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Address book sync issues

I had 3 phone calls with Apple Support yesterday. If I enter an address into Contacts on my iMac, it is not reflected anywhere else (iPhone, iPad, iCloud). The last advisor (a "senior" advisor) determined that my iMac was too old to updated to the latest software, and then devised some Byzantine plan for me to download all my photos into my photo app on my iMac (instead of it just being the thumbnails) and then have me sign out and then if that didn't work, have me reinstall the OS.


This all sounded INSANE. I allowed the "download" of the photos to take place "overnight" per his instructions. I woke up this morning: nothing was downloaded. So, I went back to "optimize storage" and I will just build an address book in Google Sheets, because that will be the same across platforms.


My iMac is from 2017. I love it and it works great. To think I should have to go through the above steps to "sync" my address book is INSANE. To think that if I don't have the latest OS on my computer (and now learn that I can't get it because at 7 years, the computer is "too old" even though it works perfectly) that I therefore cannot sync my address book is INSANE.


Also, I have no idea how to find the initial post I make here and can only hope that someone might respond to it (and yes, I have selected to be notified), but just to be able to find the post without notification seems to be impossible.


I love Apple products,


[Edited by Moderator]

Posted on Nov 12, 2024 4:46 PM

Reply
5 replies

Nov 12, 2024 5:08 PM in response to Tatami53

It will help us get a good idea of what is causing your problem if you provide a report of your system, that way we do not have to play 20 questions with you. The report we are requesting does NOT provide any personal information and is extremely safe to use. Please navigate towww.Etrecheck.com and download the free version of EtreCheck. Once you have you downloaded the app and installed it, please run the report and save it. This report will help us get a good idea what has been installed on your system and help us be able to diagnose what may be wrong.

 

When you have your report, you can attach it when you reply to this message and we can then review it and help you determine what is needed to get your system running well again. 

 

For instructions on how to download your EtreCheck report and attach it to your reply to this message please click How to use the Add Text Feature When Post… - Apple Community It is helpful to us if you download the report to your Desktop.


BTW, do you have any of the following third party apps installed on your Mac?


       •      Antivirus Apps

       •      Cleaning Apps

       •      Security Apps

       •      VPN Apps

       •      Maintenance Apps


If you do, ding ding ding, that is the cause of the problem.

 


Nov 12, 2024 5:36 PM in response to rkaufmann87

Thank you, but I'm not going to do that. Also, I do not have any of the apps on my Mac. Also, this problem happened at least twice in the past, when in fact my OS was perfectly fine and up to date, so to think that now suddenly the "OS" is "out of date" is worthless for me. If Apple is telling me, "Yeah, sorry, you'll have to buy a new computer with a new OS so you can sync your address book, I will have a polite two-word response for them.


I'm building a contact list in Google Sheets. It's already a BILLION times better. "Contacts" is a dinosaur "telephone pages" app that operates like it's from the 1980s. Bye Felicia!

Nov 12, 2024 8:23 PM in response to Tatami53

This is a user to user forum, Apple is simply our host and does not read or participate in these forums. I am simply an end user like yourself however with many years of experience. If you do not want to use the EtreCheck tool I totally understand and perhaps someone else will chime in to try and help you. However without any information about your system our hands are really tied. The EtreCheck app is a trusted app and does NOT provide any personal information, it simply lets us know what has been installed on the computer.


If you would like to post an EtreCheck report great I (and likely other experienced users will too)will look over and see if we can detect any obvious issues. If you do not want to as you previously stated, then as mentioned good luck because we have zero to go on.


If you prefer to only work with Apple, perhaps you should book an appointment at your local Apple Authorized Service Provider and maybe they can find what the problem is.

Address book sync issues

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