Contact synch between iMac and iPhone is going in one way only. How do I fix this?

I'm using an iMac running OS 12.6.2 and an iPhone 13 OS 16.3.1. My problem is that contact synch is only working in one direction. If I edit or ad a contact on my computer, it shows up on my phone, but if I enter or edit from my phone it does not show on my computer. I have re-started both devices. I have logged out of iCloud and back in on both devices. I have toggled Contacts off and back on in iCloud. I have hired a professional to come to my house and figure it out. Nothing has worked so far.


This problem seems to have started on or around January 13, 2023 when I began using Apple Mail and the Contacts app to handle my Hotmail account on the iMac. I had previously accessed Hotmail via my browser when on the computer, and via the Apple Mail and Contacts apps on the phone. Contacts created prior to this date were all successfully added to Contacts on the iMac when we made this change, but since then contact data entered on the phone is not making it to the computer.


What should I do?

iMac 24″

Posted on May 29, 2023 6:49 PM

Reply
7 replies

May 29, 2023 7:06 PM in response to MRA30

MRA30 Said:

"Contact synch between iMac and iPhone is going in one way only. How do I fix this?: [...]This problem seems to have started on or around January 13, 2023 when I began using Apple Mail and the Contacts app to handle my Hotmail account on the iMac.[...]"

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Use a New App Password for Each Device:

Do you use an App Password? If so, try a new App Password. Create a unique on for each device. Remove the current one, and then use the new one instead. Sometimes, changes (i.e. updates) are made to the device, and then mail server syncing becomes an issue (which is what a new App Password it intended to fix).:

App Password: Using app passwords with apps that don't support two-step verification - Microsoft

Authenticator: How to use the Microsoft Authenticator app - Microsoft


May 30, 2023 7:23 PM in response to TheLittles

I am not sure. There is a password that is required if I access Hotmail through a browser, but if that password is in use when my iMac's Mail app or contacts app interacts with it, I am not aware of that. I should say that the mail handling seems just fine, it's only the contacts that are having trouble. That suggests to me that my iMac is able to access my Hotmail account as it should, because at least the Mail app is doing so.


I'm also pretty sure I do not have 2-stage authentication on my Hotmail account.


If Mail and Contacts are using a password to access my Hotmail account, where would I find this?


May 30, 2023 7:52 PM in response to MRA30

MRA30 Said:

"Contact synch between iMac and iPhone is going in one way only. How do I fix this?:

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App Password:

Q1. "I'm also pretty sure I do not have 2-stage authentication on my Hotmail account."

A1. Hotmail requires an App Password. The Mail app is a third-party app, and that is why it is required.


Finding Passwords:

Q2, "If Mail and Contacts are using a password to access my Hotmail account, where would I find this?"

A2. Finding Mail Passwords: these would be provided in Keychain.

  1. Open: Keychain Access
  2. Double-Click: [The eMail Mail account]
  3. Click: Show Password

Jun 1, 2023 6:07 AM in response to TheLittles

Thanks for all this, but I think the Hotmail thing is a red herring. I mentioned the transition away from using hotmail because this problem with contacts happened at that time, but my contacts reside on the cloud; I am still using the hotmail email account (through Apple Mail), but contacts data should be synched between my phone and computer via the cloud, I don't think Hotmail is involved in this at all at this point.

Jun 1, 2023 8:18 PM in response to MRA30

Problem resolved. The issue was that the phone continued to interact with contacts stored in Hotmail, while the computer didn't. Thus, when a contact was created on the phone, it would be stored in Hotmail and the computer couldn't see it; meanwhile if a contact was created on the computer it was stored on the cloud, where the phone COULD see it. The problem was cured by removing the Hotmail "list" in the phone's contact "Lists". The trouble here is there doesn't seem to be a way to control which "List" the phone prefers when it stores edits.

Jun 1, 2023 8:34 PM in response to MRA30

MRA30 Said:

"Contact synch between iMac and iPhone is going in one way only. How do I fix this?: The problem was cured by removing the Hotmail ‘list’ in the phone's contact ‘Lists’. The trouble here is there doesn't seem to be a way to control which ‘List’ the phone prefers when it stores edits.

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Contact Microsoft Support:

Haven’t seen this before. I’d say contact Microsoft, seeing if they have any input. They’re providing the Contacts list, while you’re the customer syncing it. There shouldn’t be a standalone-sub-list of an eMail account’s contacts. Start Here: Microsoft Contact Us Virtual Agent - Microsoft Support.

Contact synch between iMac and iPhone is going in one way only. How do I fix this?

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