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Overview

Obsidian Portable can be upgraded to newer versions while preserving all your vaults, settings, and data. The upgrade process replaces the application files while keeping your Data directory intact.

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Current Version

The latest version of Obsidian Portable includes:
  • Obsidian Version: 1.11.5
  • Package Version: 1.11.5.0
  • Format: PortableApps.com Format 3.7
You can check your current version by looking at App/AppInfo/appinfo.ini or running ObsidianPortable.exe and checking Help → About in Obsidian.

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Before You Upgrade

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1. Backup Your Data

Always create a backup before upgrading, even though the process preserves your data. What to backup: 
# Copy the entire Data directory
ObsidianPortable/
└── Data/                    # Backup this entire folder
    ├── ObsidianAppData/
    └── Vaults/ (if stored here)
Recommended backup locations:
  • External hard drive
  • Cloud storage (Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive)
  • Different partition or drive
  • Network storage

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2. Close Obsidian

Ensure Obsidian is completely closed before upgrading:
  1. Exit Obsidian normally (File → Exit or close all windows)
  2. Check Task Manager (Ctrl+Shift+Esc) to verify Obsidian.exe is not running
  3. Wait a few seconds for any background processes to finish
Upgrading while Obsidian is running may result in file corruption or incomplete updates.

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3. Document Your Current Setup

Note your current configuration:
  • List of installed community plugins
  • Custom CSS snippets
  • Hotkey customizations
  • Vault locations (especially if outside the Data directory)

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Upgrade Methods

If you use the PortableApps.com Platform, upgrades are automatic:
  1. Launch the PortableApps.com Platform
  2. Click Check for Updates
  3. Select Obsidian Portable from the update list
  4. Click Update
  5. Wait for the download and installation to complete
  6. Launch Obsidian Portable to verify the update
The Platform automatically:
  • Downloads the latest version
  • Preserves your Data directory
  • Updates only the App directory
  • Maintains your portable configuration

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Method 2: Manual Upgrade

For standalone installations without the Platform:

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Step 1: Download New Version

  1. Visit PortableApps.com Obsidian Portable page
  2. Download the latest installer (e.g., ObsidianPortable_1.11.5.paf.exe)
  3. Save to a temporary location

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Step 2: Backup Current Installation

Backup-2026-03-05/
├── Data/                    # Copy entire Data folder
├── obsidian.json.backup     # Extra copy of vault config
└── notes.txt                # Document your setup

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Step 3: Run Installer

  1. Run the downloaded .paf.exe file
  2. Select the same installation directory as your current installation
  3. The installer will prompt: “ObsidianPortable is already installed. Would you like to upgrade?”
  4. Click Yes to proceed
  5. Wait for installation to complete
The installer intelligently preserves the Data directory while updating App files.

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Step 4: Verify Upgrade

  1. Navigate to your installation directory
  2. Check App/AppInfo/appinfo.ini to verify the new version:
[Version]
PackageVersion=1.11.5.0
DisplayVersion=1.11.5
  1. Launch ObsidianPortable.exe
  2. Verify your vaults are accessible
  3. Check that settings and plugins are intact

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Method 3: Fresh Install with Data Migration

For a clean installation (useful for troubleshooting):
  1. Backup the entire Data directory from your current installation
  2. Install Obsidian Portable to a new directory
  3. Close the newly installed Obsidian
  4. Replace the new Data directory with your backup
  5. Launch Obsidian Portable from the new location
After migrating data to a new location, the vault paths in obsidian.json will be automatically updated on first launch thanks to the launcher’s FileWrite configuration.

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Preserving Data

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What Gets Preserved

During upgrades, the following are automatically preserved: ✅ Always Preserved:
  • All vaults (if stored in Data directory)
  • Vault configurations and settings
  • Installed community plugins
  • Custom themes and CSS snippets
  • Hotkey configurations
  • Workspace layouts
  • Graph view settings
  • File recovery snapshots
  • Cache and index data

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What Gets Replaced

❌ Replaced During Upgrade:
  • Obsidian application files (App/Obsidian/)
  • Launcher executable (ObsidianPortable.exe)
  • Application icons and metadata
  • Help files
The App/AppInfo/Launcher/ObsidianPortable.ini configuration is typically replaced, but since it rarely requires customization, this is usually not an issue. If you’ve customized it, back it up separately.

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External Vaults

If your vaults are stored outside the Data directory: 
USB Drive/
├── ObsidianPortable/
│   └── Data/
│       └── ObsidianAppData/
│           └── obsidian.json    # Contains paths to external vaults
└── MyVaults/
    ├── WorkVault/
    └── PersonalVault/
The upgrade process preserves obsidian.json, which contains the paths to your external vaults. Your vaults remain accessible after upgrading.

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Version Compatibility

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Obsidian Version History

Recent Obsidian Portable releases:
VersionRelease DateNotable Changes
1.11.52026-01-20Latest release
1.9.122025-08-26
1.8.72025-02-18
1.6.52024-06-25
1.4.132023-09-15

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Plugin Compatibility

After upgrading:
  1. Launch Obsidian
  2. Go to Settings → Community Plugins
  3. Click Check for updates
  4. Update any plugins that have new versions
Some community plugins may require updates to work with newer Obsidian versions. Check plugin compatibility before upgrading if you rely on specific plugins.

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Downgrading

If you need to revert to an older version:
  1. Download the older version installer
  2. Follow the manual upgrade process (Method 2)
  3. Install to the same directory
Downgrading is generally safe, but some newer plugins may not be compatible with older Obsidian versions.

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Troubleshooting Upgrades

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Upgrade Fails to Complete

Symptoms: Installer hangs or shows errors Solutions:
  1. Ensure Obsidian is completely closed
  2. Check that you have write permissions to the installation directory
  3. Temporarily disable antivirus software
  4. Run the installer as Administrator (right-click → Run as Administrator)
  5. Try a fresh install with data migration (Method 3)

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Vaults Not Appearing After Upgrade

Symptoms: Obsidian launches but vaults are missing Solutions:
  1. Check Data/ObsidianAppData/obsidian.json exists and is not empty
  2. Restore obsidian.json from backup
  3. Manually re-add vaults through Obsidian (File → Open vault)
  4. Verify vault paths if stored externally

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Plugins Not Working

Symptoms: Plugins fail to load or cause errors Solutions:
  1. Update all plugins (Settings → Community Plugins → Check for updates)
  2. Disable incompatible plugins
  3. Check plugin compatibility with the new Obsidian version
  4. Clear cache: Delete Data/ObsidianAppData/Cache/ and restart

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Settings Reset

Symptoms: Settings return to defaults after upgrade Solutions:
  1. Restore from backup if available
  2. Check that Data/ObsidianAppData/ was preserved
  3. Verify you upgraded (not fresh installed) to the same directory

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Best Practices

Regular Backups

Schedule regular backups of your Data directory, not just before upgrades. Consider using automated backup tools or version control for your vaults.

Test After Upgrading

After upgrading, test core functionality:
  • Open all vaults
  • Test critical plugins
  • Verify sync if using third-party sync
  • Check custom CSS and themes

Stay Informed

Monitor Obsidian changelogs and community forums for known issues with new releases before upgrading.

Staged Rollout

If using Obsidian Portable in a team or organization, test upgrades on a single machine before deploying widely.