved-from-web, basics]
---

Your vault lives on the ZenBook A16 at `C:\Vault\WhittechAI`. Your phone has a copy at `/storage/emulated/0/Documents/Obsidian/WhittechAI`. Syncthing keeps them identical. No cloud, no monthly fee, no Apple/Google account required.

## The mental model

- **Syncthing runs as a daemon on both sides** (desktop + phone)
- **Both daemons know each other** (paired by Device ID)
- **They watch the vault folder** and broadcast changes
- **Files appear on the other side** within ~30 seconds on LAN

When you edit a note on your phone, your phone's Syncthing notifies your PC's Syncthing, which pulls the change. Same in reverse. Conflicts are rare on a vault with one user but happen — Syncthing creates `~conflict~` files when they do.

## What's running on your machine right now

On your ZenBook A16:

- **`syncthing.exe`** (native ARM64 from winget package `Syncthing.Syncthing`) — the daemon. Runs at `localhost:8384` web UI.
- **Syncthing Tray** (native ARM64 from `Martchus.syncthingtray`) — system-tray UI. Optional but nice.
- **Auto-start shortcuts** in `%APPDATA%\Microsoft\Windows\Start Menu\Programs\Startup\` — both above launch on login.

On your Galaxy S26+:

- **Syncthing-Fork** (from F-Droid) — the Android daemon. Set to **"Force start, ignore run conditions"** so Samsung's battery optimization doesn't suspend it.

## Verifying sync works

1. On PC: edit `00-Inbox/inbox.md`, append a line, save
2. Wait 15–30 seconds
3. On phone: open `00-Inbox/inbox.md` in Obsidian — line appears
4. Reverse direction works the same way

If sync stalls:

- Check Syncthing-Fork on phone: status should be **green** circle. Yellow = idle / not connected. Red = stopped.
- Check Syncthing web UI on PC (`http://127.0.0.1:8384`) under "Other Devices" — phone should show **Connected**.
- If both look fine but sync is stale: restart Syncthing on either side.

## Conflicts

If you edit the same note on both devices simultaneously (or one is offline and you edit both):

- Syncthing creates a `note name~conflict~timestamp.md` file
- You merge manually, then delete the conflict file
- This is rare on a single-user vault but happens after Wi-Fi drops

Best practice: **pick a lead device at any given moment.** If you're at your PC, don't edit from the phone too.

## What Syncthing doesn't do

- **Doesn't sync over the public internet without help.** Same WiFi = direct TCP. Different networks = falls back to relay servers (works but slower). For best results across networks, install [Tailscale](/setup/04-remote-access-tailscale/) to put both devices on a private virtual network.
- **Doesn't version your files.** Use Obsidian Git plugin or just `git init` in the vault folder if you want version history.
- **Doesn't back up.** If both devices' copies die, your vault is gone. Add a third sync target (a NAS, a friend's PC, a cloud bucket via Remotely Save) for backup.

> [!NOTE]
> **On Samsung specifically:** the One UI battery optimizer is aggressive. If sync stops working overnight, check Syncthing-Fork's status — likely Samsung suspended it. Use Settings → Apps → Syncthing-Fork → Battery → **Unrestricted** and add it to "Never sleeping apps".

## What's in this folder for you

Inside your vault is a `_setup/` folder I created with three Markdown guides:

- `_setup/mobile-sync.md` — the full setup walkthrough you already followed
- `_setup/remote-access-tailscale.md` — for syncing when off-network
- `_setup/ios-shortcut-capture.md` — analogous Bixby Routine pattern for Android quick capture

These are living docs inside the vault, so they're available on your phone too.

## Next

You've completed Obsidian Basics. Continue to the [10 Core Workflows →](/workflows/01-daily-driver/) section. Start with **Daily Driver**.