Brian Mccabe

Q: Groups not showing up in iPhone Sync Options

Runnning iOS 5 on an iPhone 4S (although I don't think that's the issue)

Running iTunes 10.5, Lion 10.7.2.

When syncing my phone via USB (or wireless for that matter) under the info tab the option exists to sync Address Book Contacts and there is a radio button that should allow me to select groups, however there are no groups to select and much of it is greyed out.  I have 3 groups in my Address Book application, but they aren't showing up as options to sync to in iTunes.

I have restarted the computer in an effort to get iTunes to recognize (and offer) the Address Book groups to no avail.

 

Any suggestions?

 

Thanks.

iPhone 4, iOS 5

Posted on Oct 18, 2011 7:30 PM

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Q: Groups not showing up in iPhone Sync Options

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  • Helpful answers

  • by Marigol,

    Marigol Marigol Oct 19, 2011 7:28 AM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 19, 2011 7:28 AM in response to Brian Mccabe

    I'm having the same issue.  Can't find any settings anywhere that might fix it.

  • by Pixiegirlie,

    Pixiegirlie Pixiegirlie Oct 26, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (34 points)
    Mac OS X
    Oct 26, 2011 6:48 PM in response to Brian Mccabe

    I have just discoverd that this is an issue for me as well.  I have kids that have an iPod touch and a regular iPod.  I am not syncing them using iCloud (could with the touch, can't with the iPod).  Just noticed that in iTunes (v10.5), under the "info" tab, when I select "Sync address book," only the two groups that I had previously synced with the iPods are showing up.  And, when I try to select "sync address book," "all contacts," it is STILL only syncing the two groups that I synced them up with before.  I am very frustrated.  I have been looking for an answer to this problem - please help!

     

     

    Okay, I just noticed that, in having these devices "manually synced," there is a separate area in my address book under the groups that says "on my mac" and in preferences, it says "Local."  How do I get rid of this??

  • by BivDog,

    BivDog BivDog Oct 28, 2011 10:44 AM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 28, 2011 10:44 AM in response to Brian Mccabe

    I've noticed this problem as well and I'm not sure when it surfaced...I know I had edited a couple of contacts and noticed that the additions didn't make it to my phone.  I'm seeing this as an iTunes problem because I don't even have the option of sync'ing all my local contacts with my phone.  This is affecting my wife's 4S and my 4 iphone.  I did notice in Address Book instead of saying all contacts it say "All iCloud" which makes me wonder if the groups no longer exist where iTunes is looking for them.

     

    Hope they get a fix for it, I have close to 6,000 contacts and I don't want all those names on my phone or my wifes for that matter.

  • by mmskat,

    mmskat mmskat Oct 29, 2011 9:50 PM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Oct 29, 2011 9:50 PM in response to Brian Mccabe

    I am having the same problem. I can only sync all my contacts. Can not see any groups to choose. I need to take some of these groups off as I do not need them on my iphone and ipad.

  • by BivDog,Solvedanswer

    BivDog BivDog Oct 31, 2011 6:58 AM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (10 points)
    Oct 31, 2011 6:58 AM in response to Brian Mccabe

    Just as a follow up, I opened a support case with Apple on this topic because as stated my wife isn't/wasn't impressed with my Contact list.  The fundamental problem is iCloud basically takes all the Contact Groups and moves them into the cloud which prevents you from selectively putting AB Groups on your phone from within iTunes.  The resolutions was follows:

     

    1.  Close Address Book

    2.  System Preferences -> Uncheck Contacts (sync) (Note: Make sure you keep a copy on your Mac)

    3.  Wait an unspecified amount of time so that the contacts have time to sync up to the local Address Book.

    4.  Open Address Book (I don't believe that opening Address Book before your contacts sync matters) and verify that your contacts show up under 'On My Mac'

    5.  Reboot Mac

    6.  Open iTunes with your iPhone connected

    7.  Verify that you have a recent back up of your iPhone (iTunes Preferences -> Devices)

    8.  Goto 'Info' tab in iTunes under your iOS device

    9.  Check 'Sync Address Book Contacts' and leave it as 'All contacts'

    10.  Scroll to very bottom and check "Replace information on this iPhone' (assuming you don't want to Merge) Contacts sections

    11.  Click 'Sync' button

    12.  Once it completes the sync you should now have the option to sync only selected groups

     

    I've added a feature (www.apple.com/feedback) to iCloud for the ability to sync iCloud AND to selected groups...or if they are so inclined the ability to sync selected groups with iCloud in general.  This seems like a convoluted process to get this feature back but it works, I just wish Apple wouldn't change expected behavior for what I would think is a popular feature.

     

    BivDog

  • by Brian Mccabe,

    Brian Mccabe Brian Mccabe Oct 31, 2011 12:31 PM in response to BivDog
    Level 1 (5 points)
    Oct 31, 2011 12:31 PM in response to BivDog

    That did the trick!

    Thanks very much BivDog.

  • by Milleemoo,

    Milleemoo Milleemoo Nov 30, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Nov 30, 2012 3:02 PM in response to Brian Mccabe

    Thanks guys.  Worked a treat!

  • by mekopoi,

    mekopoi mekopoi Aug 25, 2014 9:23 AM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Aug 25, 2014 9:23 AM in response to Brian Mccabe

    Thanks BivDog,

    Worked great in OSX 10.9.4

  • by Toby Fernsler,

    Toby Fernsler Toby Fernsler Feb 29, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Brian Mccabe
    Level 1 (15 points)
    Feb 29, 2016 10:24 AM in response to Brian Mccabe

    Here's what worked for me:

    1. Quit Address book, iTunes, iCal etc..

    2. go to (user home folder)/Library/Application Support/AddressBook and move all the contents of that folder with the EXCEPTION of the Metadata folder to your desktop (in case you need to restore them).
    3. reopen Address Book and it repopulates the data

    4. reopen itunes, connect iphone and groups and everything else is back

    5. sync as usual, should upload the contacts to iphone