Hi Reader,

​

Happy Friday! I'm pausing our Zettelkasten series to share some exciting news: the Obsidian mobile app has launched (both for Apple and Android)!

​

This has been a long time coming. When Obsidian arrived on the scene (and it's still fairly "new"), it did not have its own mobile app. And this is a big deal, because it's convenient to edit and sync notes across devices.

​

There were workarounds, of course - because Obsidian notes are saved locally as markdown files (not tied to a proprietary software), we were also able to open and edit them in third-party apps. I liked the paid app 1Writer best. Even still, this was never a perfect solution, because these apps didn't support some of Obsidian's best features - the internal hyperlinks, for example.

​

Obsidian App: The Good and the Bad

​

The Obsidian app, of course, is much more intuitive because it matches the desktop program we're used to. Here's the catch: You must use either iCloud or Obsidian sync. According to Obsidian, there is no known support at this time for the following sync services:

• Dropbox
• Google Drive
• OneDrive
• Syncthing

​

I use Dropbox to store my notes. So there are a few options:

1. Move my Obsidian vault into iCloud.
2. Pay for Obsidian Sync.
3. Use another app like 1Writer or iAWriter.

​

Option 1: iCloud

​

If you're already using iCloud to store your notes, you're in luck. I went ahead and "tested" the process by moving a sample Obsidian vault into iCloud and then setting up the app. There are a few steps you'll need to follow - basically, you create a duplicate vault in the app which syncs to iCloud, and then copy/paste your notes into this new folder - but there are step-by-step instructions in the online Obsidian Help vault.

​

The app is really cool! (As we knew it would be.) The sidebar looks identical; you can scroll through existing notes, easily create a new note, click into your daily note, or navigate between vaults. When you "edit" a note, there's a helpful toolbar with shortcuts for actions like (1) creating a link, (2) importing images, (3) creating a heading, and (4) bolding or italicizing text. You can toggle between "edit" and "preview" modes. You can view your backlinks.

​

​

​

​

I'll admit it's not super convenient that the app does not yet support multiple sync services. I'd prefer to use Dropbox. At this point, I haven't decided whether I'll move my main vault into iCloud. I've actually considered creating an entirely new vault dedicated to my Zettelkasten (and I may explain why in a future email), and if I do that, I may use iCloud.

​

Option 2: Obsidian Sync

​

​Obsidian created its own paid service - an add-on - allowing users to sync across devices. Obsidian recommends that you do NOT keep your notes in a sync service like iCloud or Dropbox if you use Obsidian Sync. (To prevent duplication / bugs / etc.) It's $4 a month.

​

This is definitely an alternative for those who can't use iCloud, but the monthly fee is a drawback - whereas the app is free for those using iCloud.

​

Option 3: Use another app

​

As I mentioned, there are other mobile apps that will allow you to open and edit your Obsidian notes. The functionality isn't the same, but at least you can access your notes on the go. I preferred 1Writer to iAWriter - it was the cheaper of the two paid apps (a one-time cost of $4.99), and compatible with Obsidian's hyperlinks. A few caveats:

• You'd need a "flat" organizational structure for your notes (no subfolders!) because the links only seem to work within the same folder.
• Even when the links don't work the way they should, they function like a "search" feature (the app will populate a list of your notes either with that title or with similar keywords)

​

I hope this is helpful! If you're using the Obsidian app, let me know what you think - I'd love to hear from you :)

​

And if you missed my most recent email in our Zettelkasten series, you can check out this article I wrote about my process for creating a "permanent" note in Zettelkasten. I show you one of my own permanent notes, and how I got there.

​

Have a great weekend!

​

Sincerely,

Brooke H

​