Contact syncing fine on all devices except iphone

Contacts can sometimes become scattered or multiplied when syncing or when changing devices. To ensure that contacts are always correct, follow these few simple steps. These steps include a Mac but do not include the steps for a PC. These steps include the use of iCloud and do not require purchasing additional storage. Make sure you back up your devices regularly so you have a back up to restore from if needed and make sure that you are always using the latest software update available for every Apple device you are using.

If you are missing contacts because you recently deleted an email account, add it back until you perform these steps. If you are using iCloud you can also try going to iCloud.com>sign in>account settings>advanced>restore contacts>select from the list of "archive of contacts."

Step one

(Skip to step two if you do not own an iPhone/iPad)

On iPhone/iPad

1. Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap any account and turn on contacts (repeat for all accounts).
2. Go to settings>Apple ID (your name at the top>iCloud>iCloud backup - turn on and select "back up now."
3. Go back to settings>Apple ID>iCloud>turn contacts off - choose to keep on device. Do not turn it back on yet!
4. Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap any account except iCloud - turn off contacts (repeat for all accounts).
5. Go to settings>mail>accounts>tap iCloud - turn on contacts. Stop here on the iPhone until you perform the Mac steps.

Step two

(Skip to step three if you do not own a Mac)

On Mac

1. Go to system preferences>internet accounts>tap iCloud account - turn on contacts
2. Go to system preferences>internet accounts> are the contacts turned on for all accounts?
3. Go to system preferences>iCloud>contacts - uncheck that, and then check it again and it will ask to merge. This should force it to merge all the contacts you have for the Mac.
4. Go to system preferences>internet accounts>tap any account that is not iCloud - turn off contacts (repeat for all accounts).
5. Stop there and go to iCloud.com

Step three

On iCloud.com

1. Sign in and select contacts - make sure they are correct.

Step four

On iPhone

1. Go back to settings>Apple ID>iCloud>turn contacts on and merge.
2. Go to settings>Apple ID>iCloud>iCloud backup - turn on

Useful Links

View contacts on iCloud.com - Apple Support

Manage and delete contacts on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

Contacts User Guide for Mac - Apple Support

Set up and use iCloud Contacts - Apple Support

If your iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders won’t sync - Apple Support

Import contacts from your SIM card to your iPhone - Apple Support

If you see duplicate contacts after setting up iCloud Contacts - Apple Support

Step four covers turning them off for everything but iCloud.

Yes follow the steps for both devices. What you are getting to in all of this is turning off Contacts for everything except iCloud. If you follow the steps you get all your contacts onto iCloud then you can turn them off for all other accounts so they are not scattered. you did not mess up, it's tricky. Not turning them off on one device messes up the other devices since it is feeding iCloud that information for the other accounts.

You are very welcome. Thank you for the update. It can be super frustrating getting it all on the same page and it took me a while to come up with this solution but it works.