Back up Contacts

Question

Back up Contacts

I have a Mac mini with Mojave, and my Contacts app (along with much else) is automatically backed up in iCloud. But I should like to be able to archive the Contacts in a stable way on my Mac.

I found these instructions online. in an Apple document: 'File/Export/Contacts Archive/Choose a location/Save', but when I did this, the attached warning appeared. As I wanted to archive Contacts, but also retain the current Contacts for everyday use, I played safe by clicking 'Cancel'. Which has got me nowhere. Any help or advice would be much appreciated.:

Mac mini, macOS 10.14

Posted on Apr 28, 2022 4:23 PM

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Answer 1

Ronasara

Level 6

15,097 points

Apr 29, 2022 10:16 AM in response to Michael Graubart

First, you should understand that iCloud is not a backup service. If does have some of those features, but it is designed for cross platform sharing. If you wish to backup, use Time Machine and backup to an external disk dedicated to that function.

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Answer 2

Apr 29, 2022 12:22 PM in response to Michael Graubart

Alas, I spoke (or rather, posted) too soon! What I saved in Information turns out not to be a backup at. all. It is an active duplicate of my present Contacts. Since the point of a backup of Contacts is to be able to go back to an earlier state of Contacts if a card has accidentally been deleted or wrongly modified, a 'live' duplicate of Contacts in its current state is of no use.

I realize, of course, that when I make a complete backup of my hard disk in Timr Machine and/ot Carbon Copy Cloner, I have got access to a proper backup of Contacts. But that.is a high-powered, long-winded way of correcting a simple mistake — or retrieving an old contact.

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Answer 3

BDAqua

Level 10

245,567 points

Apr 29, 2022 12:59 AM in response to Michael Graubart

What path were youtrung to save to?

Try saving to your Documents folder.

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Answer 4

Apr 29, 2022 11:46 AM in response to BDAqua

That's done the trick! That ominous warning (as shown in my original post) still pops up, but I can delete it rather than agonizing over it. Thank you, BDAqua.

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