Level 1

58 points

iCloud contacts do not sync on macOS Sierra

The contact.app on my mac does not download the new contacts that I have added to iClound via iPhone. I am sure the contacts are added successfully as I have checked on iCloud.com.

I have also check and unchecked "Enable this account" (iClould Account) in Contacts.app preference but it does not work. The Fetch setting is set to "Automatically" or "Every minute" but neither solves the problem.

MacBook Pro (Retina, 15-inch, Mid 2015), macOS Sierra (10.12)

Posted on Sep 25, 2016 8:26 PM

Top-ranking reply

Azezul

Level 1

4 points

Posted on Oct 6, 2017 2:34 PM

For anyone else having this issue who has already tried turning everything off and on etc, I found the cause of this for me was actually because the contacts were being saved to the wrong account.

When I added my companies Exchange email account to my iPhone it changed my settings to make that account my default for adding contacts.

This meant every contact I added was being saved to my work email account, and not my iCloud account. Meaning they wouldn't sync across to my other devices.

Just go into settings, contacts, and change the default account back to iCloud (you will need to re-add those contacts to your iCloud account though)

Hope this helps.

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67 replies

Z-Ray Author

Level 1

58 points

Sep 25, 2016 9:44 PM in response to zinacef

I have tried signing off and then signing back in the entire iCloud account but did not work.

zinacef

Level 10

88,756 points

Sep 26, 2016 6:43 AM in response to Z-Ray

Seems like you may have done everything I would've suggest. If you wish, you could consider reaching out to Apple Support for further assistance.

Z-Ray Author

Level 1

58 points

Sep 26, 2016 6:44 AM in response to zinacef

Yep spent 3 hours with a senior advisor and solved it...

zinacef

Level 10

88,756 points

Sep 26, 2016 6:46 AM in response to Z-Ray

Ouch....3 hours? 😟

At least it's resolved now, thankfully.

Eric Root

Level 10

685,221 points

Sep 26, 2016 2:19 PM in response to Z-Ray

If you would post how it was fixed, it might help someone else.

Sep 27, 2016 12:16 PM in response to Z-Ray

I have had a similar issue and this is how I solved it:

I logged in to iCloud.com, and under Settings > Advanced chose "Restore Contacts", and then restored the contacts from a backup that iCloud.com had automatically performed yesterday. Then, all my contacts appeared on my iMac. Do note that all contacts that have been added after the backup will be lost. (But iCloud.com seems to have made a backup of the current state before reverting, so it might be possible to then revert back to this state - but I have not tried it, since I had not done any important updates.

I do not know if you dare try, and if it will work for you, so perform the move on your own risk. But it worked for me, so I am happy!

(Btw, Advanced Settings are found on the bottom of the screen.)

kha75

Level 1

12 points

Oct 1, 2016 10:22 AM in response to VickeVireG

Restoring contacts from iCloud worked for me. The process do a backup of existing contacts before restore, so you can go back.

Oct 4, 2016 9:02 AM in response to VickeVireG

Restoring from iCloud worked for me too.

diogoobs

Level 1

4 points

Oct 19, 2016 7:01 AM in response to VickeVireG

It worked for me as well! Thank you

Oct 19, 2016 12:29 PM in response to diogoobs

Hey guys!

I am very happy my solution worked for you, and your feedback is much appreciated! Cheers!

Oct 23, 2016 10:42 AM in response to VickeVireG

THank you so much. I was looking for this solutions for months!

Nov 30, 2016 7:05 AM in response to Z-Ray

a quick fix that worked for me:

close the contacts app
go to ~/Library/Application Support/
rename the AddressBook folder to something like AddressBook(old) just to be safe
open the contacts app
it will create a new AdressBook folder that syncs to icloud properly
if it's all dandy delete the renamed AddressBook folder

Agerbek

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 4:10 AM in response to nectarina

Thank you, so very much!

This was exactly what I needed! 🙂

Agerbek

Level 1

4 points

Dec 16, 2016 4:13 AM in response to nectarina

Thank you, so very much!

This was exactly what I needed!

All fixed in 5 seconds 🙂

atzwain

Level 1

8 points

Dec 22, 2016 6:59 PM in response to VickeVireG

I tried probably a dozen different things trying to solve this issue, but your solution was the only thing that worked for me. The problem vanished as quickly and mysteriously as it appeared. Thank you!

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iCloud contacts do not sync on macOS Sierra