FAQ
General
Is Sidian affiliated with Obsidian?
No. Sidian is an independent product. We use the Obsidian plugin system to sync your vault, but we are not affiliated with Obsidian.
Do I need to use the Obsidian plugin?
The plugin is the primary sync method. ZIP upload is coming soon for users who prefer not to install the plugin.
Can I use Sidian without Obsidian?
Sidian is built specifically for Obsidian-flavoured Markdown. It will render standard Markdown correctly, but features like wikilinks, callouts, and canvas files require Obsidian vault structure.
Sync
How often does the plugin sync?
The plugin syncs automatically whenever you save a file in Obsidian. There is no polling interval — changes are pushed immediately.
What happens if I'm offline?
Changes are queued locally and pushed the next time the plugin connects to Sidian.
Will deleting a note in Obsidian remove it from my site?
Yes. The plugin tracks deletions and removes the corresponding file from your site on the next sync.
Can I sync the same vault to multiple sites?
No. Each vault is connected to one site via an API key. To publish to multiple sites, use separate vaults or separate API keys from different Sidian accounts.
Privacy & Access
Who can see my site?
By default, newly created sites are in Draft mode and not publicly accessible. You choose when to publish. You can add a site password to restrict access even after publishing.
Where is my data stored?
Vault files are stored in object storage (S3-compatible). The Sidian application and database run on servers in Europe.
Can I export my data?
Yes. Go to your dashboard and use the Download my data link to export a JSON file containing all data Sidian holds about your account.
Can I delete my account?
Yes. Go to Account settings → Delete account. You will receive a confirmation email — click the link to permanently delete your account and all associated data.
Rendering
What Obsidian syntax is supported?
See Supported Syntax for the full list. In short: wikilinks, callouts, tags, frontmatter, math (KaTeX), Mermaid diagrams, canvas files, and all standard Markdown.
My images aren't showing up. What's wrong?
Make sure the image files are inside your vault folder (not linked from outside it). The plugin only syncs files within the vault root. Supported formats are PNG, JPG, GIF, WebP, SVG, and AVIF.
Can I embed videos?
Direct video embedding is not supported yet. You can embed YouTube or Vimeo using a custom JS snippet or by adding an iframe in a note's HTML block.
Billing
What payment methods do you accept?
Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, Amex) via Stripe.
Can I cancel at any time?
Yes. Cancel from your account settings. Your plan remains active until the end of the billing period.
Do you offer refunds?
We offer a full refund within 7 days of your first payment if Sidian doesn't work for you. Contact [email protected].
Custom domains
How long does DNS propagation take?
Usually a few minutes, but it can take up to 48 hours depending on your DNS provider.
Do I need to configure SSL?
No. SSL is provisioned automatically via Let's Encrypt once your CNAME is pointed at sidian.app.
Can I use a root domain (e.g. example.com without www)?
Root domains require an ALIAS or ANAME record, which not all DNS providers support. A subdomain like notes.example.com is more reliable. See Custom Domains for details.
Still have questions?
Send us a message at [email protected] or use the feedback button in your dashboard.