5 reasons why I linked my Obsidian notes to Google Docs

Google Docs has recently added native support for Markdown files, a feature that wasn't officially announced but immediately caught the attention of users who frequently use Obsidian notes. This development gives users several advantages over Microsoft Word and other document editors. Here are five reasons why linking Obsidian notes to Google Docs is beneficial:

1. Google Docs can handle Markdown files natively, allowing users to view and edit them just like any other document on the platform. This means that if an Obsidian app crashes, users can still work on those Markdown files using Google Docs, ensuring that work doesn't get lost.

2. With Google Docs being more popular than Obsidian, it's easier to collaborate with non-tech-savvy colleagues who may not be familiar with Obsidian. By sharing a Markdown file in Google Docs, users can invite anyone with the necessary permission to suggest changes and make real-time edits, eliminating the need to rely heavily on a single platform.

3. Markdown files in Google Docs are preserved in their original format, unlike previous conversion options that often altered the formatting. This ensures that the file's character remains unchanged, making it a solid conversion tool for Obsidian notes. Users can export the file as PDF, .docx, .txt, .epub, and more, giving them flexibility in sharing the document.

4. Although Markdown support isn't enabled by default in Google Docs, it's a simple process to turn it on manually. Users need to open Google Docs on their computer, click Tools, select Preferences, and check the box next to the Enable Markdown option. Once enabled, Google Docs becomes a full-blown Markdown document editor, allowing users to make a separate version of their Obsidian notes, save them to a different location on their PC, and even ask AI tools like Gemini to summarize, make changes, or answer questions about the files.

5. Lastly, Google Docs has the ability to convert Markdown files to PDF, enabling users to share the document with those who don't have access to Obsidian or Google Docs. This versatility makes Google Docs a valuable tool for preserving and sharing Obsidian notes across different platforms and user groups.