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Apple Contacts software too bad to use now. Need recommendations for new contacts software.

Using macOS Big Sur 11.7.10.


Over the years Apple has cancelled the ability to sync Apple Contacts at home via a wire and mandated all Contacts syncing to go through iCloud. The result is iCloud updating that stops your ability to use the application and duplicate contacts. I'll list all the issues here looking for any help with them and ask for suggestions for a different contacts software that people are using that is working for them.


After Apple turned off personal at home wire syncing and made us all use iCloud many issues showed up.


iCloud immediate updates: Apple has programmed iCloud to update so quickly that if you change anything in a contact the server must be updated immediately and the "rainbow circle of death" shows up canceling any ability to use the app while the serve. This happens so often (I don't know the duration) that as soon as you change anything in a contact, you get the rainbow circle of death as Apple updates their iCloud servers and you can't type anything in Contacts as this nefarious update process occurs. Is there any workaround to this incessant update issue cancelling our ability to type while it happens.


Duplicate Contacts: I have up to seven duplicate contacts for each contact in my library now, not of my own doing. It will take me weeks to fix this. If I maintain just an iCloud database, there is always the danger of receiving, "do you want to maintain a copy on your computer" and the following deleting of all your contacts off your own computer if you select the wrong response. So I maintain a list of contacts associated with an email account AND my iCloud list. This has resulted in duplicating my contacts seven times. So I have to go in and edit each contact and delete all the duplicates for all of my 3000+ contacts. Any work around for this!


Drag and drop no longer works: If I update a contact, I can not drag and drop that contact into any group on the left. I have to quit Contacts and open it up again to enable drag and drop, which is annoying and time consuming.


All these issues have made it almost impossible to continue using Apples Contacts software. I don't see any easy fixes for this and I won't be updating my macOS until I buy a new MacBook Pro (when they get rid of the screen "notch" in ten years) so it looks like I'll need an outside software for my contacts going forward. Any suggestions would be appreciated for a software that:


Allows home syncing with a wire.

Does not duplicate contacts.

Does not disable drag and drop

Does not doable itself with server updates.


Thank you in advance.

MacBook Pro (2017 – 2020)

Posted on Oct 21, 2024 2:59 PM

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Question marked as Top-ranking reply

Posted on Oct 21, 2024 6:24 PM

Hello Anne~ Keep trying your best. I appreciate your helpful attitude 🙏🏻🙏🏻


~Katana-San~

9 replies

Oct 21, 2024 4:10 PM in response to J Bertram

Reply to JBertram


Hi there ,


You don't have to use iCloud for your Contacts , just go to iCloud and don't highlight the circle for it .

You can connect a cable and device to your desktop computer , I do so for my iTunes library because I don't use the Apple Music subscription .

How long is it taking for the server to update ?

Instead of drag & drop , at the bottom of each contact there's an option " add to list " .

Look in the Mac App Store … in search type Contacts , choose a result and read the reviews by other users .

And , no need to maintain a Contacts list for your email app , mail will bring up the contact while you're typing in the name for " To" .

That's all of the suggestions that I have , try support.apple.com for reading material about it .

☘️

Oct 21, 2024 4:18 PM in response to SteelCityAnne

So you're telling me that since 2016 when Apple turned this off and I've been trying to use it for these 8 years, and all my phone calls and screen sharing and demonstrations and proving this to Apple, and then them sending it to engineering and coming back agreeing that Apple turned this off... that now you are right and it's been working the entire time? Is that what you are saying?


And the "add to list" you are talking about exists on iOS only and does not currently exist in macOS Contacts.


I've been using Apple since 1979. It seems you don't understand what I'm talking about becuase you are mentioning iTunes which has nothing to do with Apple Contacts... and you are mentioning a feature of iOS ("add to list") and not a feature of macOS Contacts.

Oct 21, 2024 5:57 PM in response to SteelCityAnne

Anne,


It is not possible to connect an iPhone to an Apple computer in your home and sync contacts on your iPhone to your home Apple computer or vice versa (sync contacts from your Apple computer to your iPhone).


This was turned off in 2016 by Apple.


Wire syncing of contacts between your own devices without going through iCloud has been turned off since 2016.


Thank you for your support Anne.


Apple Contacts software too bad to use now. Need recommendations for new contacts software.

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