iPhone iPad contacts won’t sync over iCloud

Hi,

My iPhone contacts don’t sync to my iPad. The iPhone contacts are more up to date.

Software on both devices is up to date - IOS 15.6 ( they didn’t sync before this latest upgrade either).

Same Apple ID on both.

Settings > Name > ICloud > Contacts is toggled on, both devices.

I can access iCloud on both devices in other apps, such as files, photos, and storage.

When I open contacts on the iPad and swipe down, nothing happens, like it’s not even noticing the swipe. Is this the problem, and what is the fix?

Thanks.

iPad, iPadOS 15

Posted on Aug 16, 2022 07:46 AM

Reply
11 replies

Aug 17, 2022 12:26 PM in response to Emerion

Hello Emerion,


Welcome to Apple Support Communities!

We want to help ensure that your contacts are syncing to all devices as expected.

Please confirm iCloud Contacts is enabled using these steps:


"On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud. 
  2. Turn on Contacts."

This Apple Support page has the full details: Set up and use iCloud Contacts - Apple Support


If it's already on here as you've described, check the iCloud website to see if all of your contacts are showing there.

If they are all listed there, we know the issue is only with the iPad. Or are you using multiple accounts for your contacts?


We hope this helps to isolate the issue and get all the contacts to sync.

Cheers!


Aug 17, 2022 04:22 PM in response to Emerion

Emerion,


Since the contacts that are displayed on your iPhone do not appear on the website for iCloud and on your iPad that is synced to iCloud, there's a chance that the contacts are synced to a third party email account. On your iPhone, please go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts. If you have a third party email account, we suggest to tap on each account that's listed and see if "Contacts" is turned on. If you identify that a third party email account has Contacts toggled on, then you'll want to add that same email account to your iPad and have Contacts turned on. This may explain as to why these specific contacts are not appearing on both the iCloud website and on your iPad.


If needed, here's how to add an email account on your iPad:


Set up your contacts account


You can set up your email accounts to share contacts with the Contacts app. If you have a contacts account, like a business or school directory, you can set that up too. Here's how:


  1. Go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts.
  2. Tap Add Account.
  3. Tap the service that you have an account with. Or tap Other to set up a contacts account, like an LDAP or CardDAV account.
  4. Enter your information and password.
  5. Tap Next.


If you have multiple accounts set up in the Contacts app and want to see contacts for a specific one, open Contacts and tap Groups in the upper-left corner.




Turn Contacts on or off for an account


Want to add or remove all of the contacts from an account that you already set up? Just turn Contacts on or off for that account:


  1. Go to Settings > Contacts > Accounts.
  2. Tap the account that has contacts that you want to add or remove.
  3. To add contacts, turn on Contacts. To remove contacts, turn off Contacts, then tap Delete from My iPhone.




This information is outlined in this helpful article: Manage and delete contacts on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support


We look forward to hearing back from you with an update.


Kind regards.


Aug 17, 2022 04:04 PM in response to Emerion

Assuming that both your iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - temporarily disabled Contacts in iCloud, then force restart both devices:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > iCloud > Contacts - set to OFF


Restart your iPad - Apple Support

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


After restarting both devices, enable Contacts in iCloud:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > iCloud > Contacts - set to ON

Aug 19, 2022 02:53 AM in response to Emerion

To reiterate the advice provided in my previous reply…


Assuming that both your iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID - temporarily disabled Contacts in iCloud, then force restart both devices:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > iCloud > Contacts - set to OFF


Restart your iPad - Apple Support

Force restart iPhone - Apple Support


After restarting both devices, enable Contacts in iCloud:

Settings > [Your Name / AppleID] > iCloud > Contacts - set to ON

Aug 18, 2022 02:37 AM in response to bryanr14

You were right, my iPhone had 2 accounts, and the iPad had only one. I’ve added the account, now both devices look the same in settings > contacts. Still no sync of contacts on the iPad though. I waited for a while. As I said in my original post, swiping down in iPad contacts has no effect. Nothing moves, as if swipe down isn’t even supposed to be an option. Should it look like it’s searching when I do that?

Aug 19, 2022 03:19 AM in response to LotusPilot

I’ve re-read your advice. My only slight doubt is about the statement “Assuming that both your iPad and iPhone are signed-in to iCloud with the same AppleID”. I think I am, I don’t really use the other AppleID, and the same one is shown on both devices at the top of settings > my name. I’ve searched on the apple site and can’t see how to tell this for certain though. Signing out of iCloud and back in looks a bit drastic, should I do that?

Aug 19, 2022 03:45 AM in response to Emerion

I’m not suggesting (at this stage) that you sign-out from your AppleID/iCloud account - but I am recommending that you temporarily disable Contacts from synchronising with iCloud.


Nothing will be lost; your data will remain on the devices.


Once you have disabled synchronisation of Contacts with iCloud (on both iPad and iPhone) - and performed the forced restart (of both devices) - you can then re-enable Contacts in iCloud. The objective of this exercise is to reset the sync’ process - as sometimes toggling settings on/off/on will not be sufficient to reset the setting.


It may appear counterintuitive, but it is sometimes necessary to turn something off in settings and then turn it back on, punctuated with a system restart, to ensure that the setting is truly as indicated.

This thread has been closed by the system or the community team. You may vote for any posts you find helpful, or search the Community for additional answers.

iPhone iPad contacts won’t sync over iCloud

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