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:

  1. Best option if I cannot use iTunes - Is it iCloud?
  2. 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

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352 replies

Jul 24, 2021 9:33 AM in response to Dennis SA

Good idea. Here is what I just sent them:


Team,


I am very disappointed to find you are going to remove the

capability to update my iPhone contacts using MS Outlook via iTunes on my

computer in the near future.


This will drive much hardship for myself and other users and

undermines my brand loyalty to Apple.  You

probably don't care about my individual input, but I suspect there are many

more like me and I have read posts from several of them. 


I really enjoy my Apple hardware and have been for 11 years,

but if this change is implemented despite user feedback - I am strongly

considering moving to a different product line such as Samsung or Droid.


If streamlining the user's life is not sufficient motivation,

please consider that you are also creating flight risks in your product users.


Jul 27, 2021 10:07 AM in response to jimbob5941

@jimbob5941: The sync to Outlook will be deprecated in a "future release". I have 12.11.3.17 installed and it still works. What I think we are all discussing is NOT moving off of this version going forward with this "threat" from Apple to sync to Outlook.


But, I do have older versions - 12.10.10.2, 12.10.9.3, 12.10.8.5, 12.10.4.2, 12.10.0.7 and so on - back to 12.7.3.46. Hit me with a PM if you really want an older version.

Jul 27, 2021 11:31 AM in response to APB1966

I am very disappointed with Apple's lack of response to this issue. I opened a support case April 29. After a couple contacts, I was asked to provide all manner of logs and diagnostic info because the rep said the "developers" didn't know about this message. Finally, on June 21, I got the response "Yes I just got the update that they were able to delete all the contacts" which, of course, had nothing to do with my question. When I replied that the response had nothing to do with my issue, I was sent a link to an article telling me how to use iCloud to sync. Of course, I told them at the start I absolutely could NOT put my info in the cloud.


I still can't get an answer about WHEN they'll stop supporting iTunes sync.


I've switched from iPad to MS Surface for my tablet. If/when they stop supporting iTunes sync, I guess I'll trade in my iPhone 12 Pro for a Samsung.

Jul 27, 2021 1:21 PM in response to sherwin181

I got the same message you did: The sync to Outlook will be deprecated in a "future release". I had the same experience: when I called to ask about the deprecation and later how to sync with iCloud and again on how to remove iCloud sync, none of the 3 support folks I talked with had any idea of I was talking about. If anyone can find out the date or if they have changed their mind, that would be great.


FYI: when I did try the sync via iCloud: it deleted ALL my contacts from Outlook. When it uploaded my contacts to the cloud, it deleted 100 of my contacts, which I only discovered because I searched for 2 of the deleted ones the next day. Luckily, I had backed up my Outlook.pst file two days previously and was able to use it to get everything back to normal. Compared how many uploaded vs how many I had in Outlook and found that 100 were missing.

Jul 29, 2021 11:32 AM in response to jimbob5941

@jimbob5941


Glad that worked for you.


Here is another tip for you and others - whenever a new iOS is released, Google for Gordon Kelly and his Forbes-based article "Should You Upgrade". He does an article for EVERY iOS release and give a verdict. 14.7 was a no-go, but 14.7.1 got his go-ahead.


As a matter of fact, I forewent the 1-week wait-and-see and did a backup via iTunes, then disconnected from the PC, plugged into a power source only, and ran the upgrade to 14.7.1 just two hours ago.


Don't jump ship. There will always be those who won't/can't leave and will find a way to make it work, even w/o Apple's help. I am tied to iPhones because of my employer's policies towards smartphones and the restrictions that iPhones/Apple possess for apps compared to the free-for-all of Androids.

sync calendar/contacts with iCloud versus iTunes

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