Level 1

33 points

sync calendar/contacts with iCloud versus iTunes

I use iTunes on a Windows 10 PC to sync my Outlook 365 Calendar and Contacts with my iPhone 8 calendar and contacts. Today I received the following message in iTunes: "Support for syncing contacts and calendars has been deprecated and will be removed in a future version of iTunes."

I think it is still syncing. My questions are as follows:

Best option if I cannot use iTunes - Is it iCloud?
If it is iCloud - will it duplicate all entries the first time I use iCloud to sync or does it recognize the two (iPhone calendar/contacts & PC based Outlook calendar/contacts) are already synced and just add/remove/change any differences? I have not used iCloud in past.

One last note: I sync both an iPhone and iPad Air with my Windows 10 PC.

Windows, Windows 10

Posted on Apr 24, 2021 1:02 PM

Similar questions

6 replies

★ Helpful

ala205

Level 1

13 points

Apr 30, 2021 1:14 PM in response to SnickZ.

This reads like the message is coming up as a result of using an old version of iTunes and the sync via iTunes option should continue to work. I have 12.11.3.17 now and got the message. Using iCloud isn't a solution for me, because it doesn't play well with Outlook. It has created multiple contacts and multiple versions of calendars when I have used it.

View in context

★ Helpful

APB1966

Level 1

13 points

May 2, 2021 3:43 AM in response to Lucia555

This could be why:

https://www.macrumors.com/2021/01/05/outlook-for-mac-to-be-replaced-with-new-client/

Regardless, I will just not update iTunes when it reaches that version that removes the sync option to Outlook calendar and contact items.

View in context

★ Helpful

furrymutts

Level 1

31 points

Apr 25, 2021 10:38 PM in response to SnickZ.

I don't think this is a security issue. I have the same message when I open iTunes on my Windows PC. The problem is that there is no other information ANYWHERE on how we are supposed to sync our contacts and calendars after the next iTunes update. Do I have to re-type/update all my contacts from my computer in the future? This is basic info that should be able to be sync'd. Removing this function without a replacement option is just plain wrong. So is there a replacement option?

View in context

★ Helpful

JCYLEE

Level 1

9 points

Apr 25, 2021 11:51 PM in response to furrymutts

I have exactly the same query and concern. The message seems to indicate that in future we won't be able to sync calendars and contacts from PC to iPhone. This will pose a big problem for a lot of PC users. Lately I am already experiencing issues with syncing - sometimes I need to try a few times.

View in context

★ Helpful

Escovado

Level 1

9 points

Apr 26, 2021 10:25 AM in response to Lucia555

I got this message too. So why is Apple deprecating the function to sync my phone contacts directly with my PC???????? This will be a deal breaker for me when it comes time to upgrade to a new phone. I'm not going to send my phone contacts to the cloud because it's my private information. To anyone reading this: don't by assurances regarding the security of anything that goes into a cloud storage, once it's up there, it's not longer only yours.

View in context

★ Helpful

Lucia555 Author

Level 1

33 points

Apr 27, 2021 2:50 PM in response to Lucia555

Under another discussion (iTunes for Widows) on the same topic, someone contacted apple support and was directed to provide feedback. I am copying in his/her reply from the other discussion:

ikp1

User level: Level 1 (8 points)

iTunes Specialty level out of ten: 0

Apr 27, 2021 10:39 AM in response to lccla1

This would be a big loss of feature for me also. I started seeing this after upgrading to iTunes 12.11.3.17.

If this feature is important for you, suggest providing feedback via the following form:

https://www.apple.com/feedback/itunesapp.html

Hopefully, if there is sufficient interest and request for this feature, it may not be removed in future.

[Edited by Moderator]

View in context

View all replies

341 replies

HKNIOS

Level 1

4 points

Dec 6, 2022 5:29 AM in response to Lucia555

Still working on Itunes 12.12.5.8 and IOS 16.1.1 on iPhone 14 with sync to Outlook 2016. Anyone have a more up to date working configuration?

APB1966

Level 1

13 points

Dec 8, 2022 9:18 AM in response to APB1966

As of 08Dec2022 ... iTunes 12.12.6.1 and iOS 16.1.2 ... Sync still works between Outlook [2019] and iTunes.

Dec 11, 2022 7:41 AM in response to Lucia555

Hello, can anyone confirm the combo of versions below still include the contacts sync function.....

iTunes 12.12.6.1 + iOS 16.1.1 + Outlook [2013]

Thanks

Dec 11, 2022 7:44 AM in response to jimbob5941

Hi Jim, did you get a chance to confirm your contacts sync function still worked with

iTunes 12.11.3.17 + iOS 16.1.1 + Outlook [2013]

Thanks

Dec 11, 2022 3:24 PM in response to Just Trying To Jam

Hey folks ...

sorry for delay replying ... crazy at work during the holidays!

I have stayed with 12.11.3.17

later versions have security fixes and STATE that they add support for iOS 15 and then iOS 16,

but I have not taken the bait ...

I'm currently on iOS 16.1.1

and YES Outlook 2013 has been sync-ing fine....

My problem is/was that Outlook 2013 goes end of support early next year so bummer.

I was unable to find any information that said the format of PST files has changed

over the versions of Outlook, so I decided to upgrade all the way to Outlook 2021 and see what happened.

I put a test contact and test calendar-appt. on both my iphone and in outlook

closed my eyes and tried to sync.

The first sync. worked for contacts but NOT for calendar ... dang...

I ran ScanPST on my data file and tried again and IT WORKED!!!

Contacts and Calendar appear to sync. OK.

For (literately) years now every time I run ScanPST it NEVER comes back "clean"

it pops up dozens of errors in multiple categories - shown below.

Google-ing seems to offer no solutions other than:

1) Ignore it - it's harmless

2) Buy some 3rd-party scan/fix tool and life will be great.

If anyone has insight into these "categories" of errors I'd be indebted to you

Microsoft (R) Inbox Repair Tool

Version 16.0.15726.20068

!!AMap page <@855073792> has csFree of 126, but should have 255

??BBT entry (2A4654B8) has different refcount in RBT (4 vs 3)

??Couldn't find BBT entry in the RBT (30C257EC)

Failed to add row to the FLT, irow = 4620, RowID = 104A624

!!HMP incorrect for NID 1013FA4

Thanks!

Jim

Dec 11, 2022 3:28 PM in response to jimbob5941

PS: Here is a version log for iTunes: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/History_of_iTunes#iTunes_12

thotnavy

Level 1

12 points

Dec 15, 2022 8:24 AM in response to thotnavy

Just in case anyone reads my post it is now fixed. i just need to change a setting. Sync works fine.

Dec 16, 2022 4:58 PM in response to thotnavy

Excellent!

Congrats!

What setting did you change?

thotnavy

Level 1

12 points

Dec 20, 2022 10:43 AM in response to jimbob5941

On the iTunes page to set up sync i clicked Calendars under Advanced. Now it syncs fine.

thotnavy

Level 1

12 points

Dec 20, 2022 10:58 AM in response to Lucia555

Has anyone updated to iTunes 12.12.7 yet?

APB1966

Level 1

13 points

Dec 22, 2022 10:13 AM in response to thotnavy

iTunes 12.12.7.1 with iOS 16.2 using MS Office/Outlook 2019 still works in synchronizing calendar and contacts in both directions

thotnavy

Level 1

12 points

Dec 23, 2022 7:16 AM in response to APB1966

thank you

HKNIOS

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2023 6:13 AM in response to APB1966

thank you APB1966

HKNIOS

Level 1

4 points

Jan 6, 2023 6:17 AM in response to Lucia555

Confirming iTunes 16.12.7.1 still Syncs Outlook 2016 with iPhone 14 running IOS 16.2.

Jan 24, 2023 9:56 AM in response to Lucia555

When one of you brave souls updates to iOS 16.3 please let the rest of us know how it works out ;-)

<beer>

sync calendar/contacts with iCloud versus iTunes