Contacts app on macOS - can't add contacts to lists

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Level 1

93 points

Contacts app on macOS - can't add contacts to lists

While this works perfectly fine and intuitive on iOS, it doesn't on macOS. To add a contact to a list, you're supposed to click and drag the contact to a list in the sidebar. Exceptions where you can't do this:

It's a smart list. They're populated automatically.
The contact is already in the list. Makes sense.

However, none of the contacts can be added to any of the lists. I've seen this reported before, in 2016. Hard to believe that 7+ years later, the same buggy behaviour exists.

Workaround #1:

Quit the Contacts app.
Hold Shift and click the Contacts app in the dock.
Now adding contacts to lists works (with the above mentioned exceptions). At least it does for a while. When it fails again, start again at step #1. :-)

Workaround #2:

If you're synching your contacts with your iPhone, add contacts to lists on the iPhone. No need to edit the contact, just scroll down to the link saying "add to list".

Mac mini, macOS 14.2

Posted on Jan 25, 2024 1:05 PM

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Answer 1

CesareMedici Author

Level 1

93 points

Jan 27, 2024 6:14 AM in response to leroydouglas

Thanks! Removing and rebuilding the database worked fine, but had no effect on the issue.

In any case, this is a first-world problem, and there are workarounds, so I'll live with that.

I posted this in the first place because I was surprised the problem was reported back in 2016, and it quite obviously still persists.

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Answer 2

Jan 26, 2024 3:46 PM in response to CesareMedici

CesareMedici wrote:

Not sure what that's supposed to do. Turning off iCloud/Contacts makes all my contacts disappear - unsurprisingly, since they're all on iCloud. Turning the sync back on makes them reappear.

But that changes nothing regarding the issue I reported. Moving contacts to lists works for a while after starting Contacts with Shift+click in dock, then fails after moving a couple of contacts.

Maybe I'm missing what your toggle "trick" is supposed to achieve.

see if there is anything applicable to your issue

Fix corrupted Contacts database - Apple Community

no insight—

Call Customer Support (800) MY–APPLE (800–692–7753)

or on line https://getsupport.apple.com/

Outside the USA—Contact Apple for support and service by phone

See a list of Apple phone numbers around the world.

Contact Apple for support and service - Apple Support

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Answer 3

CesareMedici Author

Level 1

93 points

Jan 26, 2024 12:20 PM in response to leroydouglas

Not sure what that's supposed to do. Turning off iCloud/Contacts makes all my contacts disappear - unsurprisingly, since they're all on iCloud. Turning the sync back on makes them reappear.

But that changes nothing regarding the issue I reported. Moving contacts to lists works for a while after starting Contacts with Shift+click in dock, then fails after moving a couple of contacts.

Maybe I'm missing what your toggle "trick" is supposed to achieve.

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Answer 4

Jan 26, 2024 10:55 AM in response to CesareMedici

CesareMedici wrote:

• While this works perfectly fine and intuitive on iOS, it doesn't on macOS. To add a contact to a list, you're supposed to click and drag the contact to a list in the sidebar. Exceptions where you can't do this:

It's a smart list. They're populated automatically.

• The contact is already in the list. Makes sense.

1. However, none of the contacts can be added to any of the lists. I've seen this reported before, in 2016. Hard to believe that 7+ years later, the same buggy behaviour exists.

Toggle OFF Contacts in the iCoud

>System Settings>AppleID>iCloud>Contacts and compare your results

if you have success, try toggling Contacts back on and compare your results.

If you still have the issue— sign out of Apple ID and back in again to jump start the sync feature:

Sign in or out of your Apple ID on Mac

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