iCloud contacts not syncing

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Newly created iPhone contacts not syncing to iCloud is an issue to which I recently came across and it was driving me mad.

Note: Before finding the solution, I looked for ways go around this and to keep a backup copy of my iPhone contacts directly on my computer in case iCloud continues to fail. As a result, I found a neat alternative way to export iPhone contacts instead.

The Problem:

If you google “iCloud contacts not syncing” or “iphone contact sync” there are numerous posts, including Apple Support Community ones which all talk about rebuilding your address book.

My problem however, was different – simply, newly created iPhone contacts will not sync to iCloud despite having enabled iCloud sync. The solution to this rather simple, but few people know about it and Apple is not very helpful in clarifying the way out.

UPDATE for iOS 7 users: there is a detailed article for causes of iPhone contacts not syncing and disappearing which you may find useful:

http://goo.gl/KfqfO7

How to solve iCloud-contacts-not-syncing problem in 3 easy steps:

1. On your iPhone, navigate to Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendar

2. Under Contacts, make sure you set the Default Account to iCloud

3. Now your new iPhone contacts will sync normally with your iCloud account

What causes iCloud contacts not syncing?

If you have enabled iPhone contact sync via both the iCloud and a third-party account such as your Gmail/Yahoo/etc. (via Exchange), your iPhone will have to decide to which of the two accounts newly created iPhone contacts are added.

It is your email account that your new iPhone contacts were synced with and not your iCloud account. Changing the Default-account option as the steps above indicate, will set iPhone contacts created outside of a specific account to be synced with your iCloud instead.

It is always recommended to keep a backup of your iPhone contacts at a safe offline location in case you misplace some or all of your contact list. You can use a number of apps to easily backup iPhone contacts to your PC.

To prevent messing up with your iPhone contacts list via using the iCloud, have a look at the video below which quickly shows how to export and backup iPhone cotnacts to your computer before syncing with iCloud:

Export iPhone contacts using this powerful tool

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I recently discovered a tool which helped me export iPhone contacts. Some of the features of this iPhone manager program that draw attention at first sight include:

• Sync and export iPhone contacts to PC
• Copy iPhone contacts
• Group iPhone contacts
• Edit iPhone contacts and add new contact entries to your iPhone

This is all done from the PC and iPhone contact changes are done in real-time. The program is useful, as you can manage iPhone contacts directly via your PC keyboard and computer screen.

Here is what CopyTrans Contacts can be used for:

Export iPhone contacts

Here is a quick video which summarizes the steps below:

1. Run the program by double-clicking on its icon from your Desktop

2. Select which of your iPhone contacts to export and hit the "Export contacts" button". Here I have chosen to export a single iPhone contact but you can choose to export all iPhone contacts at once.

3. A new window will prompt you in what file format you wish the iPhone contacts exported. I selected "Save your address book option"

You will see the new contact entry appear wherever you wanted it exported to. In my case, I simply exported the contact to my Windows desktop

Among other functions, I found the following useful as well:

Edit iPhone contacts

Simply select any iPhone contact from the Contacts pane and hit the "Edit button". You are then able to change/add/remove any of your contact details such as name, address, telephone number, etc.

Group iPhone contacts

This is a feature of special importance as iPhone's default Contacts app can in theory show iPhone groups, but does not let you create or edit iPhone contact groups.

CopyTrans Contacts makes it especially easy to create new contact groups and add iPhone contacts to groups. Simply right-click within the Group pane and select "New group". Then drag-drop any of your iPhone contacts to the contact group you wish.

System requirements for the program:

Windows 7, Vista, XP

Your iPhone

Additional details and download here: Export iPhone contacts

Sync iPhone contacts

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Having a quick and easy iPhone contacts sync on your iPhone is a must. Why? Imagine you have access to all your friends' family and colleagues' details at a click at a button. To sync iPhone contacts also ensures that your iPhone contacts come with you wherever you go: even if you buy a new iPhone!

Syncing iPhone contacts usually involves services such as your email provider, i.e. Gmail or Yahoo, or even Outlook. However, there is a big chance that you do not have all of your iPhone contacts in one place, say in your Yahoo email account. You most probably have your contacts and bits and pieces of details for your friends scattered across your iPhone SIM card, your Yahoo account and iPhone contacts saved in a rush directly on your phone.

How do you keep track of your iPhone contacts and all these scattered bits and pieces? More importantly, think about your backup habits, should you need to switch to a new iPhone now, how many of your recent contacts could you salvage through your iOS backups offered via iTunes or the iCloud? How much of the old and unneeded contact data can you filter? Chances are your last iOS contact backup was made some time ago, and you are prone to losing some of your more recent iPhone contacts you manually added - the most important ones!

A well-thought-of iPhone contacts backup program should offer easier, more practical than Google-, iTunes-, or iCloud-contact-backup solutions and should allow you to quickly and easily:

• Sync iPhone contacts
• Export and backup iPhone contacts to PC (into *.csv or *.vcf)
• Import iPhone contacts and groups
• Delete iPhone contacts and groups
• iPhone contacts transfer
• Edit iPhone contacts and groups

I had a friend recently recommend an app which can perform the above features. here is how to, for example, import contacts to iPhone from your computer using this app

Copy iPhone Contacts

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iPhone Contacts management made easy...

This quick guide will summarize some easy ways to copy iPhone contacts. The links below provide a more detailed look of iPhone contact copy methods. Feel free to explore the various opportunities you can use in order to copy iPhone contacts.

• New: Copy iPhone contacts via contact management application
  
• iPhone copy contacts via iCloud
  
• iPhone contacts copy and sync via Gmail