How to sync Outlook for MAC with iCal, Address book on Lion OS/iCloud

Outlook for Mac does not support iCloud, never did. Microsoft chose that not Apple (read the statement on Microsofts site) Strangely Outlook for Windows does support iCloud (that's Microsoft for you, always on the ball)

Further to that all versions of OSX below 10.7.2 do not support iCloud either, you don't mention what version of OSX you use so it is not possible to offer advice as to your options.

In short, you can't 'sync' Outlook for Mac with iCloud, use a different service, or a different client.

Are there any third party applications that can facilitate this? It makes the calendar/contacts feature in outlook almost worthless to use.

No.

Outlook is worthless if you use iCloud, change one or the other.

You have been given incorrect information.

Outlook for Mac has never synced with iCloud. It simply is not technically capable of doing so. Microsoft have not included support for the CalDAV and CardDAV protocols iCloud uses, so there is no way it can work for anyone.

You can sync locally stored calendars between iCal and Outlook for Mac by turning on SyncServices support in Outlooks preferences, but locally stored calendars stay local - they do not and can not interact with iCloud at all.

Writer238 wrote:

I use OSX 10.7.5.

I have been told by Apple Level 2 Tech Support person and by an Outlook Tech Support person that this is a problem the not all users have.

For some, Outlook for MAC syncs perfectly with iCloud.

I am determined to find a workaround. It is particularly stupid that my Outlook Calendar can't sync with iCal.

You have been told wrong. Outlook will not sync with iCloud.

Read what Microsoft have to say about it.

So if I understand well, if you still want to use Outlook for Mac 2011 as your mail client AND want its contacts to sync with iCloud (which it doesn't do natively), you'll have to find an automatic way to synchronize your "On my Mac" contacts in Address Book with iCloud contacts, correct?

Does such a solution exist?

Writer238,

I have a similar problem. I have just upgraded to Lion and now Outlook does not Sync with Icalendar anymore. Maybe I am missing the point here but it seems to me that the solution was: switch on SyncServices in Outlook, so Outlook calendar syncs with ICalendar. Then ICalendar syn to all your other Apple devices through I cloud. Or not ?

My problem is that synce the upgrade Outlook on my Imac is not syncing with Icalendar on my Imac.

Any thoght s anybody ?

Thanks for your help.

Are you using iCloud?

I am trying to use Icloud which is why I upgraded to Lion. My understanding is that Icloud would only sync Icaendar with other devices. But if SyncServices worked and sync Outlook Calendar with ICalendar like it used to do before the upgrade then I would be in business. Basically when I upgraded I got ICloud capavility but SyncServices does not work anymore.

Outlook for Mac does not work with iCloud (although the Windows version does) if you want iCloud don't use Outlook.

SyncServices will sync Outlook with the local (On My Mac) contacts and calendar, but not any subscribed calendars or contacts (eg: iCloud, Google etc)

Before the upgrade there was no iCloud (or any other DAV calendar) so it did not work because it did not exist, don't confuse the 2)

That is it, use Mail Contacts and Calendars, you already have them so no paying out like you did with Outlook.

Many thanks Csound1, now I understand.

Question: if I switch off Icloud will SyncServices start working again. Need to update my Icontacts from Outlook contacts in order to start fresh with Icontact.

Other Question: the reason because I was trying to use Outlook calendar and contacts is because I am fully Apple equipped with the exception of my office (my own business) where I have a PC (for other reasons need PC). IS there Ical and Icontacts for PC basically I would I sync my Iphone etc. with my PC through Icloud. Before upgrade I was using Itunes.

Mikidb wrote:

Many thanks Csound1, now I understand.

Question: if I switch off Icloud will SyncServices start working again. Need to update my Icontacts from Outlook contacts in order to start fresh with Icontact.

Other Question: the reason because I was trying to use Outlook calendar and contacts is because I am fully Apple equipped with the exception of my office (my own business) where I have a PC (for other reasons need PC). IS there Ical and Icontacts for PC basically I would I sync my Iphone etc. with my PC through Icloud. Before upgrade I was using Itunes.

SyncServices shoud work with the local data, yes.

Outlook for Windows is an iCloud client, you would use it on your PC and iCal etc on your Mac in order to use iCloud.

Your phone is not sync'd to your PC, it is sync'd to iCloud.

I'm happy to dump Outlook, but is there an alterative mail client (not Mail on the Mac), that will allow me to import my PST file and that will sync my contacts and calendar (to iCloud).

PST files are proprietary to Microsoft, no other vendors mail client can use them.