Linked Contacts don't stay linked

Question

Linked Contacts don't stay linked

I have MacOS 14.6.1 set up with both an iCloud and a Google account. I have Contacts set to use both of them. I see both accounts have Contacts in them.

Sometimes I see that both accounts have a card for the same person. I select them both and link them. It all looks fine (there is just one card in Contacts). Sometime later I come back and both cards are back. I haven't edited them — I think it is because of a background sync.

One other thing I'll note is that the Look for Duplicates doesn't find these for some reason. Which is surprising because in some cases they are very similar or seemingly identical.

Posted on Sep 14, 2024 9:30 PM

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Answer 1

PRP_53

Level 10

91,951 points

Sep 15, 2024 2:39 AM in response to adam_messinger

Pardon my ignorance, but what is " I select them both and link them. " ?

A contact can appear in Google and the same contact can appear in iCloud

They may have the same details though they are each on two different Service

One being Google and the other being on iCloud

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Answer 2

Oct 20, 2024 7:27 PM in response to PRP_53

It used to be that you could link the same contact in multiple accounts and keep them in sync but with each update, Apple appears to break this more and more. In fact Contacts currently is completely garbage if you want to sync and share contacts.

Contacts does not work in "Family Sharing" so my wife and I have our own icloud accounts and a shared apple account that we used for the family long before Family Sharing existed. Prior to Family Sharing, we were able to have our own card in our own icloud account (which you have to have to avoid Apple and Siri confusing us) and also have our same details in the shared account, so that if we have make changes in one it would reflect in the other and the other family members that use the family account would have the same details.

Currently (I'm on iOS 18.0.1 and 15.0.1 on macOS) this is no longer working. Syncing "linked" contacts no longer keeps contacts in sync.

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Answer 3

PRP_53

Level 10

91,951 points

Oct 21, 2024 6:50 AM in response to Happy Dad

Respectfully, this ship sailed almost a month ago

If there is a specific technical issue using iCloud and Google Services on this machine

It is suggested to open a New Question of Your Own with all the appropriate details

Perhaps we or some other contributor will pick up your question and offer some guidance

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