Apple Intelligence is now available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac!

📢 Newsroom Update

Apple introduces M4 Pro and M4 Max. Learn more >

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

Contact sync not working from MacBook Air to iPhone 8

Hi folks,


I have iCloud sync set up on my MacBook Air and iPhone 8 for Contacts, Photos etc etc - but when creating a new contact on my MacBook, it does not appear on my iPhone. I've signed in and out, multiple restarts of both devices.


I just did a test and if I create the contact on my iPhone, it does sync and appears on the laptop, but not vice-versa... have checked every setting I can think of, any ideas? I'm sure it's something obvious I'm missing!

Posted on Oct 13, 2018 4:56 PM

Reply
4 replies

Oct 15, 2018 2:24 PM in response to Tramampoleen

Hello Tramampoleen,


Thanks for asking the Apple Support Communities for help with Contacts. I am happy to provide an article to help with this and iCloud sync.


Please try the troubleshooting provided in this help article: Get help using iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders - Apple Support


Please review this relevant section of the article:


Mac

After each step, check your contacts, calendars, or reminders.

Refresh your calendars and reminders

You can refresh your calendars and reminders from the Calendars app:

  1. Open the Calendar app.
  2. Choose View > Refresh Calendars.

Since the iCloud Birthdays calendar updates hourly, you might not see changes to birthdays in the Contacts or Calendars app for an hour.

Check your default Calendar account

If you store and edit your events in iCloud instead of another account, like On My Mac, Exchange, or Google, then iCloud automatically updates your calendars. If you use multiple accounts on your Mac like iCloud, Gmail, and Yahoo, make sure that iCloud is your default Calendar account:

  1. Open the Calendar app.
  2. Choose Calendar > Preferences.
  3. On the General tab, make sure that one of your iCloud calendars is the default.

After you set up iCloud Reminders, you might need to quit and reopen Reminders on your Mac. Then make sure that you set up your account correctly in Reminders:

  1. Open the Reminders app.
  2. Choose Reminders > Accounts.
  3. Click the iCloud tab and make sure that you're signed in with your Apple ID.

Turn off iCloud Calendar and iCloud Reminders, then turn it back on

  1. Quit the Calendar and Reminders apps.
  2. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and click iCloud.
  3. Deselect Calendars and Reminders.
  4. Close System Preferences and wait about a minute.
  5. Choose Apple menu > System Preferences and click iCloud.
  6. Select Calendars.
  7. Open Calendar and Reminders.
    User uploaded file

Restart your computer

After you restart your computer, see if you fixed the issue.


Please let us know if you've found this information helpful. Don't hesitate to reach out with any additional questions or concerns you may have on this issue. It will be a pleasure to continue working with you toward a solution.


Thanks and have a wonderful day.

Oct 15, 2018 4:14 PM in response to Tramampoleen

Just going to reply to my own thread - after a chat with AppleCare we worked out that (from the contacts app on the Mac) if I drag and drop the contacts manually into the iCloud Group then the sync was working fine.


After popping me on hold for a bit and checking some resources, my very helpful dude worked out that under Contacts > Preferences > General, I had my "Default Account" selected to 'On My Mac'. Changed it to 'iCloud' and now all works as it used to.


Magic!

Contact sync not working from MacBook Air to iPhone 8

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.