Reminders app shared lists: sync doesn't work

My wife and I share a reminders list but it doesn't synchronise properly.


If I create or update items on the list they propagate to my wife's phone, but any items she creates or updates don't get updated on my phone. I also have a Mac and any changes I make on my phone are reflected on my laptop (almost immediately) and vice-versa. The Mac also doesn't receive updates for any actions my wife takes on her phone either.


I have turned her phone off and on and also logged her out and back in to iCloud. Background app activity is on and reminders are obviously in iCloud. I have tried creating another shared list from her phone and sharing it with me and that seems to behave the same - I get the invite to the list, and any changes I make flow to her phone but any changes made to items on the list by her phone don't seem to propagate back to me.


These are both fully updated iPhone 12 Pros.

iPhone 12 Pro, iOS 17

Posted on Mar 6, 2024 1:21 AM

Reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Mar 6, 2024 2:30 AM

OK, after multiple hours of hair pulling I have managed to resolve this myself. Leaving a solution here for future searchers.


It was a data corruption issue. No evidence of a problem in the app, but after several cycles of deleting all completed reminders, deleting old lists that are no longer in use, deleting the app itself a reinstalling from the app store, it is now finally working.


Each time I went through that cycle some additional zombie reminders from years ago would show up on the list, so I guess one of them at somewhere along the line got corrupted and prevented the outbound sync from working on the phone.

Similar questions

1 reply
Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Mar 6, 2024 2:30 AM in response to mullermn

OK, after multiple hours of hair pulling I have managed to resolve this myself. Leaving a solution here for future searchers.


It was a data corruption issue. No evidence of a problem in the app, but after several cycles of deleting all completed reminders, deleting old lists that are no longer in use, deleting the app itself a reinstalling from the app store, it is now finally working.


Each time I went through that cycle some additional zombie reminders from years ago would show up on the list, so I guess one of them at somewhere along the line got corrupted and prevented the outbound sync from working on the phone.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

Reminders app shared lists: sync doesn't work

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.