cng1990 Author

Level 1

61 points

iCloud tabs not syncing/working

iCloud Tabs has stopped working on all of my devices

iCloud Tabs isn't working on any of my devices. I can't see them from my MacBook Pro (macOS Catalina), nor from my iPhone X (running 14.2). I have quadruple checked and iCloud is on and Safari is checked and everything is correct on each device. It was working fine up until I noticed the issued several days ago. I haven't changed any settings or behaviors or changed any features, but for whatever reason it isn't working anymore. And if it does, my computer shows iPhone tabs from the day before and not current tabs and my phone doesn't show my computer tabs at all anymore. Although it's small, it's a feature of iCloud that I use quite often and it's a nuisance to have it not working properly.

I followed all suggestions on forums and articles to turn off iCloud, turn off Safari, etc. on each device and turn it back on but still nothing. I've restarted and rebooted a plethora of times and it's still the same issue. Does anyone have any insights on what could be causing this issue and how to fix it?

Posted on Nov 13, 2020 7:09 AM

Top-ranking reply

Mocharuns

Level 1

27 points

Posted on Jan 24, 2021 5:01 PM

I know it sure is frustrating. If you call Apple, it is free to talk with an advisor. I worked with a senior advisor, told them the steps I already did. We ran through some more steps and I ended up having to send my diagnostics to their engineers. It took a few days (the engineers work via email only), but they did get mine working. With that being said it took a lot of time and caused heaps of frustration. I made two appointments Apple certified repair locations and they both said it had to do with Apple iCloud servers. So I don’t think you can do anything to fix it, if you already ran through the steps. I think they have to fix it at their end. I had three Apple devices not working. They asked me to clear my device and start again. I refused to do that because there was no way three devices were not working correctly. Also, one of my devices was brand new. I also had an Apple location removed the newest iOS I just put on and replace again, just to see if they could fix it. They could not help me. I’m just trying to save you some time. This is what finally ended up working for me. I hope this helps.

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229 replies

Dec 15, 2020 10:26 AM in response to cng1990

Exact same problem, but this issue isn't limited to Mac OS on my 2019 MacBook Pro 13" 2-TB. Both my iPhone 11 Pro and iPad Air 4 (bought yesterday) have the same issue - neither can see currently open tabs on other devices. I've tried closing safari on all devices, disabling iCloud (deleting data on iPhone and iPad), doing a hard reboot on all three, re-enabling iCloud (first Mac, then iPad, then iPhone), then opening Safari, and still no luck. There's clearly a bug here on Apple's end.

All three devices on the very latest version of Mac OS (11.0.1) and iOS (14.3 with the new update where I can see privacy reports on App Store pages).

Leschy

Level 1

14 points

Dec 15, 2020 10:57 AM in response to simcodde

macbook Pro 15" mid 2015 with macOS 11.1, iPad Air 3 with iOS 14.3., iPhone Xs with iOS 14.3 same problem, no iCloud tabs at all. Under iCloud --> Safari disable on all devices, enable it again, doesn't help. please look a macrumors, problem seems to affect many users https://forums.macrumors.com/threads/icloud-tabs-not-syncing.2266397/page-21?post=29397217#post-29397217

Dec 15, 2020 10:58 AM in response to simcodde

Totally agree.

Updated iPhone, iPad & MacBook Pro to latest update.

Still the same issues.

Apple are clearly aware of the issues we are having from previous posts on here.

They do not like to admit they have issues with bugs, just quietly fix them in their own time.

Maybe next update or the one after that.

Dec 20, 2020 2:45 AM in response to cng1990

I think my problem is due to the fact that on the safari blank page down at the bottom right options menu I do not get to select iClouds Tabs. it does not appear in the list. How do I get that inserted there. If I can and select it I am sure the problem will be fixed. can any one tell me how?

Nigel W

Level 1

13 points

Dec 20, 2020 3:17 PM in response to cng1990

I've had this issue too, and am not sure if it's related to upgrading to a new iPhone, or a completely independent iCloud problem.

Today I had the most stark example that this is some sort of bug. I was using my laptop and iCloud tabs were working fine. I had a bunch of tabs open on my phone, and they showed up on my laptop. Then at one point I tried closing one of my iPhone's tabs from my laptop, and iCloud tabs disappeared. (I still had a bunch of tabs open on my phone, but my laptop simply stopped showing them.)

Maybe iCloud tabs will randomly start showing up again at some point. It's totally unreliable right now, and impossible to diagnose what's causing the problem.

Dec 21, 2020 1:26 AM in response to cng1990

iOS 14.4 is currently out for developer testing, so hopefully that may resolve it when fully released.

Having said that, when iOS 13 got released it affected the ringer tone level in AirPods, we sent bug reports in the hundreds via this forum, but it took Apple a whole iOS cycle to fix it. Yep 1 whole year, fixed with iOS 14. Lets hope this does not drag on that long.

Dec 26, 2020 10:12 AM in response to cng1990

Any news on broken iCloud tabs sync?

If you read another big apple forums you can find a 'lot' of entries... It's simply not working and broken!

Looks like apple knows about it, because they're not commenting this issue. so sad.

Dec 27, 2020 1:50 PM in response to cng1990

iCloud tabs stopped working on my iPhone 12 Pro Max after a did a reset (erasing all content and settings) and restored from an iCloud backup. Since then, I cannot get it to work again, even after following the advice here and elsewhere. As a recent Android switcher, it means I need to go back to Google Chrome until this is resolved, which kinda sucks (I prefer Safari's privacy consciousness). I cannot live without this feature.

Dec 27, 2020 7:21 PM in response to WalterCarlos

The issue is now solved for me. I don’t know exactly how it got fixed but two things happened:

Safari received a standalone update (I saw a notification). I’m on latest Catalina with MBP2015.
I upgraded from an iPhone X to a 12. Both in latest iOS though.

I still moved to chrome since I haven’t seen an official statement that this has or will be looked into. It seems it might break at any time. if by late January I see no issues I’ll gladly go back to safari as my main browser.

Dec 30, 2020 5:11 AM in response to Martin_k_w

I have a second appointment with apple support at monday.

He wants to install a "new profile" and get some systemlogs from my macbook again.

So in the end he's trying to get this issue fixed.

i told him some days ago about the missing icloud tabs setting on the startpage, too

i will keep you updated.

Dec 31, 2020 8:40 AM in response to Martin_k_w

Thanks Martin, very helpful.

I'm adding a bit of info, if helpful. Yesterday I bought a brand new iPhone 12 Pro. Same issue, I see no other tabs under Safari (while it was working fine on iPad + old iPhone). Mac stopped working mid November, no way to get it back (I changed PC and upgraded to Big Sur in the meanwhile).

Dec 31, 2020 3:56 PM in response to cng1990

Same.

iPhone 12 Pro, iMac, MacBook Air - all on Big Sur / iOS 14. All up to date.

No safari tabs but......

Safari history works. Each device can see the other's history..... Bizarre....

Crickets from Apple.

Jan 4, 2021 5:07 AM in response to Martin_k_w

Second appointment done:

We installed a new profile called "CloudKit" on iPhone and Mac and then run some diagnostic tools on iPhone and Mac and sended them to Apple.

So we have to wait, but still they want to fix this issue.

Keep you updated!

Jan 5, 2021 3:16 AM in response to cng1990

I have the same problems that iCloud tabs are not shown in safari on my Mac. Also tried unchecking the Safari Box in iCloud settings but didn't work.

Interestingly iCloud tabs work perfect on my iPhone and iPad Pro. Only the Mac has the problem.

Jan 7, 2021 11:04 AM in response to MatthiasKamper

iCloud tabs on my devices have been messed up for at least six weeks. I installed 14.3 on my iPad Pro and SE2 yesterday. After I rebooted, all the tabs disappeared. This afternoon, I saw them reappear on my SE. Yay, I thought. Maybe this is fixed. Alas, they've reappeared, but are more messed up than ever. I have tabs going back months. The ONLY iCloud tab field that's correct is the one on my iMac (10.15.3) pointing back to my iPad.

UPDATE: As I was typing this, iCloud tabs just vanished from my iPad.

Clearly, something is broken.

And yes, I tried all the "things" ... rebooting, signing out, reset network settings, etc ...

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iCloud tabs not syncing/working