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User profile for user: ashr1uk
ashr1uk Author
User level: Level 1
43 points

iCloud Contacts NOT Syncing with MAC - FIX

This is not a question but a fix...

After spending HOURS on-line with Tech support and then eventually being disconnected with no help, I managed to find a fix.


The Issue:

On initial setup MacBook Pro with High Sierra downloads contacts from icloud.com

However subsequent entries and/or edits made on iPhone are not replicated to MacBook Pro address book. These changes are instantly visible on iCloud.com

Changes made to contacts on MacBook Pro are NOT visible in iCloud.com


Proposed Fixes (didn't work):

Spent about 2 hours with 4 different Apple advisors, who were no help. Last chap who was a supervisor (Jeremy) just d/c me.

I was even advised to re-install macOS which I did, but made no difference.

I also deleted the com.apple.addressbook in ~/Library/Containers. restarted etc...

This took me back to stage one, where contacts are pulled down fine but no subsequent changes are reflected in address book.


The Fix that DID work:

1. Log into iCloud.com > Contacts.

2. Make sure ALL your contacts are up to date on ICLOUD.com then Export ALL contacts to vCard which will then be downloaded to Mac nice and safe!

3. DELETE all contacts from iCloud.com

4. wait a few minutes for contacts to disappear from your iPhone etc...

5. IMPORT the contacts which were downloaded to your Mac, BACK into iCloud.com

6. MacBook Pro address book will now populate, along with your iPhone, iPad etc.


😁 ALL FIXED! 🙂


REMINDER: MAKE SURE ALL YOUR CONTACTS ARE UPTO DATE ON ICLOUD.COM before DELETING them!

MacBook Pro with Retina display, macOS High Sierra (10.13.1), null

Posted on Nov 27, 2017 9:47 AM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply
User profile for user: Brian Yip
Brian Yip
User level: Level 1
21 points

Posted on Mar 17, 2018 9:33 AM

I have this problem on my iMac but not on my MacBook and iPhone.


I found this solution which does not require deleting all the iCloud contacts and this solution can keep all the contact photos.


This is copy from:

Re: iCloud Contacts failing to sync after High Sierra


I have found a solution that works for me.


  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


a little spinner spins saying "setting up"


Once that's done then open Contacts and wait. I have around 5000 contacts so it took about 10 minutes to fully sync.

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iCloud Contacts NOT Syncing with MAC - FIX

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