Contacts not syncing

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Level 1

10 points

Contacts not syncing

I gradually discovered that my contacts were not syncing. I also noticed at one point that a significant number of contacts were doubled on my iPhone but not on my desktop. I now have some data that is correct on my iPhone and not on my Mac, while other data is correct on the Mac but not on the iPhone. I have an iPhone 3Gs, recently upgraded to iOS6, though this problem predated the upgrade. I'm running Lion on my Mac. I have been syncing via iCloud but I just tried switching to iTunes syncing. Then I made a few changes in Address Book and Contacts to see if they would sync. They didn't. I don't know what to try next.

iMac, Mac OS X (10.7.3), Address Book

Posted on Nov 17, 2012 10:37 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

randers4

Level 9

63,519 points

Nov 17, 2012 10:47 PM in response to mackim2

First back up the contacts on your mac by opening Address Book, then going to File>Export>Contacts Archive and saving this file on your desktop. Then backup your iPhone contacts using the app My Contacts Backup.

After you have backed up your data, reset the SyncServices folder, as described here: http://support.apple.com/kb/TS1627, then try syncing again.

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Answer 2

mackim2 Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 18, 2012 7:44 AM in response to randers4

Thanks for that. I seem to be part way there. I followed the directions and then signed off of iCloud and signed back on. I did this for both the Mac and the iPhone. I had created a test contact on each platform and they both synced successfully.

However, the duplicate contacts that I had deleted were all restored on the iPhone. These do not appear on the Mac nor do they appear in iCloud itself when I log into it. Any ideas about that?

Thanks.

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Answer 3

randers4

Level 9

63,519 points

Nov 18, 2012 7:52 AM in response to mackim2

If you are now syncing your contacts with your computer using iTunes rather than iCloud, on your phone go to Settings>iCloud and turn Contacts to Off. Syncing with both iCloud and iTunes will created duplicates. This may by itself eliminate the duplicate contacts from your phone. If it doesn't, and the contacts on your mac are complete and unduplicated you can replace the contacts on your phone with the contacts on your computer. To do this, connect your phone to iTunes, go to the Info tab of your sync settings, under "Advanced - Replace information on this iPhone" check Contacts, click Apply at the bottom to sync.

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Answer 4

mackim2 Author

Level 1

10 points

Nov 18, 2012 9:07 AM in response to randers4

That worked. I had already gone back to iCloud syncing, so I just turned it off on the iPhone and chose to delete contents from there. Then I reconnected with iCloud and all was well. Many thanks.

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Answer 5

randers4

Level 9

63,519 points

Nov 18, 2012 9:09 AM in response to mackim2

You're welcome.

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Answer 6

geminixx

Level 1

0 points

Jan 14, 2014 3:47 PM in response to mackim2

My sync through iTunes was missing contacts. In iTunes, I turned off contact syncing which then deleted all contacts from my iphone. I then turned syncing back on, and all my contacts synced.

-os 10.5.8

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Answer 7

erniesfo

Level 1

17 points

Mar 14, 2014 2:11 PM in response to randers4

Hi:

Using iPhone 4S, iTunes 11.1.5

"....the contacts on your mac are complete and unduplicated you can replace the contacts on your phone with the contacts on your computer. To do this, connect your phone to iTunes, go to the Info tab of your sync settings, under "Advanced - Replace information on this iPhone" check Contacts, click Apply at the bottom to sync."

Want to use your suggestion, however an "Info" tab does not display in iTunes - see:

What am I missing? Am I to look on my iphone?

Thanks in advance.

Erniesfo

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Answer 8

randers4

Level 9

63,519 points

Mar 14, 2014 2:49 PM in response to erniesfo

The Info tab was removed if you're running Mavericks. An approach that will work now to replace the contacts on your phone with the contacts from your Mac is to do the following:

Open Contacts on your Mac, select all your contacts (click on a single contact in the All Contacts group then press Command-A).
Go to File>Export>Export vCard and save this on your desktop, then email it to yourself.
Download the app My Contacts Backup. to your phone. Tap the gear-shaped icon on the bottom right. In the window that opens, scroll to the bottom and tap Remove All Contacts.
Open the email you sent to yourself earlier on your phone and tap the attachment to import the contacts from your Mac to your phone.

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