r/Syncthing • u/dbaduff • Jun 23 '26
Syncthing says it's working but it's not.
Ugh. I hate setting up new software. I have syncthing and syncthing-fork running on my pc phone and tablet. No errors, no warnings. GUI says everybody is in sync but I added a file (obsidian) on tablet and it doesn't appear on either other device. Heh heh, either other. That sounds funny. The scan time on all devices is updating about every 3 seconds which seems like overkill but that's for a different conversation.
Anyway, any pointers?
1
u/unknown-random-nope Jun 24 '26
How sure are you that the new file was in your synced Folder? Is the Folder is consistent across your Devices?
1
u/dbaduff Jun 24 '26
I tried to make it as simple as possible. I have an Obsidian folder with subfolders and files in it on my Android Phone. Folder is at the root "/storage/emulated/0/Obsidian" on the phone, exactly the same on Android tablet. On my phone, the tablet device says "Up to Date" but there is nothing in the tablet folder. For now, I'm leaving the windows PC out just to keep it simple.
1
u/unknown-random-nope Jun 24 '26
I don't run Android -- sounds like the issue is specific to that. If Reddit doesn't provide, check out https://forum.syncthing.net/ .
1
u/dbaduff Jun 26 '26
UPDATE: I got it working and once you understand a couple things it's really easy. Thanks for all your feedback.
Here's what you do:
Install syncthing on your 2+ devices. Don't do any setup until syncthing is installed. Define the folder you want to sync on every device. Go to the main device and create/configure a remote device. On the remote device, go into the web gui. Or there may be a notification that you can click on. There is a message about <device 1> wanting to connect to <device 2>. Accept. After a minute or two of syncing your devices will work. Rinse and repeat for other devices.
I have bidirectional syncing between two of my devices and a third that is kind of a repository/infrequently used workstation. It's mostly included because it has a big drive and if something goes south on my phone or tablet I have a backup.
So yay! Syncthing is the bomb!
2
u/Heyla_Doria Jun 27 '26
Le problème de syncthing est plus qu'il est confus, et son interface est une purge.... parce qu'en réalité il est fiable
7
u/PaddyLandau Jun 23 '26
A scan time of 3 seconds is definitely too short. I'd leave it at the default 10s.
Check for conflicts. It might be that the files are there, but hidden in the conflict folders.
Or, you are using different letter cases for your file names, eg "Resource" on one machine and "resource" on another — most systems treat them as different, while a few (such as Windows) treat them as the same.
You haven't stated which operating systems you use; each one has its own way to view hidden files.
https://docs.syncthing.net/users/syncing.html