---
link: https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-sync-with-git-on-ios-for-free-using-ish/20861
author:
  - "[[Obsidian Forum]]"
published: 2021-07-14
created: 2025-05-08
tags:
  - t/clippings
  - s/obsidian
  - s/informatique
---
There’s already a post about syncing with WorkingCopy ([\[Mobile\] Setting up iOS git-based syncing with mobile app (using Working Copy)](https://forum.obsidian.md/t/mobile-setting-up-ios-git-based-syncing-with-mobile-app-using-working-copy/16499)). However, the ability to push is paid, and it costs a lot, but without this there can be no sync!

I propose to use [iSH](https://ish.app/) to sync Obsidian with git.

- p Pros:
    - It’s free!
    - It lets you use *fully-featured git* - the same git that runs on Alpine Linux
- c Cons:
    - It requires using the Linux command-line
    - There appears to be a *bug* in Obsidian 1.0.3 that doesn’t show new files in the file explorer after you pull them from GitHub. This can be easily circumvented by sorting the notes

# Tutorial

Also see [the example repository](https://github.com/ForceBru/ObsidianVaultTest) I created to showcase this method.

Also see “Simpler way” below.

Assuming you have an *existing* repo on GitHub. You can also create the repo right from iSH - the `git` command you’ll be using is the exact same fully-featured `git` from Alpine Linux.

1. Create a new empty *local* vault in Obsidian
2. In iSH:
    1. *First-time setup* - install git:
    2. Update Alpine repos: `apk update`
    3. Install git: `apk add git`
    4. Create a directory called `obsidian` in your home directory by running `cd ~ && mkdir obsidian`.
    5. Mount your local vault folder into the `obsidian` folder
    6. Run `mount -t ios . obsidian`
    7.  A file picker will show up
    8. Choose the folder with your local vault
    9. Clone your git repository into `obsidian`
    10. Change directory to `obsidian`: `cd obsidian`
    11. Delete the `.obsidian` folder: `rm -rf .obsidian`
    12. `git clone https://github.com/ForceBru/ObsidianVaultTest .` - use your own repository instead. Don’t forget the period `.` - this is what allows you to clone the repo *into the current folder*.
    13. (Optional) Run `ls -a` to see whether your files are there
3. In Obsidian
    1. Restart Obsidian (might not be necessary)
    2. Open the file explorer
    3. Currently (Obsidian 1.0.3) it’s empty (looks like a bug)
    4. Tap the “Sort” button (the rightmost one, with up/down arrows)
    5. Select any sorting order you like
    6. The files should appear
    7. Use your Obsidian vault!
4. To **push** your changes, go back to iSH
    1. Change directory to `obsidian` in your home directory: `cd ~/obsidian`
    2. Run `git status` to confirm that there *are* modified files
    3. *First-time setup* - tell git who you are:
    4. Set username: `git config user.name ForceBruMobile`
    5. Set e-mail address: `git config user.email "ForceBru@users.noreply.github.com"`
    6. Add files, commit and push. For example:
    7. Add *all* files into the commit: `git add .`
    8. Commit: `git commit -m "Commit from mobile"`
    9. Push: `git push`
    10. This will ask you to enter your username and password
    11. Git can use your personal access token to login automatically
    12. That’s it! Take a look at [this example commit from iSH](https://github.com/ForceBru/ObsidianVaultTest/commit/f642c3334a870ca8ab2aa1355528403502433b2b)
5. To **pull** changes from GitHub:
    1. In iSH:
        1. Change directory to `obsidian` in your home directory: `cd ~/obsidian`
        2. (Optional) Check whether there is stuff to pull
        3. Bring remote refs up to date: `git remote update`
        4. Check status: `git status`
        5. It should say something like `Your branch is behind 'origin/master' by 2 commits, and can be fast-forwarded` if there is something to be updated
        6. Actually update from the remote repo: `git pull`
    2. In Obsidian:
        1. Go to file explorer
        2. If you don’t see your new notes, do the sort trick again:
        3. Tap the “Sort” button (the rightmost one, with up/down arrows)
        4. Select any sorting order you like
        5. The files should appear
    3. Updates to *existing* notes seem to be reflected correctly


# Simpler way

Mount *the entire* Obsidian folder which contains *all* your vaults (as opposed to mounting just the vault).

In iSH:
1. Make directory to store Obsidian vaults: `cd ~ && mkdir obsidian`
2. Mount the file provider: `mount -t iOS . obsidian`
3. Choose `On My iDevice` and *select and open the `Obsidian` folder*
4. Change directory to `obsidian`: `cd obsidian`
5. Clone the repo with your vault *right there*: `git clone https://github.com/ForceBru/ObsidianVaultTest`
6. This will create a folder called `ObsidianVaultTest` that will be a git repo and that Obsidian will recognize as a vault

Then open the vault in Obsidian (might need to restart it), edit stuff, then push/pull changes as described in steps 3 and 4 in the original post.

To avoid entering login/password all the time, cache or store your credentials: [Git - Credential Storage](https://git-scm.com/book/en/v2/Git-Tools-Credential-Storage)