How to Sync Contacts From iPhone to Mac.
Your contacts are not just numbers and addresses; these are close, acquaintances, and business connections. Each contact’s card probably contains sensitive or confidential information that you don’t want to lose.
If you use Apple products at and outside work, you probably use Messages and FaceTime to connect with family, friends, work colleagues, or others on your networks. One way to avoid the hassle of updating all their numbers on every new device is to sync your contacts.
Syncing helps you update, transfer, and back up items across devices so you can keep the same items updated everywhere.
This guide shows you how to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac so you can access them from anywhere.
How to Sync Contacts from iPhone to Mac
After connecting iPhone to Mac, the first step before syncing contacts is to create a backup. Backing up your contacts ensures that none of them go missing, and you can easily restore your backup if something goes wrong.
- To back up your iPhone contacts, connect your iPhone to your Mac, select Finder on your Mac, and select your iPhone under Location.
- Then select the General tab and select Back up now.
You can also backup iPhone contacts to iCloud and access them from your Mac.
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- To do this, go to iCloud.com on your web browser, log in and select Contacts.
- Select all contacts and then click the gear icon in the lower left corner of the screen.
- Then select Export vCard and the file will be downloaded to your Mac’s Downloads folder.
After the backup is complete, follow these steps to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac.
Sync contacts from iPhone to Mac using iCloud
When you set up your iPhone, your contacts and calendars sync wirelessly to iCloud. However, you can sync your contacts with your Mac by checking the box under Sync Contacts to activate it and specify your preferences from the options available.
In the Sync Contacts section, you can choose to sync all or selected contacts to iCloud and your contact list will be updated.
- To turn on iCloud syncing, open Settings on your iPhone, tap your name, and then tap iCloud. On iOS 10.2 or earlier, open Settings and tap iCloud.
- Move the slider next to Contacts to the on / green position.
- Click Merge if prompted if you want to merge or undo. Your new contacts will be merged with any old contacts you already have in iCloud and then downloaded to your device.
- Turn on iCloud contact sync on Mac so you can access all your contacts on both devices. To do this, log into your Mac and choose Menu System Preferences.
- Select iCloud and check the box next to Contacts.
All contacts, including any new ones on your Mac that you didn’t have on your iPhone, will sync via iCloud. You can access your contacts from the Contacts app on your Mac.
Note. If you have an iPhone with iOS 5 or later, you don’t need to connect your iPhone to your Mac to sync. You can sync when both devices are connected to the same Wi-Fi network. However, you need to connect your devices with a cable to set up Wi-Fi sync and then turn on Wi-Fi sync.
How to use AirDrop to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac
AirDrop is an app on Apple devices that lets you send items wirelessly to a nearby Mac or another iOS device. You can share contacts, documents, videos, photos, map locations, websites, and more.
You don’t need to install any software or USB cable to use AirDrop on iPhone and Mac. Just make sure Bluetooth and Wi-Fi are working properly and your iPhone and Mac are within reach.
- Open Control Center on iPhone. Tap to turn on Bluetooth, WiFi, and then turn on AirDrop.
- Turn on AirDrop on your Mac by choosing Finder AirDrop. Make your Mac discoverable by your contacts or everyone.
- Open Phone Contacts and tap the contact or contacts you want to transfer. Click Share Contact.
- Select AirDrop [your Mac’s name] at the invitation, and then select Accept on your Mac to receive contacts.
Note. If your contacts are stored in a third-party email service, add an email to your iPhone and turn on Contacts. This way, all information from contacts will be uploaded to iCloud and you can access contacts from your Mac. Also, check out our guide on how to transfer Google Contacts to iPhone
How to use iTunes to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac
On Mac computers running macOS Mojave or earlier, you can use iTunes to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac.
- To do this, open iTunes on your Mac and connect to your iPhone Click on your iPhone’s name and select the Info tab.
- Select the Sync Contacts checkbox and click Sync (or Apply). After iTunes has finished backing up your contacts, you can sync them with your Mac and check the Contacts app to make sure they’re all merged.
If you have macOS Catalina on your Mac, you won’t find iTunes. However, you can use Finder to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac.
- To do this, connect your iPhone to your Mac, open Finder, and select your iPhone in the left sidebar.
- Click Trust on iPhone and Mac.
- Then select the Info tab on your Mac, select the Synchronize contacts with (iPhone name) checkbox, and select Apply.
Keep your contacts in sync
Keeping all your contacts in sync between iPhone and Mac means you never lose them or have to manually update them every time you add or remove a contact. They will magically appear as soon as you log in, and any changes made on any of the devices will be carried over to all connected devices.
If you’re having trouble syncing contacts from iPhone to Mac, check your connection, available storage space, or iCloud settings
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