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Cannot edit or delete in Mountain Lion Contacts

Since upgrading to ML I'm not able to edit or delete in Contacts (the old Address Book). Any options under the Edit tab are greyed out and the delete key doesn't delete them either. Is anyone able to help solve this problem?

MacBook Pro, OS X Mountain Lion

Posted on Aug 1, 2012 3:41 PM

Reply
32 replies

Aug 1, 2012 9:15 PM in response to Ferd II

Hi Ferd II,


Two accounts are listed - iCloud and On My Mac

iCloud is linked to my email address

On My Mac appears to be a "Local" nominated account and under Account Information there is only an option to Synchronize with Google


Do you know what accounts should be listed/enabled?


Thanks for your help


Seonie

Aug 1, 2012 9:35 PM in response to Seonie

Seonie,


One of the best ways for you to proceed with this problem is to carefully follow the steps listed in iCloud: Troubleshooting iCloud Contacts.


Since you are using iCloud, the iCloud account shoud be enabled, but you should be able to delete {-} and re-add {+} that account to refresh your iCloud data.


The "On My Mac" selection cannot be deleted, but if you are not using Google, make sure it is not checked.

User uploaded file

Aug 3, 2012 3:42 PM in response to Ferd II

Hi Ferd II


Thanks for this link, unfortunately it seems I don't have a problem with iCloud Contacts but rather with the contacts that are "On My Mac", and like you've already pointed out I cannot delete these. Annoyingly, I can't even edit, delete or rename groups, not even new groups I've added since the upgrade aaarrrr!


It seems this is a widespread problem especially with iPhones 😟


Any more suggestions?


Thanks again for your help


Seonie

Aug 3, 2012 9:54 PM in response to Seonie

Seonie,


Sorry I should have typed Contacts>Preferences...>Default Account>iCloud.

Yes I am, is this incorrect?

No, just trying to eliminate possibilities.


Using the 3 pane view, what Contact categories do you have in the left pane?

User uploaded file

I only have iCloud with my sub-groups. No "On My Mac" contacts are displayed.


Do you see the + icon when you hover your cursor over "iCloud?"

User uploaded file

Previously you mentioned that "it seems this is a widespread problem especially with iPhones 😟" Could you elaborate on that statement? How does it relate to Mountain Lion Contacts?

User uploaded file


OS X Mountain Lion, iPad 3G, iPhone 4, 20GB iPod Color, iPod shuffle

Aug 3, 2012 10:24 PM in response to Seonie

I have just followed these instructions posted by lamboman2008on Apr 11, 2012 6:27 PM


BE AWARE... please note: This deletes ALL of your contacts and if you have set them up in iCloud or suchlike you are able to, like it says above repopulate or import your contacts.


EUREKA! I've figured it out!


  1. Quit Address Book
  2. Go to ~/Library/Application Support/
  3. Delete the entire "AddressBook" folder
  4. Open Address Book and wait 30sec for the address book to automatically repopulate
  5. ...
  6. PROFIT!!

Oct 22, 2012 4:30 PM in response to Seonie

I am having similar problems but am not using iCloud, just using iTunes to sync between iMac/ LION >iPad 2 > iPhone 4S. Finally got my address book over from OS 10.6 MacBook without massive corruption but on the iMac the delete options are greyed out, cannot add a new contact and biggest pain is am not able to add an email address straight from mac mail using Right-click 'add to address book' option, it tries but when you open in address book it's not there. Seems the address book is in some sort of read only state ??. Not syncing with Yahoo or Google contacts (yet?)


Also the delete groups are grey, had to edit group on 10.6 Mac then transfer.


May try running iCloud but it should work ??? - the whole address book seemed much better on Snow Leopard.


Any suggestions welcome.

Dave

Cannot edit or delete in Mountain Lion Contacts

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