High Sierra contacts not working

Start with this fix:

• Quit Contacts.app
• Go to User’s Library.
• Navigate to ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook
• Make a backup copy of this entire "AddressBook" folder. (in case things goes wrong.
• Delete the file AddressBook-v22.abcddb
• Restart Contacts app (on Mac) and this file will be repopulated.

Dave Sag posted these steps that fixed sync for him. https://discussions.apple.com/thread/8086745?answerId=32374121022#32374121022

1. quit Contacts
2. open ~/Library/Containers and delete anything with addressbook in its name
3. open ~/Library/Application Support and delete anything with addressbook in its name
4. open ~/Library/Preferences and delete anything with addressbook in its name
5. open ~/Library/Caches and delete anything with addressbook in its name
6. opened System Preferences : iCloud and uncheck contacts
7. restart your mac
8. when it boots back up open System Preferences :iCloud and check contacts

Another user posted this fix:

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.

Show User's 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”

Troubleshooting is a process of elimination. You start with the simplest option like testing in a new User. When a new User solves the problem, it's not always easy to find the find the culprits in your main User. Moving to the new User is not simple for many users.

To further complicate matters there is not always one solution for everyone. While some users find simple solutions work for them, others require a nuclear option.

Export your Contacts (You always start by backing up first.)

Contacts on your Mac:

1. Select all Contacts (Under Edit in the Menu bar > Save All (command A

2. File > Export gives you two options. Do both options: ExportvCard… and Contacts Archive (use this only if you want to overwrite all contacts)

3. Also under File, select Export as PDF… (you can’t have too many backups)

Turn off iCloud > Contacts

1. Go to System Preferences > iCloud

2. Uncheck Contacts

Contacts on iCloud:

1. Log into iCloud.com > Contacts.

2. Export ALL contacts to vCard which will then be downloaded to Mac.

3. Delete all contacts in the cloud.

Quit Contacts, Mail and Messages.

• Open Activity Monitor in Applications/Utilities
• Search for Contacts and quit all processes by clicking on the X.

In your User’s Library…

• Navigate to User’s Library/Application Support/AddressBook
• Rename to AddressBookXXXX

• Go to your User's Library > Caches
• Delete com.apple.AddressBook and com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync

• Go to User's Library > Containers, delete com.apple.AddressBook
• Go to User's Library Preferences, delete com.apple.AddressBook.plist

• Restart in Safe Boot mode by holding down the Shift key when restarting, when you get to the login screen, restart normally. Use safe mode to isolate issues with your Mac - Apple Support
• Login
• Empty the trash
• Open System Preferences > iCloud and check to sync Contacts
• Open Contacts > import the file exported from iCloud.

If needed, you can import from the vCard backup. Importing from Contact Archive .abbu will overwrite everything in Contacts.

If you still have problems…

Reinstall macOS High Sierra. This is not a complex process, but it does take some time for the download and the install process. This does not remove your files but it's always advised that you backup first.

• You can download the full High Sierra installer again or
• You can boot from the recovery drive to reinstall macOS

Boot into the Recovery Drive by holding down Command R when restarting.

https://support.apple.com/en-au/HT201314

Open Disk Utility

Run First Aid on your internal drive, Macintosh HD

Quit Disk Utility

Select Reinstall macOS

Depending on your internet connection this could take some time to download the installer. Connect via Ethernet if possible

(You can reinstall High Sierra over High Sierra. This process should not damage your data but it's always advised that you backup first. I recommend a clone backup.

*Show User's 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”

Software used to Clone:

You will need an external drive formatted as GUID, Mac OS Extended Journaled

CarbonCopyClonerhttp://www.bombich.com/download.html (All options are available free for 30 days)

SuperDuper!http://www.shirt-pocket.com/ (Free forever to do an erase and install. Purchased version allows for smart updates and schedules)

I take offence to you implying I haven't offerd constructive suggestions. I've done nothing but try to help you. I understand you are frustrated, but I don't work for Apple. I volunteer my time here. You'll occasionally see someone from Apple reply but mainly Apple Discussions is user to user support

The previous post has the steps to completely remove everything. I suggest you go over these again. Otherwise, you can move to the new User and bring over your data to the new User.

1. quit Contacts
2. open ~/Library/Containers and delete anything with addressbook in its name
3. open ~/Library/Application Support and delete anything with addressbook in its name
4. open ~/Library/Preferences and delete anything with addressbook in its name
5. open ~/Library/Caches and delete anything with addressbook in its name
6. opened System Preferences : iCloud and uncheck contacts
7. restart your mac (empty the trash)
8. when it boots back up open System Preferences :iCloud and check contacts

Have you tested in a new User?

CREATE A NEW USER

• Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Users & Groups.
• Switch to the New User by logging out/in or use Fast User Switching.
• Log in with your Apple ID but only select contacts to sync.
• Open Contacts.
• Do you still see the issue?

Apple doesn’t routinely monitor the discussions. These are mostly user to user discussions.

BugReporter http://bugreporter.apple.com

Free ADC (Apple Developer Connection) account needed for BugReporter. Setup a free account

http://developer.apple.com/programs/register/

How to attach a sysdiagnose to send Bug Report

Mac OS X Feedback (no account needed)

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

Glad to hear Contacts worked in the new User.

So, once again, I deleted ~/Library/Application Support/AddressBook.

Refer back to my comments above. You need to also delete other files in your User's folder. You might not need to go total nuke following all steps so try deleting these first. If you still have problems, then try the total nuke option.

• Go to your User's Library > Caches
• Delete com.apple.AddressBook and com.apple.AddressBookSourceSync

• Go to User's Library > Containers, delete com.apple.AddressBook
• Go to User's Library Preferences, delete com.apple.AddressBook.plist

Astonishing that this hasn't been fixed in the 10.13.2 update.

The same problem that has been present for almost 3 months is still present.

In addition, the Contacts app still does not open. I cannot access my contacts in macOS High Sierra.

No-one from Apple has appeared here and asked for diagnostic information for fully three months.

Try restarting and see if that fixes the problem.

If that fails, boot into the Recovery Drive and run First Aid in Disk Utility.

Make a note if your drive is formatted as HFS+ Mac OS Extended Journaled or APFS in Disk Utility.

If your drive is OK, select to reinstall macOS.

This will not erase your personal data. However, it's always advised that you backup first in case of unexpected problems.

Boot into the Recovery Drive by holding down Command R when restarting.

MORE INFO:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT201314

I suggest you send your "fix" to Apple feedback.

BugReporter http://bugreporter.apple.com

Free ADC (Apple Developer Connection) account needed for BugReporter. Setup a free account

http://developer.apple.com/programs/register/

Mac OS X Feedback (no account needed)

http://www.apple.com/feedback/macosx.html

Take back up of data and see this article How to reinstall macOS - Apple Support

The contacts are saved on iCloud server and web mail servers once the fresh installation is completed , enter in system preferences > internet accounts > check the boxes of contacts both in iCloud account and webmail account they will automatically get downloaded in address book .

Don't underestimate the bug reports you send in. You rarely hear back but the report is logged and the info you send helps Apple find a fix. Make sure you attach a sysdiagnose report. This contains detailed info on your Mac.

How to attach a sysdiagnose to send Bug Report

I will continue to share what I know here and elsewhere where I can be useful.

I'm anxious for you to post your fix.

I know that's the pitch, but we are on an Apple domain. We sign in with Apple's credentials. So, for all the statements that this is not an official support forum, I beg to differ. It absolutely is.

Again this is not an official Apple support forum. While Apple sponsors this forum they do not routinely monitor the discussions. Microsoft does the same thing.

Don't use this forum to 'reach out' to Apple. Send Apple Feedback or call Apple support directly if you want to hear directly from Apple.

Feedback options will send detailed data to Apple to help them fix the issue. You will rarely ever hear directly from Apple when you send feedback.

BugReporter http://bugreporter.apple.com

Free ADC (Apple Developer Connection) account needed for BugReporter. Setup a free account

http://developer.apple.com/programs/register/

How to attach a sysdiagnose to send Bug Report

Mac OS X Feedback (no account needed)

https://www.apple.com/feedback/macos.html

Julica-

You can enroll in the public beta here:

https://beta.apple.com/sp/betaprogram/

I installed over 10.3.3 and my problem was gone. Almost can’t believe it, after all this time.

It is beta software, and I had a full backup before installing, but it all looks good. I’d make sure you have a backup if you choose to try it, but for me it paid off. Good luck!

Testing in a new User will quickly tell you if the problem is system wide or if it's your User's folder that contains the problem.

CREATE A NEW USER

Go to System Preferences --> Create a New User in Users & Groups.

Switch to the New User by logging out/in or use Fast User Switching.

Log in with your Apple ID. You can only select Contacts for this test.

Only default Apple apps will be in the Dock in the new User. Go to Applications to open other apps you might want to test.

Do you still see the issue?

If yes, then the problem is with your base files or it could be hardware related.

If no, then the problem is in your User's folder.

More Info:

https://support.apple.com/en-us/HT204443

Like others here, I have been unable to open the Contacts app since upgrading to High Sierra. And I've tried all of the above -- and a dozens more things -- trying to fix it. I do have some data to add to the issue, and I'd be interested in any feedback.

In the Console app -> system.log I see this suggestd failure message every 3 seconds:

Nov  2 17:12:36 MBP com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.suggestd[540]): Service exited with abnormal code: 1
Nov  2 17:12:36 MBP com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.suggestd): Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 3 seconds.
Nov  2 17:12:39 MBP com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.suggestd[542]): Service exited with abnormal code: 1
Nov  2 17:12:39 MBP com.apple.xpc.launchd[1] (com.apple.suggestd): Service only ran for 0 seconds. Pushing respawn out by 3 seconds.

So, in an attempt to debug, I did the following:

1. Reboot into recovery mode
2. Switch off SIPS:

   csrutil disable

3. Reboot
4. Unload suggestd:

   launchctl unload /System/Library/LaunchAgents/com.apple.suggestd.plist

This resulted in the above error messages ceasing -- unsurprising, since the process has been stopped. It also resulted in the Contacts app being usable again. Not only could it be used, but it immediately sent and received updates to contacts to and from other devices. In other words, the Contacts app works as expected.

This is clearly not a long term solution, since, I presume, suggestd needs to run. It does however pinpoint the problem, at least, in my case.

I've wrestled with a slightly different, while somewhat similar, problem the last few days following the download of Mac OS High Sierra 10.13.1 on my 2012 (up until now extremely reliable) iMac. My Messages program essentially froze and all names from previous messages were replaced with phone numbers in addition to the Contacts app being empty no matter how many times I turned iCloud on and off in that app. I tried a few of the suggested solutions (after first making sure all my contacts were safely in iCloud), and this is what finally worked for me:

• Go to System Preferences and log completely out of your iCloud Account
• Shut down your computer entirely and wait a few minutes (maybe get something to drink, take the dog for a walk, watch an episode of Supernatural, etc.)
• Restart your computer in Safe Mode (after hearing the start up sound, hold down the shift key until the little apple shows up, then wait patiently for the computer to boot up)
• I surfed a bit in Safe Mode, then opened Contacts and, low and behold, there were all my contacts and groups! Yay!
• Then I turned on Messages and it was back to normal again, too. Yay again!
• Then I held my breath (optional) and restarted my computer (not in safe mode). And VOILA, everything is back to it's happy Mac self with my Messages and Contacts.

Good luck! Hopefully this will be of assistance to some of you struggling with these same kinds of issues.