Why are Calendar alerts (other than default alerts) not correctly syncing across devices?

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Lisa2014 Author

Level 1

13 points

Why are Calendar alerts (other than default alerts) not correctly syncing across devices?

I use Calendar on my MacBook Air (MacOS Monterey v12.4), iPhone (iOS 15.5) and iPad (iOS 15.5).

[Note: this is not a new issue but has existed for a while and for more than the latest OS version on each device. However, I don't recall if it occurred before I switched to Monterey.]
I set up all events using iCloud, using the same calendar (Lisa), and I only have one calendar.
Under Settings, for Calendar, my default alert for new events is set the same on all devices; the default alert is set for "at time of event".
All information for a given event syncs fine across all devices. as long as I use the default alert time.
The problem is that the alert time does not correctly sync across devices when I've manually chosen a different alert time for an event.
The resulting alert time differs on each device and how it differs depends on which device I set up the event or on which device I view the event.
The problem happens if I manually chose a different alert time when I set up the event OR if I manually change the alert time for an existing event.
Forgot to mention on original question...I have tried changing my default alert but the issue of incorrectly syncing alerts across devices still occurs.

The table below shows what happens. I set up 3 test events, one on each device. Each was set up with a single alert, manually selecting "30 mins before event". Across the top is the device used to set up the event. Each row shows what the alert is set at, when the event is viewed on a different device.

I have tried these test events more than once, on earlier OS versions with similar results.

I'm wondering if this is happening to others.

Posted on Jul 20, 2022 06:49 AM

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Answer 1

TammyW_03

Community Specialist

Jul 21, 2022 09:03 AM in response to Lisa2014

Hey Lisa2014,

You provided some great details into the issue you're having with the alerts not syncing across your devices for calendar events. The steps in the following guide may help to resolve this: If your iCloud Contacts, Calendars, or Reminders won’t sync - Apple Support

In addition to those steps, make sure the time shows correct on all devices:

Set the date and time on your Mac - Apple Support

Change the date and time on iPhone - Apple Support

Change the date and time on iPad - Apple Support

If you can't change the time or time zone on your Apple device - Apple Support

Let us know how it goes.

Take care!

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Answer 2

chuckbl

Community Specialist

Jul 23, 2022 12:59 PM in response to Lisa2014

Lisa2014,

Did you also get the opportunity to update your iPhone to iOS 15.6 and your iPad to iPadOS 15.6?

Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support

If so, you'll want to reach out to Apple Support so they can look into your particular situation further: Contact - Official Apple Support

Take care.

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Answer 3

Lisa2014 Author

Level 1

13 points

Jul 23, 2022 08:21 AM in response to TammyW_03

Hi Tammy. So I've tried everything that was suggested on the links you provided. The ONLY change I had to make was to the default alert set up on my iCloud calendar when I access it via the browser (rather than via the app on my Mac, iPhone, or iPad). In the case of the browser, it was previously set to 15 mins and so I changed the default to 0 mins. I also closed all my apps, browsers, etc. and then relaunched. Subsequent to this there was an update to the Mac operating system (v12.5) which I ran prior to setting up my test events. (This may explain why you'll see changes to how events set up on the Mac appeared on my other devices).

The next day I once again set up events on each of my devices:

when I left the default alert (i.e., time of event), everything synced fine (which was also the case originally)
when I manually changed the default alert, while the event showed up in the correct place, once again the manual default alerts were not correctly synced. FYI, I tried doing this 3 different ways from each device
- When I set up the event I manually set the default to 30 mins.
- When I set up the event I manually set the default to 15 mins (just in case the issue was just with the 30 min alert setting)
- Set up event using default alert (at time of event). Once the event existed on the device, I opened it on the same device and then used "edit" to manually change the alert to 15 mins.

The table below shows what happened. I've highlighted changes to the previous chart in red. You'll note that how Mac-created events showed up on the iPhone and iPad changed; perhaps this was related to the operating system update.

If anyone has any other suggestions, great. Otherwise, if this issue does not occur on other people's devices, that's fine. I'm not willing to go through the hassle of reloading all my operating systems to try to fix this. I keep current with all operating system updates so at some point perhaps it will resolve itself on my devices.

Thanks for help with this.

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