iCloud Contacts failing to sync after High Sierra

Thank you Bryan, I also had used images from Photo's - once removed I'm syncing between MBP, iPhone, iPad and iCloud #happydays as this has been driving me crazy for months.

I'm really convinced at this point that adding an image is the culprit. I tried your solution (along with every other one from the previous 10 pages) and at best, this only works on the first sync (if you have pics on the Mac contacts). Out of curiosity, can you try adding a picture from your Mac to your contacts (this normally shuts down the syncing process for several of us), then try adding new contacts.

So here is my 2 cents. I have seen this happen before, but it was a while ago for me. I took the drastic move and logged out of iCloud on all devices that I have. Then rebooted everything 1 by 1 and logged back into my iCloud account 1 by 1. This did solve my problem. I do not recommend this solution, this is a last ditch move. My guess was there was a bad record/file trying sync somewhere/something. So when I started logging back into iCloud it recreated a record deep in the library that was not synced up correctly. This is just my best guess. I hate when these things happen and there is not concrete reason why.

Very much like this thread. We all know that it has something to do with a photo in the contacts that causes the issue, but what kind of photo, from where etc. I am still working on trying to figure this one out.

@Rob-my suggestion is try and hold off before doing the iCloud log out routine. There had to be something posted somewhere on this.

Deleting iCloud from my Mac (2016 MBP running 10.13.3) seems to have fixed the Contacts not syncing problem for me. iPhone changes download instantly to my Mac, whereas changes to my Mac contact take a little longer to appear on my iPhone but eventually sync up. However, I also remember signing out/in of iCloud a few months ago and it eventually stopped working again. We'll see how long it lasts...

Completely removing the contacts from iCloud and all devices THEN uploading from the backup created in iCloud should fix the problem.

This is exactly the behavior I see. Contacts sync is broken on macOS, probably due to new changes in CloudKit.

For now, while working on macOS, I enter any new contacts or changes through the browser to my appleID login at www.icloud.com

As a test Apple asked me to create a new user account. After a few days the new user account was not updating either.

Apple determined that it is an all encompassing issue with the contacts in OS so another user on the same computer would have the same issues.

You are correct, it does provide a temp solution; however, unfortunately it goes back to updating so moving all your information over is a waste of time.

Yes, for those using Apple synchronization for the first time that is a good point... Since the 0P obviously knows how to use Apple services and his question was regarding iCloud contacts synchronization it would go without saying you would have to toggle the contacts checkbox in preferences on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad in order to reset sync. Or, in this case, you simply quit contacts, rename the addressbook folder, and re-launch contacts which rebuilds the addressbook folder and there you have it… Simply checking and unchecking the box fixes nothing. It just starts and stops sink.

Ahh, I don't know those Apps, but do you ever just use plain old "Contacts" app that came with your iPhone? That's what should be syncing with your Mac computer Contacts if you have them both set in their preferences to sync with iCloud.

If you're using the 3rd party "Recent #s" app its possible that may be what's not playing nice with your High Sierra mac. What happens when you add a test contact on your computer and then look in plain old Contacts app on your iPhone?

Not using a third party contacts app... I think you are misunderstanding the earlier instructions. If you added a photo to an iCloud contact after upgrading to High Sierra, you may encounter this bug.

Use the iOS app "Recent #s", or something similar, to determine which iCloud contacts you recently updated after upgrading to macOS High Sierra... remove the photos from any recent contacts, if there are any, and allow to sync again. This might fix the iCloud contacts sync issue.

I'm not having problems with Contacts.....but everything else! For some reason my Mac is not syncing iCloud to my iPhone and iPad(s). I'm real frustrated....but I'm a Computer Engineer. What do you do when something stops functioning? "If all else fails, reboot." So I did. AND everything magically synced properly to all devices....until the next time I added something to iCloud (from my MBP).....it again failed......this time I didn't wait. I rebooted.....and it works! Now, I've searched all the settings and I cannot find any setting that says "Don't sync until the mac is rebooted". So my real question is: Why is my Mac only syncing iCloud AFTER it gets rebooted???? Does anyone know?

ps....Not sure if this helps but it might

In addition to my last post do this

Open iTunes

i have version 12.8.0.150

w phone plugged into mac

click on iphone icon upper left

under “settings”

info

check box

sync contacts

scroll down

check box “add contacts created outside of groups on this iPhone to: “

(choose group)

click sync, done, or apply bottom right

mine works now

tried several of above methods did not work for me

Thank Rob,

I have just tested the sync issue between my iPhone (OS10.*) and MBP 2015 (with High Sierra 10.13.1) and found that the issue exists. In my case, when I enter a new contact to MBP, the name occurs in my iPhone (through iCloud) right after the action, but when I put a new contact into the iPhone, the name did not appear in MBP. I have tried to follow instruction of people reply to your this message, but nothing improved.

In the past (before updating to High Sierra I worked on macOS Sierra 10.12.4-6) I did not face this problem.

Regards,

High Sierra has some major changes that has made this upgrade especially difficult. In the future when a new macOS is released do NOT upgrade until problems have been worked out. Test a new version on an external drive with Mail and major apps to be sure it's all working before updating your Mac.

Until Apple fixes this you can try moving your contacts to Gmail contacts or one of the other apps. I haven't heard complaints of Gmail contacts not syncing.

Dave, thank you for the great detail... You are exactly right as the issue is directly related to the contacts app on the computer as both my MacBook Pro and desktop (Pro) are having the same issues and not updating. Yes, contacts work on iCloud.com, iPhone, and iPad just not on the computer.

Apple called me tonight to let me know they have narrowed down to a software issue within the OS system itself as contacts are part of the OS system build and not a separate application on it's own. Apple also tested my iCloud account and said it is working perfectly and there are no issues with the account itself.

I mentioned to Apple that someone on here mentioned cashes and containers; however, they told me if it is not updating then it is an bigger issue than having old copies stored on the computer.

I have a developer account and the senior tech is working on a resolve. Once I get a solution I will let you know. It must be something that is stumping them as I have been two weeks with this issue.