Syncing contacts on iCloud (MacBook)

Hello RamikK,

We'd be happy to help. There are a few things you can check that may be causing this. To get started, see if you have restrictions enabled: Set up content and privacy restrictions in Screen Time on Mac - Apple Support If so, see if the issue continues after disabling them.

If you don't have restrictions enabled, is this a work Mac? If so, do you have a profile installed? If so, profiles can stop you from making changes to your Mac. You can learn more here: Use configuration profiles to standardize settings on Mac computers - Apple Support

If that's not it either, we recommend reaching out to Apple Support for more help: Get Support

Thanks.

Hey RamikK!

Perhaps your contacts database on your Mac needs to be reset, if so, you can follow these steps:

First, export any contacts you have as a backup:

Export or archive contacts in Contacts on Mac - Apple Support

I’d do this for all accounts, (Although it appears you only use iCloud for contacts).

If not all are showing in the Contacts app, you can also save a copy from iCloud.com:

Archive or make copies of the information you store in iCloud - Apple Support

And this is just a precaution, next:

Disable any accounts in System Settings > Internet Accounts, for just Contacts.

Quit the Contacts app.

Then Open Finder. While holding Option on the keyboard, on the top menu click Go > Library, to access the user library.

From there, delete, or keep a copy, then delete any folders named Address Book or Contacts, or any files named com.Apple.addressBook.plist from the following folders:

Application Support

Containers

Preferences

Preferences / ByHost

Saved Application State

Next, restart, open the Contacts app, (It should be empty), then enable your contacts again from your accounts in System Settings > Internet Accounts. They should start to populate.

Before doing this, if you want to be sure your user account is the problem, you can create a new user account, sign into iCloud and test, if all works just fine, then it’s most likely a user account database issue, or a user permissions issue. In that case, I’d follow the steps above, and see if resolved. Hope this helps!

Add a user or group on Mac - Apple Support

If that doesn’t resolve it, let me, or anyone else here know and we’ll do our best to help out!

Hey again RamikK, no worries.

I could be off here, but can you see the list of devices on your Apple ID and remove any old devices you don’t have or use anymore, then test? Believe it or not I’ve seen this solve particular syncing issues.

On your iPhone or iOS device go to Settings > Apple ID, scroll down to see your device.

On Appleid.Apple.com as well log in and see your device list and clear old or unused ones.

On the Mac, you can go to System Settings > Apple ID, scroll down to see and remove old or unused devices from your account. Restart all devices. Hope that helps!

It’s possible Apple engineers are working to r solve this if many people are reporting it, so it could be something that resolves itself within a software update. Connecting to other networks may also be a good test, but that most likely won’t change the result, but maybe.

Definitely removing old devices from your Apple ID is a good step though!

Hey again! Sorry to hear that. I forgot to ask about your other Apple devices, if you have any, do the contacts appear on the other devices? Try creating a test contact first on the Mac, then other devices, then iCloud.com. I’ve seen doing that before kick iCloud into gear.

Erase the hard drive and reinstall Mac OS .

Hi there RamikK,

Thanks for following up. If you see some of your contacts on the Mac but not all of them, it's possible some might be synced to a third-party account like Google. If you use such an account, check out this link to make sure you've set it up on your Mac and have turned it on for Contacts: Add contacts from iCloud, Google, and more to Contacts on Mac - Apple Support

If that doesn't help, that's when you'll need to contact us directly using this link: Get Support

If you're not able to reach someone with that link, you can also check for contact numbers: Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

Take care.

When hard drive is erased , and new os is installed most of the issues are resolved , visit apple authorised service centre Find Locations - Apple , they can check your hard drive or other essential internal parts of Mac .

See the article Change Accounts settings in Contacts on Mac - Apple Support

Enable the account , and click on fetch automatically .

The web site iCloud is not showing all of my contacts as different exchange accounts are set up with devices like gmail , yahoo ...Add contacts from iCloud, Google and more to Contacts on Mac - Apple Support

https://support.google.com/contacts/answer/2753077?hl=en&co=GENIE.Platform%3DiOS

You can select those contacts ( use command and A keys ) from individual groups for respective accounts and copy ( use command and C keys ) and paste them ( use command and V keys ) in All iCloud View contacts on iCloud.com - Apple Support

They will accumulate in All contacts of address book .

You are using me.com mail alias as the screen shot shows iCloud: About your @icloud.com, @me.com, and @mac.com email addresses - Apple Support

Add and manage email aliases for iCloud Mail on iCloud.com - Apple Support