iCloud contacts duplicated and no longer sync with Mac

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Level 1

9 points

iCloud contacts duplicated and no longer sync with Mac

After upgrading my Macbook to Catalina, my contacts got duplicated. On the Mac if I use the Contacts app to look for duplicates it reduces the 26,470 contacts to 992 contacts. But these iCloud contacts aren't syncing properly with iCloud because the Contacts app on the Mac starts to redownload the contacts and I end up again with 26,470 contacts.

Deleting contacts on the Mac does not replicate to iCloud.com. I've tried signing out of iCloud on the Mac and signing back in with no change. I also tried just disabling on Mac for iCloud not to sync contacts (this removes the contacts from Contacts.app) and then when I choose to sync iCloud contacts on the Mac the same behaviour is seen.

Adding a contact on the Mac does not show the contact in iCloud.com. Also the Contacts.app starts to hang and I have to end up doing a force quit. I imagine it's due to the large number of contacts.

Thanks for any help.

I've backed up my contacts. Is there a way to reset contacts or reset sync? Or have other run into similar issue and have a solution.

MacBook

Posted on May 7, 2020 3:34 PM

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Answer 1

Eric Root

Level 10

684,531 points

May 7, 2020 7:15 PM in response to mgnoriega

Try going to System Preferences/iCloud (Apple ID for Catalina) and stop Contacts syncing by unchecking the box. Wait a couple of minutes, then check syncing. Allow time for the sync to complete.

Last resort - have you tried signing out of iCloud and then sign back in?

See the Apple Support article(s) below.

Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders - Get help using iCloud.

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Answer 2

tygb

Level 9

64,708 points

May 16, 2020 2:07 AM in response to mgnoriega

Deleting contacts plist from user library ( you have to search in preferences folder will delete all the contacts from the address book application of Mac , before deleting it archive the contacts https://support.apple.com/lt-lt/guide/contacts/adrbdcfd32e6/mac

You can consult apple support senior advisor see the link https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201232

The contact plist name might differ according to the version of Mac used .

The contact application will hang / get corrupted if unlimited data like saving thousands of contacts in address book , circumstances will be created point out and force the Mac user to erase the hard drive and reinstall Mac OS https://support.apple.com/en-in/HT208496

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