How to locally sync an iPhone with OS X Mavericks? iCloud is NOT an option.

Note: These instructions apply only if you use OS X v.10.8.5 or earlier. If you use OS X Mavericks v.10.9 or later, your contacts, calendars, and other info are updated on your computers and iOS devices via iCloud. For more information, see iCloud Help at icloud.com.

I have 10.9.4 and I cannot sync my Calendar on my iPhone 5s with my Calendar on my iMac using a direct USB connection between my iPhone and my iMac through iTunes.

According to the support document I read, this is not possible. It states:

Note: These instructions apply only if you use OS X v.10.8.5 or earlier. If you use OS X Mavericks v.10.9 or later, your contacts, calendars, and other info are updated on your computers and iOS devices via iCloud. For more information, see iCloud Help at icloud.com.

E. Kennedy wrote:

I have 10.9.4 and I cannot sync my Calendar on my iPhone 5s with my Calendar on my iMac using a direct USB connection between my iPhone and my iMac through iTunes.

I can and so can everyone else.

Local syncing of Contacts & Caledars was returned in iTunes 11.2 and Mavericks 10.9.3 back in May.

According to the support document I read, this is not possible. It states

You mean this outdated article that was last updated on Nov 5, 2013? -> http://support.apple.com/kb/PH12117.

Also, see this -> http://support.apple.com/kb/TS2481

I found what I was doing wrong - through trial and error since I didn't see any comments that were especially relevant to my issue since getting OSX Server seemed to be a disproportionate solution to what I thought was, and what turned out to be, a simple problem...

When I tried unsuccessfully earlier to sync Calendar between my iPhone and my iMac through iTunes, I did not check the box next to "During the next sync only, iTunes will replace the selected information on this iPhone with information from this computer." This time, I checked that box just to see what would happen and...sync worked! Not only through the USB connection to my iPhone, but also through WiFi on my iPad.

I don't know if that applies to, or helps, anyone else reading this thread, but hope it does since that's how I solved my problem! 🙂

Hi TopSteve,

I have always found your suggestions very helpful. Now I am having a related problem with the new IOS 8 update.

After the latest IOS update on my IPhone 5C, any changes that are made to the IPhone Contacts do not flow through to the OS X server and the other Macs or IPads on the server. (I am using CARDDAV). Does anyone have this same problem?

I noticed that changes to Contacts made on my Mac on the same server DO flow through to the other devices. So the problem is only regarding the flow from IPhone to the server. Any help to trouble shoot would be appreciated.

Could you please check if you are having the same issues too?

Many thanks!

rajiv001 wrote:

Hi TopSteve,

I have always found your suggestions very helpful. Now I am having a related problem with the new IOS 8 update.

Hi there,

rajiv0001 I am sorry to say I can't help with this one. If you look back over my posts you will note that I only have an iPhone 3G and so the highest version of iOS I can use is IOS 4. This is why local and not cloud storage is inportant to me. It is also why I can not help, I learn by trial and error and I can not aford a new phone so unless someone offers to give me(as a gift) a newer iPhone that will run IOS 8 then I can not try things and learn things to help others.

I am sorry

I recently upgraded Mountain Lion to Mavericks. Until now it's been disappointing. I read about these so-called syncing features too late.

Is there any alternative for syncing Safari bookmarks without iCloud? I'm considering going back to ML.

I’ve not yet updated to ITunes 12. Can anyone confirm if SnycGate has returned?

I can tell you that on 10.10.2 with iTunes 12 bookmarks no longer can be sync if not using the iCould. Since I won't go down the cloud route I'm stuck. *** is apple thinking here?

feedback

Pete

Thank you for pointing that out!

Thank you for posting! This helped me get back to syncing locally as well!