Quick Start Guide - Simple Notes Sync 📝

February 25, 2026 · View on GitHub

Step-by-step installation and setup guide

🌍 Languages: Deutsch · English

Prerequisites

✅ Android 7.0+ smartphone/tablet
✅ WiFi connection
✅ Own server with Docker (optional - for self-hosting)

Option 1: With own server (Self-Hosted) 🏠

Step 1: Setup WebDAV Server

On your server (e.g. Raspberry Pi, NAS, VPS):

# Clone repository
git clone https://github.com/inventory69/simple-notes-sync.git
cd simple-notes-sync/server

# Configure environment variables
cp .env.example .env
nano .env

Adjust in .env:

WEBDAV_PASSWORD=your-secure-password-here

Start server:

docker compose up -d

Find IP address:

ip addr show | grep "inet " | grep -v 127.0.0.1

➡️ Note down: http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:8080/

Step 2: Install App

Download APK: Latest version
- Choose: simple-notes-sync-vX.X.X-standard.apk
Allow installation:
- Android: Settings → Security → Enable "Unknown sources" for your browser
Open and install APK

Step 3: Configure App

Open app
Open settings (⚙️ icon top right)
Configure server settings:

Field Value
WebDAV Server URL http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:8080/
Username noteuser
Password (your password from .env)

💡 Note: Enter only the base URL (without /notes). The app automatically creates /notes/ for JSON files and /notes-md/ for Markdown export.
Press "Test connection"
- ✅ Success? → Continue to step 4
- ❌ Error? → See Troubleshooting
Enable auto-sync (toggle switch)
Choose sync interval:
- 15 min - Maximum currency (~0.8% battery/day)
- 30 min - Recommended (~0.4% battery/day) ⭐
- 60 min - Maximum battery life (~0.2% battery/day)

Field	Value
WebDAV Server URL	`http://YOUR-SERVER-IP:8080/`
Username	`noteuser`
Password	(your password from `.env`)

Step 4: Create First Note

Back to main view (← arrow)
"Add note" (+ icon)
Enter title and text
Save (💾 icon)
Wait for auto-sync (or manually: ⚙️ → "Sync now")

🎉 Done! Your notes will be automatically synchronized!

Option 2: Local notes only (no server) 📱

You can also use Simple Notes without a server:

Install app (see step 2 above)
Use without server configuration:
- Notes are only stored locally
- No auto-sync
- Perfect for offline-only use

🔋 Disable Battery Optimization

For reliable auto-sync:

Settings → Apps → Simple Notes Sync
Battery → Battery usage
Select: "Don't optimize" or "Unrestricted"

💡 Note: Android Doze Mode may still delay sync in standby (~60 min). This is normal and affects all apps.

📊 Sync Intervals in Detail

Interval	Syncs/day	Battery/day	Battery/sync	Use case
15 min	~96	~0.8% (~23 mAh)	~0.008%	⚡ Maximum currency (multiple devices)
30 min	~48	~0.4% (~12 mAh)	~0.008%	✓ Recommended - balanced
60 min	~24	~0.2% (~6 mAh)	~0.008%	🔋 Maximum battery life

🐛 Troubleshooting

Connection test fails

Problem: "Connection failed" during test

Solutions:

Server running?
```
docker compose ps
# Should show "Up"
```
Same network?
- Smartphone and server must be on same network

IP address correct?

ip addr show | grep "inet "
# Check if IP in URL matches

Firewall?

# Open port 8080 (if firewall active)
sudo ufw allow 8080/tcp

Check server logs:
```
docker compose logs -f
```

Auto-sync not working

Problem: Notes are not automatically synchronized

Solutions:

Auto-sync enabled?
- ⚙️ Settings → Toggle "Auto-sync" must be ON
Battery optimization disabled?
- See Disable Battery Optimization
Connected to WiFi?
- Auto-sync triggers on any WiFi connection
- Check if you're connected to a WiFi network
Test manually:
- ⚙️ Settings → "Sync now"
- Works? → Auto-sync should work too

Notes not showing up

Problem: After installation, no notes visible even though they exist on server

Solution:

Manually sync once:
- ⚙️ Settings → "Sync now"

Check server data:

docker compose exec webdav ls -la /data/
# Should show .json files

Sync errors

Problem: Error message during sync

Solutions:

"401 Unauthorized" → Wrong password
- Check password in app settings
- Compare with .env on server
"404 Not Found" → Wrong URL
- Should end with / (e.g. http://192.168.1.100:8080/)
"Network error" → No connection
- See Connection test fails

📱 Updates

Automatic with Obtainium (recommended)

Install Obtainium
Add app:
- URL: https://github.com/inventory69/simple-notes-sync
- Enable auto-update
Done! Obtainium notifies you of new versions