Mac Sync

What it is

Mac Sync lets your Mac produce exports without becoming a HealthKit reader. The iPhone remains the source of truth for Apple Health data. It captures the selected daily data and exact settings snapshot, then transfers that job to the Mac. The Mac plans paths and renders the requested formats. It writes the files to your selected destination folder.

iPhoneCaptures HealthKit data and snapshots the effective settings. Local networkTransfers the versioned job to the nearby Mac app. MacRenders the selected formats and writes them to the chosen folder. VaultObsidian, iCloud Drive, or any local folder gets the final export.

How to enable

1. Install and open the macOS app.
2. On Mac, choose a destination folder so Health.md has write access.
3. On iPhone, open the Sync tab and enable Mac connectivity.
4. Return to the iPhone Export tab, choose Connected Mac, configure the export, and tap Export.

Data that transfers

• A versioned export request describing the date range and effective settings
• Progress and capability messages while the iPhone captures HealthKit data
• Bounded, checksum-validated frames carrying captured daily data and the exact settings snapshot for file-writing jobs
• A structured completion, partial, failure, rejection, or unavailable result

No account or remote health-data cloud is required. Nearby sync uses encrypted Multipeer Connectivity. Manual IP/Tailscale uses paired encrypted Network.framework transport. Both devices must be able to reach each other, and the iPhone remains the HealthKit reader.

When to use it

Desktop-only vaults

If your Obsidian vault lives only on the Mac, this is the clean path from iPhone HealthKit to Mac files.

Large backfills

Keep final files on a desktop disk while the iPhone handles the HealthKit read and export configuration.

Local archive workflows

Write directly into folders that are backed up, versioned, or indexed on macOS.

Local network required.

Both devices must be nearby and allowed to use local networking. Cellular-only iPhones cannot discover a Mac destination. If readiness says the Mac needs attention, reopen the Mac app and reselect the destination folder.

Mac sync and Direct CLI Access are separate

Mac Sync pairs the iPhone with the Health.md Mac app for destination exports and encrypted agent context. Direct CLI Access pairs the iPhone with a command-line installation through a separate trust domain. Direct mode can export raw data or generated files without the Mac app, but it cannot use the Mac encrypted query index or MCP.

See Direct iPhone CLI before enabling the separate iPhone setting.

Related

DesktopmacOS App, Export, Schedule, History on the Mac. WorkflowScheduling, automate recurring exports. Separate trustDirect iPhone CLI, pair a CLI without routing work through the Mac app. ProtocolConnected Mac–iPhone Reference, capabilities, requests, bounded transfer, and results.