frozen999

Q: Outlook contacts syncing to iOS fails miserably

I have become totally frustrated with iCloud app on Windows and with iCloud in general and the apparent inability to sync contacts from Outlook 2013 to iPad running iOS 9.2. I have Windows7 x64 and Outlook 2013 installed. I have iCloud 5.1 app installed on Windows 7 and have enabled syncing of Contacts, Calendar and Tasks with my iCloud account and then down to my iPad running iOS 9.2.1. The sync operation from Outlook to iOS for Calendar events work fine. I can add events on Outlook or iOS and the additions or changes are reflected properly.

 

The huge problem is with Contacts. If I add a contact on the iPad it shows up in iCloud account and then in Outlook fine. If I add a contact via iCloud web interface it shows up fine in Outlook. It does NOT however show up in iOS. Neither does additions nor changes done via Outlook on WIndows. Those changes or additions do show up on my iCloud account they are simply not being reflected down to iOS!

 

I have spent countless hours trying settings like fetching the data rather than Push and it does not make any difference what so ever. I have no problem with using Google to get changes reflected that way however I can not see any way of interfacing Outlook Calendar and Contacts to a Google account and then back down to an iOS device. That is the only reason I am using iCloud app on Windows.

iPad 2, Windows 7

Posted on Jan 23, 2016 9:50 PM

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Q: Outlook contacts syncing to iOS fails miserably

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  • by Jason L,

    Jason L Jason L Jan 25, 2016 8:45 AM in response to frozen999
    Community Specialists
    Jan 25, 2016 8:45 AM in response to frozen999

    Howdy John, 

    Welcome to Apple Support Communities.

     

    From what I gather, there are issues syncing contacts between Outlook 2013 on your PC and your iPad. The article below provides a lot of general information and troubleshooting tips that can help you identify and resolve any common configuration or compatibility issues.

    Get help using Outlook with iCloud for Windows - Apple Support

     

    Cheers.

  • by frozen999,Solvedanswer

    frozen999 frozen999 Jan 25, 2016 9:38 AM in response to Jason L
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2016 9:38 AM in response to Jason L

    I already went through that troubleshooting. I discovered posts elsewhere that this is not an uncommon issue with iOS 9 and syncing contacts with Outlook on Windows. Despite that iCloud had no issues syncing changes between the Outlook Calendar and my iPad and vice versa the solution in this case was to logout of iCloud on the iPad completely, including turning off Find My iPhone temporarily and then signing back in to iCloud. Once that was done I could make changes on Contacts on the iPad and those changes were reflected in Outlook and vice versa.

  • by provencalgal,

    provencalgal provencalgal Jan 25, 2016 8:09 PM in response to frozen999
    Level 1 (0 points)
    Jan 25, 2016 8:09 PM in response to frozen999

    It worked for me too.  I was sharing your frustration.  Thanks so much.