iCloud Contacts failing to sync after High Sierra

So I talked with Apple as always their agents are great and helpful. That being said this is not resolved. Running 10.13.2 did not fix the issue. This issue is with their engineers. I can tell you that the problem is not an internet connection. I thought this also at one point, and connected to my work internet. No difference. Apple has raised this to their next level from my understanding. I will be following up with them on Thursday evening and will provide an update then. I also pointed out this thread to Apple today so they are tracking this thread now. So maybe we will see this get resolved sooner rather than later. I have a question, when you export and save your contacts, does it do it as one file. I always get a little concerned when starting to delete things.

Hmm...anything's worth a shot.

I was just reading this tread Problems adding a new contact since upgrading to high Sierra?

It's not completely the same problem because it's to do with syncing contacts to Google, but I wonder if the problem has the same root cause...

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.

I agree,

Seems to be a (Contacts) sync issue between MacOS High Sierra and iCloud - suitable for an Apple team software fix.

Tried a few things now; including phone support with only temporary fix (technician supposed a keychain issue - only worked initially - problem returned).

That's very frustrating for you! I wonder if you might be right about the bad records thing, and in my case it just happened to be something to do with a photo, but is something different in yours.

I was downloading and uploading files yesterday and syncing between MBP and iCloud Drive as I was setting up my new machine. At various points the process seemed to stop and I couldn't tell whether it was hanging or just working very slowly. I should say that I have 200mbps internet which feels pretty fast to me, and the new MBP is like a greyhound compared to the old one. I did some googling about the syncing process hanging and the only thing I could find was that it can hang if it encounters a file type it doesn't recognise. As I rummaged about in my old backup files I found some stuff I had imported from my old Windows laptop which included some files ending .exe, which I deleted (Once you go Mac you don't go back :-D) and suddenly the syncing seemed to get going again. Coincidence? I can't tell. My old Mac didn't seem to have a problem? This and your comment about bad records made me wonder if the Contacts sync problem is a similar thing, and as you say, once it happens it's very hard to find.

I didn't know Exchange was involved... If you want to try deleting your exchange account, rebooting, then recreating the exchange account I would be willing to bet you a dollar that will work... 🙂 Macsterguy

Just a few thoughts, to get an impression of how you add new contacts on iPhone. This might affect in which address book / account the new contact is added (and thus syncing).

You have two accounts with contacts and "cloud" sync options (iCloud and MS Exchange).

This would normally work fine.

When adding a new contact on iPhone you have a couple of options to target the right account / address book.

In Settings: here you have a "standard" address book ticked.

Generally new contacts added on iPhone would target this account / address book.

However: an easier way to choose which target address book / contacts account to add new contacts to in daily use:

On iPhone you can enter Contacts and see "groups" (upper left); untick the address book you won't add the new contact to - and let the relevant target address book be ticked - e.g. iCloud.

Now when you enter a new contact it should go to the iCloud address book account (and thus sync in iCloud and related devices).

This seems to be the way to change target address book "on the run" without having to change "default address book" in settings all the time.

One could perhaps argue that there could be an easier way to "directly" choose which address book / account to add new contacts to - e.g. simply in the "add new contact" function; this just seems not to be an option in iOS right now.

I’m heeding the advice on removing contact images. It will take a while, though, with 2000+ contacts. I’ve deselected the iCloud contacts from my MacBook and removing contact images from within iCloud. Hopefully, that’ll work. Any suggestions on bulk image removal from contacts?

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?

well yeah I’ve always used the “Contacts“ app on my MacBook, I found this whole thread, discussion, because it was not syncing to my iPhone x. when I put a contact in my iPhone it syncs to the MacBook, but not the other way around. The only way to send it both ways is to do a manual plugged in sync with iTunes.

ok i figured out how to find the files using this post:

"

The User's Library folder is hidden by default. To unhide:

Option 1) Select the Finder in the Dock. Under Go in the Menu bar > hold down the Option key and you’ll see the Library.

Option 2) You can also select the Home folder in the sidebar of a Finder window.

Pull down the “View” menu and select “Show View Options”

Check the box for “Show Library Folder”

put it didn't work...still not syncing

its actually worse now...before it was synching from iphone to mac, but not vice versa...now neither...

noooooooooooo

(by "~" i'm assuming you mean the name of your computer...mine is "Macintosh HD" ??...so "Macintosh HD/Library/Application Support" right ??)

Dan it looks like you found the correct folder but for anyone following this thread....

The ~ (tilde) is shorthand for your User's folder. That's the folder with the House icon.

There are three Library folders on your Mac:

Applications

Library

System > Library

Users > You > Library

The User's Library folder is hidden by default. To unhide:

Option 1) Select the Finder in the Dock. Under Go in the Menu bar > hold down the Option key and you’ll see the Library.

Option 2) You can also select the Home folder in the sidebar of a Finder window.

Pull down the “View” menu and select “Show View Options”

Check the box for “Show Library Folder”

Unfortunately since this issue only effects a small memeber of the population Apple will not provide a fix. The contacts application is built into the overall OS platform and has the same updating features as notes, photos, calendars, ect.... the fact that your contacts is not updating is a direct result of the computer not allowing a new record to come through.

I know this as I used work at Apple.

Thanks a lot Matt. I've actually just bitten a bullet, of sorts, and started using Full Contact as of last week. $10/month. Seems to be doing a good job. Syncing between Mac and iPhone and also Gmail which is nice, and it also pulls updated info on my contacts from the web (social networks, photos, etc). Will report back if it goes wonky, but for now this is a worthwhile expense for me.