General issues are at iCloud and Outlook Problems and issues specific to Calendar sync are at Calendar Sync Issues. iCloud 2 users should check iCloud 2: What you need to know and iCloud default data files
When you create new contacts in Microsoft Outlook, the contacts may not be added to the iCloud contacts folder. Try clicking the Refresh button. If this doesn't work, you'll need to either move the Contacts or create them in the iCloud Contact folder. See Save and Move Contacts to the iCloud Folder Tutorial.
Don't use iCloud calendar, contact, or tasks sync for Exchange, Gmail, or Hotmail accounts.
Contacts Disappeared | Sync Stops Working | Show iCloud Contacts First | Sync Tools
Save and Move Contacts to the iCloud Folder Tutorial | More Information
Contacts Disappeared from Outlook
All of my contacts disappeared from Outlook. How do I get them back?
iCloud creates a new contacts folder in your profile and moves your contacts to it. You can view the iCloud contacts in Outlook.
Go to the Contacts navigation pane and select the "Contacts - iCloud" folder to view your contacts.
If you want your contacts in Outlook's default contacts folder, you'll need to drag them to it: select all and drag or use the Move to Folder command.
Sync Stops Working
When Contacts disappear from Outlook's iCloud contacts folder because syncing has stopped, close Outlook, open the iCloud control panel then sign out and sign back in.
Just deselecting Contacts (and Calendar) sync, clicking Apply, then re-enabling both may also work.
If the sync stopped working and the iCloud add-in is shown as disabled in File > Options > Trust Center > Add-ins. Select Disabled Add-ins from the menu next to Go button then click Go. Enable iCloud in the dialog.
Show iCloud Contacts First in the Address Book
When sending an e-mail, & hitting the "To" button, iCloud isn't the default. How do i make iCloud the default address book?
You can't make it the default contacts folder, but you can show it first when you open the address book or click the To button in a new message.
Click on the Address Book (on the Home ribbon or Standard toolbar) to open the Address Book. Click on it's Tools, Options. Choose iCloud from the dropdown. You can change the search order there too, if desired. This order is used for auto-resolution, when a name is not in the autocomplete list.
In Outlook 2010 and up, the dropdown is at the bottom (see screenshot below).
In Outlook 2007, it's at the top:
Sync Tools
As an alternative, you can use a sync tool. Although How to sync Outlook (Exchange) with iCloud (in the Apple Forums) uses CodeTwo FolderSync with Exchange, it will work with non-Exchange accounts. FolderSync copies the items between two folders so the contents are identical and should only be used to sync folders that won't sync with the iDevices, otherwise you will have duplicates (or triplicates) on your devices as it does a 2-way sync.
While the sync tools can do one or two way sync, if you just want to save all newly created contacts to the icloud folder, you can use VBA top move them on save. See Save appointments to a non-default Outlook calendar folder for a code sample that works with Contacts.
Tools in the Spotlight
CompanionLink synchronizes Outlook data with phones and other supported desktop applications and web-based services (like Google). Companionlink supports all versions of Outlook, including Outlook 2013 32-bit and 64-bit, and Windows 10. Version 9 |
Tools
CodeTwo FolderSync Addin is an Outlook add-in that enables synchronization of folders. The synchronization of data will always take place between selected folders and the user can choose several pairs of folders that need synchronizing. Freeware. | |
CodeTwo Sync for iCloud syncs Outlook folders with iCloud folders automatically synchronizes Outlook contacts, calendars and tasks with the iCloud data file in Outlook. CodeTwo Sync for iCloud will let you keep the iCloud and Outlook folders in sync, so you don't need to move or copy contacts and appointments between the default Outlook folders and iCloud folders. (Now Free) | |
gSyncit is an Outlook add-in that allows for two-way synchronization between Outlook calendars, contacts, notes, and tasks with your Google, iCloud, AOL, Fruxx, Yahoo, Memotoo and many other "DAV" enabled services. Also includes support for syncing attachments for calendar events. Works with Microsoft Outlook 2007, 2010, 2013, 2016, 2019, 2021 or Office 365 (Desktop Client) on Windows 7 and newer. | |
Backup and synchronize your personal data (contacts, calendar, files, bookmarks, etc.)with your phone, tablet and computer | |
Your sync-software can sync only default folders of Outlook, but you need also subfolders and public folders? OLMixedFolders can synchronize any Microsoft Outlook subfolder or public folders with your Outlook default folders. It uses categories to keep in touch with the origin folder. It is possible to create elements for the linked folders directly on your mobile phone. After synchronization, the element goes to the specified folder. | |
Outlook CalDav Synchronizer is a free Outlook Plugin, which synchronizes events, tasks and contacts between Outlook and Google, SOGo, Nextcloud or any other CalDAV or CardDAV server. Supported Outlook versions are Office 365, 2019, 2016, 2013, 2010 and 2007. | |
SimpleSYN Mobile is the synchronization solution for synchronizing Outlook data with your iPhone, iPad or Android device. Emails, appointments, contacts, notes and tasks are always up-to-date on all devices. Your Outlook data always remains local on your devices and is not stored in the cloud. On your smartphone you do not need an additional app and you can use the built-in apps. SimpleSYN Mobile syncs on the local network (WLAN) or on the way via the internet. Free 30 days trial available | |
Automatically synchronize your Outlook calendar and contacts with Google or iCloud. Access Outlook calendar and contacts on your Android phone or iPhone/iPad. |
Save and Move Contacts to the iCloud Folder
The following tutorial shows you how to use the Move to Folder command to move new contacts to a different contacts folder. This will also work with appointments.
On the open contact form, click Save then go to File menu and choose the Move to folder command. If you previously used the folder, it will be listed on the MRU, otherwise you will need to select the folder.
To make Move to folder easier to use (and remember!), you can customize the ribbon, adding the Move to folder command to the Home ribbon, placing it next to Save and close. Note: In Outlook 2007, you'll need to add the command to the Quick Access Toolbar as it doesn't have a ribbon.
More Information
iCloud: Troubleshooting iCloud Reminders and Tasks (Apple)
iCloud: Troubleshooting iCloud Contacts (Apple)
"Unsupported folder class" error when Outlook starts (MSKB)
More Outlook and iCloud articles at slipstick.com:
- iCloud error: Outlook isn't configured to have a default profile
- iCloud Add-in is not listed in Outlook Add-ins
- iCloud is hijacking Meeting Invitations
- How to fix the iCloud APLZOD.dll error in Outlook
- iCloud Doesn't Sync
- iCloud, Outlook 2016, and Windows 10
- iCloud for Outlook 2016
- Save New Contacts to iCloud Contacts
- Transfer POP3 Mail on an iPhone to Outlook
- Outlook crashes when syncing iCloud calendars
- Syncing iPhone Sent Messages with Outlook
- After Installing iCloud, Mail Won't Send?
- Create a Task and copy to another Tasks folder
- iCloud and Outlook Repair Now error
- Outlook and iCloud: What you need to know
- Outlook and iCloud: default data files
- Save appointments to a non-default Outlook calendar folder
- iCloud and Outlook Problems: Syncing Calendar
- Outlook and iCloud Sync Issues
Steve Smith says
I have been unable to get my contacts from my iPhone to sync with Outlook365 using the Apple add-in and iCloud, so I tried CodeTwo's solution. Unfortunately their code does not recognize the current version of iCloud Control Panel. I get into a loop where it insists I must install it, while it is running and visible. I followed the various steps in the KB article with no luck.
Rick Gelowitz says
I recently upgraded my Windows 10 PC to Outlook 2016 from Outlook 2007 and have been running into a problem with trying to get iCloud for Windows to sync the mail, contacts, calendars and tasks. It appears that the mail portion is syncing properly, but not the Contacts, Calendars or Reminders/Tasks. All the solutions I've read so far generally refer to using iCloud for Windows, going in and deselecting the Mail, Contacts, Calendars and Tasks checkbox, clicking Apply, then selecting it again and clicking Apply. The problem is that when I open iCloud for Windows that checkbox is unchecked when it opens. If I try to select the Mail, Contacts, Calendars and Tasks checkbox and click Apply, it appears to do something for a few seconds and then it un-checks the box and stops. No error messages are produced and inside of Outlook, I don't see that it completed any setup of any iCloud options for Contacts or Calendars (no iCloud folders are created). The only thing I can see is that it appears to produce a couple of additional email accounts all named with my . It also creates an associated data file for each one which has the format of Outlook Data File (n).nst. Is there any way to fix this?
I have the latest version of iTunes (12.7.2.60), and iCloud for Windows (7.2.0.67). I have uninstalled/reinstalled iCloud for Windows, uninstalled/reinstalled the iCloud add-in for Outlook all to no effect.
Diane Poremsky says
>> It appears that the mail portion is syncing properly,
This is because mail is separate from the calendar, contacts, tasks. It uses imap and should always work, even when icloud isn't.
Is the addin loaded in Outlook? Look in file, options, Addins. If its disabled, set the registry key in the article https://www.slipstick.com/outlook/icloud-sync-failure/
John Fleming says
The iCloud / Outlook interface scrambles the field order in contact addresses.
This happens where the Street field in Outlook has more than one line, as, for example:
[Street #][Street_Name]
[Suburb_Name]
or
[House_Name]
[Street #][Street_Name]
Regardless, it seems, of whether I create/edit the contact in Outlook, or in iCloud, the field order gets scrambled sometimes, with the [Street #][Street_Name] appearing closest to the City field. I can't see any pattern for when this happens and when it doesn't. I would class this as an irritant, nothing worse, but it can make a mess of address labels.
Presently, I use Outlook 2010 (32-bit), Win 10 v 1709, iCloud 7.1.0; my iOS device is an iPhone 6s.
Diane Poremsky says
interesting. i know that leaving the address field blank can cause problems.
Howard Goldstein says
follow-up to Linda Johnson's comment,
I have the same problem after upgrading to the creator version of Win10 and Office 365. I tried to sign out of iCloud settings as you suggest. But, when I tried to “Sign Out” of iCloud, by selecting the Sign Out box to maybe then open it and make the anomaly go away, I got an error message that said” Setup can’t continue because Outlook isn’t configured to have a default profile. Check your Outlook settings and try again.” But when I check my Outlook settings, I see my POP3 email account from my ISP is set as my default, so I don’t know what this means.
Diane Poremsky says
Go to Control panel, open 'Mail (Outlook 2016)' - click Show Profiles. At the bottom is an option to prompt for profile or always use a profile. Which is selected? How many profiles are listed in the top section?
This screenshot is from my desktop, which doesn't sync with icloud. Always use this profile would set the default profile.
Michelle Davis says
I need some help with my Contacts as well please. I have a MacBook Air for work and have synced my iCloud account and contacts to the PC. My work, however, makes us use Outlook for our default email. I am not able to see my contacts from the MacBook or iCloud anywhere in the address book on my Outlook. How do I allow the Outlook to use my iCloud contacts? All of the other places I have searched are telling people how to transfer iCloud contacts to an actual Microsoft computer. In this case, I'm using a Mac as my PC but utilizing Outlook for email. Thanks in advance!
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook for Mac won't sync with icloud unfortunately. At this time, I am not aware of a way to sync them, short of export/import. (Which isn't much of a solution.) Sorry.
jose says
Thanks for having the instruction on how to sync contacts from icloud to outlook. It was a big help.
Victor Valdes says
OK I have been following this issue with iCloud and I really need some clarification.
A customer of mine uses Oulook 2007 SP-3 and she has the latest iTunes and iCloud installed. The problem is she has iCloud contacts in her Outlook say about 625 but in her iPhone she has over 800.
Why does the majority show up and not all?
When she adds one on the phone it does not sync to Outlook but when she does to Outlook first the change is seen in the Phone she tells me.
Finally, is Itunes need for all of this to work if She already has Outlook and iCloud installed?
I have not connected the Phone to the PC so iTunes could sync it up. Could that be the issue?
Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
is she adding the contacts to icloud on the phone or to a local contact store or another account? That is the usual cause. You can check to see if sync from phone is working by editing a contact that is syncing to outlook and see if the change synced.
itunes does not need to be installed, only icloud. If you have the hone set up to use icloud, you can't use itunes to sync too, you'd need to turn off icloud sync first.
Linda Johnson says
I lost my contacts and calendar in Outlook 2007. I thought a newer version
might fix it so I installed Outlook 2016. Now on the icloud settings page the
selection for mail, contacts, calendars isn't even available. It says at the top that I have to go to
icloud.com to see them. I this a bug or a feature and is there anything I can do about it?
Diane Poremsky says
its a bug (or something unexpected) - it should work. if you sign out of icloud and sign back in, will it let you set it up in outlook?
Robert Hall says
Outlook contacts in iCloud folder no longer sort by category.
They used to, just fine.
I am using the hotmail email account.
I will change to a comcast email address but need help fixing that issue.
I cannot copy my contacts back into the Outlook contacts folder.
Diane Poremsky says
Sorry I forgot about this - I wanted to test it and then life got in the way. :( Definitely should be able to sort and move contacts - usually when there is a problem, signing out of icloud app in windows then back in fixes it.
If you are using hotmail, you don't need to use icloud - you can sync the phone directly with the Outlook.com server using Microsoft Exchange.
Doug says
I just installed iCloud and now all of my Outlook 2013 contacts are missing. When I type a name, they show up but the address book is empty and I cannot add when clicking To: CC: etc.
Diane Poremsky says
icloud sucked them into the icloud folders. open the address book (ctrl+shift+b) and go to tools, options to choose the icloud as the default address book.
david pennes says
I tried to download and sync my contacts with my I Cloud contacts What happened is that they are no longer in my contacts folder but in a folder below in a folder called I Cloud Contacts.
gary says
Getting all kinds of conflict with ICLOUD for windows and CodeTwo Icloud sync. The Add-ins don't load anymore, sync doesn't happen between the two any longer all since last Windows 10 update on my surface. Help.
Diane Poremsky says
I would start with a repair of office - this will fix a lot of issues following the upgrade. (sign out of icloud first) After the repair, sign back into icloud.
jim says
when i add a contact or a calendar appointment in outlook, it synchs back to my devices without any issues. However if I add a contact or appointment on my device, it won't synch over to outlook> suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
Are you adding it to the correct calendar or contacts folder on the device?
Rena Granofsky says
I have the same problem. The only issue is when I create a new contact on the iPhone. I changed the settings for contacts/default account to ICloud (it had somehow been set to an email account on my main iPhone only), and the new contact automatically syncs to my other iPhone and my Ipad, but not my PC. Also what do I do about the contacts I created earlier on my iPhone (before I changed the setting to Icloud), how do I sync them as well? Thanks!
Diane Poremsky says
You would need to move the existing contacts to icloud (on the phone) I forget if that is an option (and don't have any on my device to check). If icloud isn't syncing with outlook and you have the icloud addin installed, first steps is sign out of icloud then sign back in.
rebecca says
help i have iphone 5c with contacts i want to add to my new LG 5 i have all contacts in my icloud and imported but when i login to g mail all that saved and comes up is email address not my call contacts not sure why help please
Diane Poremsky says
You imported the contacts into the Gmail account? Open the file you exported in notepad -are the call contacts in the file?
ben says
After having to reset the link between outlook 10 and icloud due to glitch, I am now able to sync calendar appointments with icloud BUT NOT the other way around - icloud appointments are not syncing with outlook. Help!
Diane Poremsky says
Are you creating the appointments in the icloud calendar on the device? Try creating one in icloud.com and see if it syncs.
ben says
Thank you for your question. I am able to make an appointment in Outlook and it syncs to iCloud and my iPhone and iPad. But not the other way around. Outlook is not receiving appointments from or through iCloud. And the refresh button in Outlook has a long delay when it tries to sync. Suggestions?
Sidney Wicks says
My Windows 7 was synching my contacts & calendar in Outlook 2016 to iCloud but stopped about a week ago. My "iCloud for Windows" no longer has an option for contacts & calendar. I found a previous edition but couldn't restore it. Any ideas???
John Hayes says
I don't have a question (apart from the implied 'why hasn't all this been sorted out years ago?'), but instead a few observations that might be of value to others about to embark on syncing their Outlook Contacts data with the iCloud.
I have several thousand Outlook Contacts built up over many years of being in business and I make serious use of the 'Notes’ field. It's frustrating enough that the iPhone truncates the content of these fields to the first 254 characters. But what's worse is that the syncing process then sees these truncated Notes as being different to the same (but full) content on Windows devices - and in the next sync prepends the truncated text from the iPhone to the full text on these devices. Of course this is preferable to having the truncated text OVERWRITE the full content, but it’s still far from right. What you end up with is duplicated content in each Notes field for every record in your Contacts database.
Because the content of my Notes fields is often long, I use formatting (mainly bold, italic and underline, but also occasionally font size) to make it easier to find important data. However, the initial sync with the iCloud removes all this formatting without warning.
Moreover, decades ago Microsoft in its infinite wisdom decided that the default position should be to MOVE rather than COPY dragged files and folders when the source and destination are on different drives – so when you drag your Contacts into the iCloud you lose your local copies - back to your last back-up at least. (Don’t worry, I always hold the CTRL key when dragging now.) But the result is that I have either lost my formatting or all the data entered since my last backup.
Last, and probably most ludicrous of all, if two Outlook records contain the same content in the Full Name field then they become merged in an iCloud sync. No questions asked – they’re just merged! So my friends Tony Parsons who lives in Liverpool and Tony Parsons in Wandsworth have now become a composite single entity in my Outlook Contacts data! Did no-one who set this up realise that it’s possible to be friends with two or more people who share the same name? Perhaps they just didn’t have that many friends.
David D says
Diane,
Thanks for all the info that you provide. It is outstanding. I've set up Outlook 2013 with iCloud on both my laptop and my PC. I can see my contacts in the Outlook iCloud folder and they sync perfectly when I enter a new contact there. When I save a contact using Outlook (from an email, for example) it is stored in the default pst data file. According to the Apple website the data in this file should be copied over to the iCloud folder and then deleted. This is not what is happening on my computers. The contact just sits in the pst file and doesn't show up in my iCloud contacts. Any suggestions? I use IMAP for my email accounts so I created my own default data file for contact and calendar storage. I am fine with using iCloud for all of my contact and calendar stuff so I do not need it stored in the default data file.
Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
It's a bug - when new items are added to the calendar or contacts folder in your data file, they *should* be sucked over to the iCloud folder at some point but honestly, it rarely happens. You'll need to move them yourself or use the Move to folder command instead of the Save button. You could use macros to watch the folders and move new items to the iCloud. See https://www.slipstick.com/developer/save-appointments-to-a-non-default-calendar-folder/ for sample code.
Sunny says
Hi,
if I create an event in Outlook 2010 it will not sync back to my iCloud/iPhone. But if I create an event on the iCloud or iPhone it will appear in my Outlook calendar. What could be causing this 'one way' issue?
Diane Poremsky says
Are you creating it in the iCloud calendar?
Sunny says
Hi Diane, to clarify. The events I create in Calendar on the iPhone or via the iCloud website sync back to Outlook and showup on my PC. But if I create an event in the Calendar App (within OUtlook 2010) the event will not be synced to iCloud or to my iPhone Calendar App.
I hope that clarifies my question.
Regards
Diane Poremsky says
If you are creating the appointment in the iCloud calendar, it should sync up - Try signing out of the iCloud and back in.
If you create it in the Outlook calendar, it won't sync up until you move it to the iCloud calendar folder.
Sunny says
I'm creating the event in Outlook Calendar.
Sunny says
Yes, I'm using iCloud Calendar.
Sunny says
To be clear, are you suggesting I should drag and drop the Outlook Calendar into the iCloud icon (as per your picture above)?
Diane Poremsky says
Yes, drag the appointment (not the calendar :)) to the iCloud calendar folder.
emsipe says
Hello, is there a way of forcing Outlook 2013 to save my new contacts to the icloud by default? I have forced it to 'Show iCloud Contacts First in the Address Book' as above, but cannot find a way around new contacts.
In Outlook 2007 there was an option to select: "Keep personal addresses in” option to “iCloud", but I can't find it in Outlook 2013.
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook now saves the contacts to the contacts folders belonging to the account assigned to the data file, this is why that option is missing. :( You'll need to use Move to folder command instead of Save or a macro to move the messages automatically.
Kurt Monroe says
I deleted a .aplzod file. Can I open it to see what information it holds rather than restoring it? If so, can I use notepad?
Thank you in advance.
Diane Poremsky says
The aplzod file is probably not readable in notepad - but you can try. It's a database written in SQLite. This should open it - https://sqlitebrowser.org/
gdaddy says
I have a new surface pro 3 running office 365, which I'm told by Microsoft store is just a license of Office 2013, and that there shouldn't be unique hardware compatibility issues with icloud.
All of my data has been in icloud, my family has iphones and macs as well as pcs. I'm trying to operate on both MS and OS/iOS platforms.
The icloud destop program is installed and all of my email folders and calendars and contacts populated Outlook after some work..
However, when attempting to edit any calendar appointment in Outlook on one of my iCloud calendars I get an error:
"This item cannot be saved to this folder. The folder was deleted or moved, or you do not have permission. Do you want to save a copy of it in the default folder for the item?"
Saying yes to this makes a copy of the appointment, as edited, in the default Outlook calendar, for which I have no use as it will no longer be shared with the appropriate party as the icloud calendar is. I need the appointment to stay where it is, but just accept the changes.
A few weeks ago a senior apple tech told me that icloud control panel does not support the surface when that seemed like the question to ask. After reading countless frustrate threads like this one, it seems that support of Outlook 2013 is the issue, although an 18 month old issue at that.
Any suggestions? Many thanks
Diane Poremsky says
it should work on the surface (it's windows 8 for pete's sake - nothing unusual) and it will work with outlook 2013. It will not work in the surface2 (aka RT) - it won't install so you wouldn't get this far anyway.
Do you know if you have 32 or 64 bit outlook? Check in File, office account. I'll see if i can repro on a win8.1 setup.
Gdaddy says
Were you able to reproduce the errors I'm getting. The problem continues. I am running 32 bit Outlook. I wonder why I don't have 64 bit or if there is any important difference between 32 and 64?3
Diane Poremsky says
If anything, 32bit would cause fewer problems than 64bit. I haven't been able to repro the error. Are you using the latest build of iCloud?
Judi Simpson says
When Microsoft Outlook is open on my computer, my iphone will not receive those emails. Is there any way that I can receive those emails even when Outlook is open?
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook is configured to use POP3? IMAP would be better, but you can set Outlook to not delete mail from the server. Account Settings > double click on account, then More Settings, Advanced tab to check the leave on server setting.
Dave says
I've got a wierd one... no iCloud Address book even shows up even though iCloud Contacts and iCloud Calendar show up and function properly! Help! I have Outlook on my laptop and the iCloud Address book shows up there and I can't see any different settings!
Diane Poremsky says
Right click on the iCloud contacts folder and check properties - is it enabled as an address book? Are they iCloud contacts syncing to the server? I've seen situations where the iCloud was disabled but the database left in outlook, so it appeared to be working but really wasn't syncing.
Michael says
Removed iCloud from my computer totally, but iCloud Contacts folder remains in Outlook 2007 even though it is completely empty. Trying to delete it only gives me the message that I cannot delete the folder. Is there no way to get it out of my program?
Diane Poremsky says
Did you sign out of icloud? Remove the data from from the profile in Tools, Account Settings, Data files?
Flo says
Yes, the profile was corrupted. I backed up Outlook, signed out of iCloud, deleted the mail profile, which prompted me to create a new one when I opened Outlook. I imported the Outlook backup file and then I logged back into iCloud. Time consuming, but it worked. Thanks for your help.
Flo says
Hi Diane. I'm using the latest version of iCloud and Outlook 2007. There are no contacts listed in the Outlook contact folder, but there is an iCloud folder with all of the contacts. My problem is when I start a new email, it does not refer to the iCloud contact folder. I've tried all of the suggestions on the internet, but I cannot do them because either there are no address books to select in tools, or the checkbox is greyed out to select an address book. I am pulling my hair out. I've tried removing iCloud, reinstalling it, unchecking mail/contacts/calendars from iCloud and rechecking it. Nothing works. Help.
Diane Poremsky says
It sounds the the address book service is toast.The only way to fix it is by creating a new profile.
Di (@outthere101) says
Hello Diane. I have also LOST all my business distribution lists, they are not anywhere in the contact folder. I do not have to use iCloud and will be happy to uninstall it. But I am desperate to restore my distribution lists pleases advise. Thank you Di
Diane Poremsky says
The iCloud shouldn't delete the dl's. Are they really gone or is a view applied that hides them. Do you have a backup of your data file? That is the easiest way to recover them, and may Be the only way.
Rajiv says
Has anyone sync'ing iCloud and Outlook 2010 Contacts had problems with duplicate entries being created repeatedly? Some address book entries are existing in 4-5 copies.
Now, for some reason, my sync'ing stopped happening by itself. My Outlook doesn't even show the iCloud contacts folder. I can go to iCloud control panel to remove and put a tick back to apply the sync settings as advised by some, but the last time this happened, it started duplicating my contacts. I have ~2300 entries in my address book, and any mess-up creates a lot of pain.
Any advice or suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
Is the icloud addin enabled in Outlook? That can cause it to stop syncing. And yes, if you have them in Outlook and enable syncing, the contacts in outlook may sync back to the cloud and the cloud will sync down. I'm not sure what apple uses to identify duplicates, because it's clearly not working. :)
When you sign out of icloud, say no to the option to make a backup copy. Everything is already in the cloud, so you don't really need the Apple backup.
Try using a list view, add the last modified date field to the view then delete the duplicates based on that field. I'd probably delete the oldest, on the premise that the newest are the most up to date. (They might be just the most recently synced though.)
Scot Hanson says
I can not get my me.com account to send from outlook anymore. it was working but now all it does is give me an error and ask for my password which I am entering correctly. please help
Diane Poremsky says
Check the SMTP server - in Outlook 2010/2013, it's File, Account Settings, double click on the me account - the first page will have the server name. It should be something like p06-smtp.mail.me.com. If it doesn't have the p# (the 06 may be any number up to 99), use p06-smtp.mail.me.com in the smtp server field and see if it works.
If that is not the problem, do you get a send and receive error message?
Robert James says
Can you help me understand what is the difference between the two files in my Outlook: Contacts in iCloud vs. Contacts from iCloud? Hopefully I can delete one of them without losing anything important.
Diane Poremsky says
Contacts in iCloud should be your contacts that are stored in the iCloud and synced with your apple device. The contacts from iCloud sound like a backup file. If so, it can be deleted. (I haven't seen a folder by that name before.) Go to the Folder list (Ctrl+6) and see where the folders are stored in relation to your data files.
Daryl Johnston says
I have set Contact name order in Outlook 2010 (ie first name, last name). When I enter a new contact in OL - no problem. However when I enter a new contact on my iPhone and OL updates via an iCloud sync, it lists that contact as (last name, first name). Starting to drive me crazy!!
Diane Poremsky says
Are the names in the correct fields? I've had people say the sync swapped them.
Nick Hughes says
So far so good as I have had it fully operational for a week. I recall I had an Outlook crash prior to this and when I went to restart, asked me to start in safe mode. I chose No but I think this is when Outlook determined iCloud was an issue and disabled the add-in.
I was having the same issue where you would enable from Manage Comm Add Inns. It simply would not enable. By managing Disabled Items, and then enabling, has worked. You soon know as in Outlook the calendar does not load under icloud but load as another calendar under your normal calendar.
Nick Hughes says
Hi Diane, I was struggling with this for a couple of days and have managed to solve. By going to the File>options>add-Inns and instead of selecting Manage Comm Add-Inns, select Manage Disabled Items then hit go. Enable iCloud, restart Outlook and this worked. By the way, I did have a number of calendars in my deleted items which I also emptied to clear any issues with locating the right files.
Diane Poremsky says
Is the icloud staying enabled? A couple of people said they tried it and it was disabled again.
Ramon Ender says
The normal functions between outlook 2010 and icloud 2.1 are doing a great job, but I have the big problem with the outlook contact mailing lists to sync with icloud, in the 1.1 update of icloud this issue should be fixed, but it doesn´t work. For any help I will be very thankfull.
Diane Poremsky says
I'll see what I can find out.
Craig G says
I have an iPhone 4S, Windows 7 and Outlook 2007. I have a gmail account that goes through the phone via Exchange. Until a few months ago, my Outlook address book and calendar synched seamlessly, one to the other. Now, they don't. I can't get the PC address book or calendar to push to the phone, and adding contacts/calendar info on the phone no longer pushes to the PC. I've tried manually synching from iCloud and logging in/out of iCloud and Outlook. No joy. Any insight??
Diane Poremsky says
Is the icloud addin in Outlook (Tools, Trust Center, Addins) disabled? That seems ot be the cause of this problem, which is hitting a lot of people. Unfortunately, I haven't figured out why it's being disabled. Re-enabling it doesn't seem to work for most people.
Brandon says
I did not have a backup of my contact list or my distribution lists, at least not to my knowledge, unless Outlook automatically saved them somewhere deep in the bowels of my computer files that I'm unaware of. To the best of searching ability, those distribution lists are gone for good. Not at all a happy camper right now.
I did what you suggested in signing out of iCloud, and it seems stalled - it's "running" in whatever it's doing, but I can't close it now. I'm quite fed up with iCloud and ready to simply remove it from all of my devices.
Brandon says
I have an iPhone 4 that I downloaded a Groups app to be able to mass text msg various groups of people that I need to. When I synced iCloud with Microsoft Outlook 2007, iCloud seems to have deleted my EMAIL distribution lists in Outlook & replaced them with my phone groups lists (that I use for text messaging). I cannot locate my email distribution lists at all - and they included hundreds of different emails. How can I recover those email distribution lists and can I remove iCloud from Outlook and return my Outlook to exactly the way it was before I synced it with iCloud?
Diane Poremsky says
Switch to the folder list - are they in any of the contacts folders or the deleted items folder? If not, do you have a backup copy of your pst file?
To remove the icloud, make sure you copy all contacts, appointments, and tasks from the icloud to your Outlook folders then close Outlook and open the icloud control panel. Sign out of iCloud (choose the 'don't keep' option) and sign back in. Deselect the email/calendar/contacts option and apply/close the dialog.
lisatierney@comcast.net says
Diane,
Thank you so much for all the knowledge you share here! When iCloud control panel on my Win 7-64 PC uploaded all my contacts and created its own folder in Outlook 2010, I now have duplicates for every contact in my iPhone. Can you walk me through the "safest" way to manage this? To make sure every contact is in iCloud, then purge and re-sync?
Diane Poremsky says
If the duplicates all have the same modified date, you can create a view that sorts by the modified date and delete them. That is the easiest way to clean up the mess.
Pelicanrick says
I appreciate the prompt response and it will save me hours of digging and speculation. One last thing, can i revert back to the manual sync with my Outlook and my Iphone without disabeling Icloud?
Diane Poremsky says
You can keep the icloud and not use it in outlook. I have not tried syncing by other means so I can't say for sure if it will affect the contents on the ipad/iphone, but you canturn off icloud sync in settings, so it should be ok.
Pelicanrick says
I have tried to use the Icloud calendar as a default so that it will sinc with my phone and ipads as well as show up in my Outlook schedule with alerts as well but I can't sem to get it to show up on my Oulook Today page which would tell me it is working. It will let me use it as a default but won't mesh with outlook other than just being there. Is there something that can be done in that they have done away with the manual sync in Itunes for both calendars and contacts?
Diane Poremsky says
The iCloud won't work with Outlook today. You can set it as default and set Outlook to start in the icloud calendar. In Outlook 2010/2013 the startup folder setting is in File, Options, Advanced.
Dain Bramage says
Perfect, thanks Diane. I must have looked everywhere but there!
Dain Bramage says
Am I missing something... is it possible to make iCloud the default folder for the iPhone? I find that any time I create a new contact on my iPhone, it never makes it to Outlook OR iCloud.
Diane Poremsky says
When you create items on the phone you need to select the iCloud folder. You can set the iCloud as default in Settings > Mail, Calendar, Contacts. At the very bottom are the default account settings, one for each Mail, Calendar, and Contacts.
Noor says
Thanks Diane, very comprehensive and valuable.
charles says
correct... and thats what i just finished doing..
Thanks
charles says
More FYI Diane,
I also tried selecting all contacts and then clicking on make a V-card and I can't get outlook to recognize it.. It only opens the first contact and adds to contact list ... The rest go ..
Diane Poremsky says
This is normal outlook behavior - it does not support multiple-contacts in a vcard. (It only recently started supporting multiple appointments in an ical). You need one contact per vcard.
charles says
Are you talking about my icon labeled as contacts on the icloud home page?
When I right click on contacts icon properties is not an option...
I get, open on a new tab , bookmark , save as.. etc...
If you are talking about the icloud contacts folder in outlook, I don't have that as a drop down option on my 2007. But on your tutorial I saw it as a drop down... Can't figure why mine doesn't have it..
Signed,
HELP again..
charles says
Diane,
I tried to select icloud in my address book drop down menu in outlook 2007 but I don't have that option. I lost my contacts after sync with iphone 5. Cant find .pst file or .vcf file anywhere either.
I tried to create a .vcf file using icloud. But how do I get it to explode into outlook contacts????
Thanks
Charles
Diane Poremsky says
Outlook doesn't support multicard vcards. Right click on the icloud contacts folder and choose properties - is it enabled as an address book?
ray dicks says
ok now im tottaly freaked out,
I was coping my outlook.pst files as well as the weir long name file that looks to windows like a folder that ends in .aplzod
I closed outlook to copy these files and then I rebooted
next think I know when I go to open outlook the i cloud isn't there? all contacts etc are gone.
what did I do?did I move a file I doubt it but ?? help please OMG
Diane Poremsky says
That file is just a local sync file and will be rebuilt when you resync - the contacts & appointments are in the cloud. Close Outlook, open the icloud control panel and sign out then sign back in.
Steve Janovec says
I recently purchased an Iphone and want to sync at a minimum, outlook contacts, calendars, tasks with categories. Ideal world I would also like to have two way syncing between iphone and outlook subfolders. What are my options to do this? Thanks.
Diane Poremsky says
Calendar, Contacts are not a big problem - both iphone and icloud can handle them. icloud tends to be a little goofy about syncing between the icloud folders and outlook folders - for that you can use a sync utility such as icloud sync from codetwo. Tasks (reminders in apple land) are not supported by icloud. I'll have to check on my ipad to see if categories sync - i don't think they do.
Prinolan Pillay says
Hi there
i am having a major problem with my icloud calendar. i use it for business and use outlook 2007. i do not have a microsoft exchange account and use an imap setting for my icloud link into outlook with the icloud control panel.
also important to note is that my itunes account is a gmail account.
2 things that happen specifically when dealing with people who are running microsoft exchange accounts.
if i send a meeting invite to someone, firstly if goes from my gmail account but using ical.
secondly, it sends either 1 or 2 invites. if its just 1 invite they received then the person receives it for an hour earlier than the time i have specified. if they receive 2 invites, 1 is for an hour earlier and 1 is for the right time.
problem is its confusing the hell out of people i deal with and they never know what time i mean.
can someone help solve this issue. i have changed my time zone from cape town to harare as i am based in johannesburg, south africa but its still happening
please help
Diane Poremsky says
It really sounds like a time zone problem. Does either of those time zones use Daylight time? Do you /your invitees live in an area that supports DST? You must use the correct time zone on the computer - if your area doesn't do DST, you need to use a time zone that doesn't support DST. You can't choose a time zone with the correct offset and disable DST. Somwewhere a time is set wrong.. but it's hard to say if its in gmail, your computer or the iphone. If you can figure out the cause of the second meeting, it will probably also point to the cause of the time zone difference.
When you send two invites, are you doing anything different that you aren't doing when you only send one? (Creating it in outlook, in gmail web access, directly in the icloud calendar instead of in outlook's calendar folder, etc). I know two things: gmail may send two messages if you save sent items in the gmail imap folder (outlook 2010) and icloud may resend a meeting invite added to its calendar.
Diane Poremsky says
Changes should sync down to the icloud folder. Go into control panel, icloud and sign out, then sign back in.
Fred says
They are in the iCloud folder in Outlook.
Fred says
Diane - I have the same problem as Marna, July 6: changes to contacts made in my iPhone or iPad don't sync back to Outlook 2010. New contacts made in iPhone/iPad do sync, but changes to contacts do not. All changes and new contacts made in Outlook do sync with iPhone/iPad.
Suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
Are they in the icloud folder in Outlook? That will tell us if the cloud part is broken or just the sync between Outlook and the icloud data store.
Ron says
I'm using iCloud with Outlook, and all my distribution lists disappeared. I still have all the contacts, in the correct folders, and if I open an email and hit the "To" button I can see the distribution lists, but can't see them when I open the folders in iCloud contacts. I need to be able to get to the distribution lists to make changes in them; it looks like they're still there, just can't see them in iCloud contacts. Any suggestions?
Diane Poremsky says
Are they in the Contacts folder? Go to the contacts navigation pane (Ctrl+3 will get you there) - see if the DLs are in the non-icloud Contacts folder.
Danny says
I use to be able to plug in my phone and the calendar/contacts would sync through Wi-Fi from my phone to Outlook 2010. Or I could add the calendar/contact items in Outlook and there was a "Refrese iCloud" icon on the Outlook ribbon and it would sync to my phone. That icon is gone now and the iCloud Outlook addin shows as disabled. When I try and add the addin I get a message stating “There are no add-in property pages to display".
Any ideas on how to get things working again? I tried unscyncing the calander/contacts by unchecking them from the iCloud control panel. I then uninstalled iCloud from the of and did a repair on outlook. After all that was done I reinstalled iCloud and sync'd the calander and contact items. The ones from the cloud sync'd down to Outlook but nothing new that I added went up or to my phone.
*** the calander/contact items are in the iCloud folder.
David W says
. Am just about to give up on IOS-MS..seriously considering ANdroid. I like IOS but it HAS to work properly with calendar sync.....
Thanks for your efforts :)
David W says
Hi Diane
Did you ever find out anything about the calendar sync issue with time zones using DST? I am still on Harare time as I cannot use Jerusalem (DST).
David W
Diane Poremsky says
No, I hadn't heard anything yet. I'll check again.
Tony says
If there is one reason I'd go back to an android phone, this syc issue is it - contacts in iCloud don't syc back to outlook s 2010
Diane Poremsky says
Are they in the icloud contact folder in Outlook? If so, they are in outlook, just not in your default contacts folder.
Marna says
When I change anything in a contact on my ipad or iphone, it immediately updates Icloud. But Icloud does not sync back to Outlook (2007). Yet everything else goes back and forth. If I edit a contact in Outlook, it migrates to Icloud and my other devices. Even if I add a new contact on the ipad/iphone, it DOES add to Outlook. Only changes within an existing contact will not sync back to Outlook. Any suggestions/thoughts? Thanks!
David W says
Thanks for the prompt reply!
I am using a pst file (pop mail), have tried with and without DST.
I tried d/ling the hot fix but it told me (in Hebrew) that nothing would be resolved with this fix. I am running English Win 7 64 bit sp1.
After reading the articles around the issue and found that outlook will ONLY sync correctly when the time zone of my PC, Iphone and iCloud site are set to use a timezone that does not use DST - in my case Harare/pretoria which is also GMT +2. The problem seems to be with MS and not apple - remember, that entering appointments either in an IOS device or straight into the icloud web calendar, results in a sync to my outlook with the correct times. A most inelegant and inconvenient workaround tho - will have to be resetting the time zones and fooling around with the config on at least three interfaces every time the clocks moves forward or back....
It was strange that the fix you listed said there was nothing to fix......
Thanks Diane
Diane Poremsky says
I'll see what i can find out - you shouldn't need to use the 'wrong' tz to sync.
David W says
Hi Diane - thanks for your informative article! I was wondering if you have come across this strange issue when syncing calendars from Outlook to icloud/iPhone:
when entering a meeting in outlook it always appears one hour earlier on my iPhone and on iCloud. Very frustrating. The time zones on my PC, iPhone and iCloud are exactly the same (Jerusalem GMT +2).
I have noticed that this does not happen when I enter the meeting on the iPhone or iCloud site - it appears the same time on outlook 2010. Only when I put in say a 10 am meeting in outlook, it comes out as 9 am on iCloud/iPad. I am running win 7 64 bit with office 2010. The only reference to this issue are the couple of web hits I get when searching - but it seems to vbe people cannot define the right time zone on iCloud; In my case, the PC, iPhone and iCloud are ALL on the same timezone.
DO you have any idea what is causing this?
Diane Poremsky says
Was there a time zone change there recently? I remember a KB article or two mentioning Jerusalem time zones. They might not be outlook 2010 articles but I'll see if i can find them - it might give us some clues.
Diane Poremsky says
Are you using online mode or cached? Is DST disabled? With Outlook 2010 and windows 7, you need to enable DST checkbox if the zone supports it.
The hotfix at https://support.microsoft.com/kb/2596485 includes a fix for Jerusalem TZ issues. It should be included in one of the recent updates - if you try to install this and get a message that the right version is not found, it's already installed.
Hamad says
Hi Diane,
I use my iPhone to sync my email, contacts and calendar with my 2010 exchange account from work. In that setup, any contact I save on my phone is immediately pushed to outlook on my desktop PC and vice versa (when I save a contact or accept a meeting invite, it shows on my iPhone).
I would like to be able to synchronize with my Gmail account simultaneously; i.e. when I save a contact or an event on my iPhone, I would like it to be automatically saved in both address books or calendars.
Is that possible?
Thanks for your help in advance.
Diane Poremsky says
To the best of my knowledge, no, the iphone keeps the accounts separate on the phone. I haven't looked into copying them between calendars or contacts on the iphone, but you would need ot do it yourself, unless there is an app that can do it.
Keith says
Hi,
I am using Outlook 2010 on windows 7 64 bit.
I have installed Icloud functions through the control panel and am using the addin "iCloud Outlook Add in"
When I make a new appointment, or contact in Outlook, it appears in Icloud and goes to my iphone.
When I try it the other way round, ie creating an appointment or contact on the iphone, it sends it to iCloud OK, but outlook doesnt receive it, even after hitting the refresh button.
Any ideas how to resolve please??
Thanks
Keith, UK.
Diane Poremsky says
that is a very common problem and I don't know of a resolution, other than using one of the sync utilities to sync it. Sorry.
Mike says
I am having the exact same problem as John (Nov 1) I cannot sync my contacts to iCloud, but was doing fine with MobileMe. I get the same unexpected error message and, to make matters worse, all of my contacts disappeared in Outlook. Does anyone know what is going on yet?
Diane Poremsky says
The disappeared part is normal - icloud moves the contacts to the icloud. You can copy them back to outlook or use one of the sync tools.
I would probably disable icloud (turn everything off in icloud's control panel) and re-enable, unless you've already tried it.
may west says
It's good to know my problems were not user error. :)
Michael says
To make the iCloud contact folder your default contact folder in Outlook, follow these steps:
Open Outlook's Address Book. Click on Tools. Then click on Options. The active window should be titled "Addressing." Under "When sending e-mail, check address lists in this order:" choose "Custom." Move "iCloud" to the top of the list. Next, under "When opening the address book, show this address list first:" select
"iCloud." With these configuration changes, your iCloud address book will become your default address book in Outlook.
Diane Poremsky says
That does not make the icloud contacts the default - it just shows them first when you hit the To button and uses that folder first when resolving names you type in the To field. The Contacts folder (and Calendar) in your default data file is always going to be the default one used when you create new contacts (or appointments). [icloud is automatically set as the first address book in icloud 1.01.]
The option in Outlook 2007 to select the contacts folder for personal contacts doesn't work with the icloud - you can select it but new contacts are always saved to the default contacts folder.
How resolution works: outlook searches the first folder for a march. If one is found its stops searching. If no match is found it moves on to the next address book. If icloud moved all items to the cloud and the folder is empty, it doesn't matter which is first. It makes it easier when you click the To button, but we recommend typing the first part of the persons name and resolving instead of using the address book dialog. (It's faster.)
Jason says
I too am having problems with iCloud. I was a paying MobileMe user and contacts synced well between my two desktops (home PC with Outlook and work PC with Outlook) and kept my iPhone synced between the two. Now, with iCloud, one computer has succesfully synced but on the other, I repeatedly get the "encountered unexpected error" when turning on "contacts" to sync. I even tried uninstalling the iCloud PC control panel, rebooting, and trying again. No luck. Anyone know how to revert back to MobileMe?? (I've scoured the web and have not yet found instructions to do so)
Diane Poremsky says
As far as I know, you can't revert back to mobileme - they are trying to get everyone off of it so it can be shut down.
John says
I have Windows 7, Outlook 2010 32 bit. I had MobileMe synced with my Outlook. I tried to move everything to iCloud which worked. Now I can not sync iCloud with Outlook. When I try to sync contacts I get the error message "Your setup couldn't be started because of an unexpected error." When I try to sync my calendar I get the message "Apple Outlook DAV Config has stopped working." I spend almost 6 hours with Apple support. They finally told me to contact Microsoft. Any ideas?
Diane Poremsky says
What all did they have you try? I'm not sure what I'd try first - a new profile with the icloud account configured or deleting the icloud database files.
Uninstalling is a last resort IMHO - itunes refuses to upgrade to 10.5 and i only installed it in sept when i got my ipad.
Jessi says
The new Icloud is great, but has anyone encountered that new contacts are not updating to the cloud if you are imputing them into Outlook 2010? It goes into the default database, but does not update into Icloud since that uses a seperate database. Does anyone have any suggestions? I either want to make new contacts save to the Icloud database or make the two sync. Thanks
Diane Poremsky says
You'll need to create them in the cloud's contact folder. Or move/copy them to it.
To save a contact to the icloud folder, in the open contact form you'll choose File, Move to folder and select the icloud contact folder. To make it easier, you can add the Move to command to the ribbon.