sync calendar/contacts with iCloud versus iTunes

I agree, losing this capability is a deal breaker. Syncing with Outlook was the killer app that led me to Apple way back when. I want to update my phone for 5G and will now start looking at Android unless I hear something soon. Thanks to all, for your information on this thread.

I saw that popup on my new iTunes install too. Like everyone here, I use Outlook on my PC and iTunes to sync calendar and contacts. It was one of the main reasons I chose the Apple ecosystem. Adding contacts or updating calendar reminders on my tiny phone is no fun. I'd rather use my PC, then sync.

Honestly this functionality is so important to me, I don't care what it costs to make it happen. If there is a 3rd party tool to pick up the slack, I would buy it.

If true, this will be disastrous. The ability to synchronize Calendar & Contacts between devices & environments without resorting to a cloud-based solution is not 'optional' for me - it is a "must". I was forced to leave the BlackBerry environment specifically because BlackBerry dropped sync ability with Outlook. I settled on Apple as the replacement based on:

1) ability to seamlessly sync with Outlook, and

2) a reasonable level of security.

Removal of the ability to sync without resorting to using a cloud (any cloud) will force me to move to an environment which will support that capability.

You really think Apple cares about our objections? They're going to discontinue what they want, force everyone onto the Cloud (or where ever) and make us all do what ever it is they want us to do. We can complain & they will respond with their usual corporate speak ("we hear you & we're committed to providing you with the best possible service . . .") and we'll all have to knuckle under whatever they want us to do. That's life now that we're all chained to our technologies.

"Chained to our technologies" is not quite the same as "chained to THEIR technologies". There are options and users are free to exercise those options. If this change does go through, Apple will have at least 1 less customer. I know of course that will make no difference to them. I don't care about that. I do care that I can use features supported by technology the way that works best for me.. Quite simply - if it isn't Apple technology it will be technology supplied by someone else. We still have choices.

I agree - the syncing is why I have stayed with Apple and Iphones over the years! I started with the IPod, then iphones, etc.

Without syncing of calendars, the Iphone (for me) is just another smart phone.

Apple you need to fix this and support your users.

We do not want our data in the cloud that is why we purchase IPhones to sync with our Windows PCs. If you do not reverse this decision we will be looking at replacing the IPhones with a brand that we can sync contacts and calendars. The cloud is not safe for our data no matter what you say, we want to be in charge of our data and our security.

So with the planned deprecation of the Calendar and Contacts Sync functionality it appears the main options available to users like me that rely on Sync for use with Windows-based computers are to switch to using iCloud, which i will not do under ANY circumstances, drop use of IOS devices, or hope some company/developer(s) step up and provide an alternative to iTunes. Any other options?

Honestly I'm not sure. I use it exclusively to load books (I have a LOT of books), but it does market itself as an iTunes replacement. I just contacted their tech support to ask about syncing with Outlook. I'll report back when I hear anything.

Can't say but can't see why not. But I will admit that my experience (which is with The Outlook of Full Office 2019) is with only one-way synching from Outlook to 'phone. There is a Web Page of full instructions you can find with a search engine.

I regret to inform everyone that iMazing apparently does not support direct syncing to/with Outlook.. this was the response I got..

"I've added it to our list of feature requests. It'll be reviewed by our development team, and hopefully

this is something they can implement in a future iMazing release. Right now you can manually export your Contacts from the device to your computer and then add them to Outlook: https://imazing.com/guides/how-to-transfer-iphone-ipad-or-ipod-touch-contacts-to-your-mac-or-pc-computer "

Received the same exact message today when synching my phone to my Window 10 laptop and iTunes. Just updated iTune the other day. And now I have NO contacts on my phone. Have been working on this problem for 2.5 hours with Apple. They don't even know about the ""Support for syncing contacts and calendars has been deprecated and will be removed in a future version of iTunes." message. I get that manually syncing is very "old school," but when I tried to do this all through iCloud several years ago, with Apple assistance, it wiped out all my Contacts both on my phone and Outlook. It took a year to rebuild my Contacts in Outlook.

I just want to throw my hat in the ring of surprised and disappointed iTunes users. I received the Outlook sync deprecated message several days ago as well. This seems to be a situation of a tech giant trying to dominate the market and its users -- "Do 100% of your business with us and skip those Microsoft guys." Unfortunately for Apply that is just not reasonable. I use MS Outlook for my calendar and contacts and do not intend to change. Outlook is the de facto standard in enterprise for employees to manage their email and work. Going against this is going against the majority of corporate America (and Canada in my case). It is a benefit for a tech giant to support interoperability with other major platforms rather than being a proprietary "tower of babel". I think this move, if it goes ahead, will hurt Apple customers and Apple's reputation. I for one will be looking for an alternative to interconnect with Outlook. If that does not work I will discontinue using my iPhone for calendar and contacts and consider going Android.

I have version 12.11.3.17 of iTunes on my Windows 10 laptop and I get this message. I really do not want to lose the ability to sync my calendar and contacts from Outlook to my iPhone and iPad, and neither do I wish to deal with iCloud. Please Apple do not do this!

I need to add my frustration with Apple dropping the iTunes sync feature between my iPhone (and iPad) with my PC Outlook using a cable. I will NOT be using the cloud to sync. I need my PC outlook for work but I don't need my personal Apple products if they do not sync with my contacts and calendars. What I need is another program to replace iTunes for this syncing capability if anyone knows of that product.