NucCat
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Q: How do I get google contacts to actually sync in 10.9.2

With a recent upgrade to an iPhone 5S, and consequent upgrade of the system on my iMac & laptop to 10.9.2 I cannot figure out how to get my Gmail contacts to sync with my phone, computer and iCloud. Correct me if I'm wrong, but it appears that: 1. the only way to sync contacts on the 5S is via iCloud (I can live with that); 2. contacts on my desktop/laptop will sync with iCloud (so far so good); 3. the latest version of contacts in 10.9.2 will show the contacts on my Google account and my iCloud account (seems fine...). However, it doesn't actually sync the contacts between the two accounts. I've tried adding new contacts on one side, or the other, but no sync occurs. I'm contemplating erasing everything on both sides and starting from scratch (re-importing my saved contacts of course). However, don't really want to do this if it's not going to result in true synchronization. Just in case anyone asks, I don't use the mail app or calendar (use gmail for both and don't care about syncing either to my phone).

OS X Mavericks (10.9.2)

Posted on Mar 14, 2014 7:11 PM

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NucCat

Q: How do I get google contacts to actually sync in 10.9.2

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Barney-15E,

    Barney-15E Barney-15E Mar 14, 2014 8:03 PM in response to NucCat
    Level 8 (49,846 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 14, 2014 8:03 PM in response to NucCat

    The mechanism that Google used to sync the contacts has been removed from Mavericks (as has USB Sync--same framework).

     

    Your individual CardDAV accounts (iCloud, Google) will "sync" across devices, but not with one-another.

  • by Glenn Leblanc,Helpful

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc Mar 14, 2014 8:50 PM in response to NucCat
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 14, 2014 8:50 PM in response to NucCat

    I don't use Google, but my understanding is that you can sync google contacts and other services between devices. If this is the case, you would be better off using only google services of your choice and deselecting them from iCloud.

     

    Check out this site:

    http://jimmymacsupport.com/os-x-mavericks-ios-7-support-google-contacts/

  • by NucCat,

    NucCat NucCat Mar 16, 2014 11:51 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Mar 16, 2014 11:51 AM in response to Glenn Leblanc

    Thanks! This turns out to be  the best option. To get it to work I did it a bit differently than those instructions since the contacts, mail and calendar on Gmail were the most current/correct. So I reset my phone (no big deal as was new, and everything backed up), set up Google for mail, contacts and calendar, and it all works!

  • by Glenn Leblanc,

    Glenn Leblanc Glenn Leblanc Mar 16, 2014 11:59 AM in response to NucCat
    Level 6 (11,016 points)
    Mac OS X
    Mar 16, 2014 11:59 AM in response to NucCat

    Great. I couldn't test it since I don't have a google account anymore. I wasn't sure how the syncing would work. Looks like Mavericks may have made google cloud a good option for those who use it and not iCloud.

  • by Valls1992,

    Valls1992 Valls1992 Jul 19, 2016 12:13 AM in response to NucCat
    Level 1 (4 points)
    Jul 19, 2016 12:13 AM in response to NucCat

    For syncing google contacts to iOS just go to google contacts and just go to export option and export the contacts  to the format that is readable in iOS as mentioned there and just save the file it will ask to open in contacts and give yes and save.

    U will get all those contacts in iOS