Did you know you can sync contacts from iPhone to your mac? Yes, there are multiple ways that you can keep your contacts always near you. So, it won’t be a matter anymore even if you accidentally break your iPhone or your entire phonebook get unfortunately wiped off, or simply if you upgrade to a new phone.
Keep reading if you want to know the steps to sync contacts from your iPhone to Mac without making a fuss.
iCloud at Rescue: Sync contacts with iCloud
Follow the below-listed steps to sync contacts using the Apple iCloud.
On your iPhone:
Step 1: Open the ‘Settings’ app in your home screen and tap on the ‘[Your Name] Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store’ appearing as the first item on the menu.
Step 2: Select ‘iCloud’, toggle on ‘Contacts’.
On your Mac:
Step 3: Click on the ‘Apple Menu’ on the top left corner.
Step 4: Click ‘System Preferences’ and select ‘iCloud’.
Step 5: Enter Apple ID credentials and log in.
Step 6: From the list, check the box next to ‘Contacts’.
Step 7: Select ‘Merge’ from the pop-up menu.
Now you’re all set and you can view the iPhone contacts list from the ‘All iCloud’ option in the ‘Contacts’ app on your Mac.
How to Sync Contacts from iPhone to Mac 2021 | Sync Contacts Without iCloud
However, there may be a few reasons which will dishearten your intentions to sync contacts using iCloud, such as the listed below.
- Your iPhone and Mac are signed-in to different iCloud accounts.
If your Mac is used by two or more users (e.g.: If you use an iMac as a personal computer in your household), then there is a chance that you may be switched on to another person’s iCloud Drive. Therefore, make sure you’re signed in to your own iCloud drive before following the above steps.
- Limited storage of your current iCloud storage plan.
In case you are already on a cap of the free 5GB storage of your iCloud, nothing will be synced to the iCloud drive including your contacts. If it is the case,
- Free up storage by deleting content that you aren’t using anymore
- Choose only apps on your iPhone you need to backup to iCloud
- delete old iCloud backups for the device you’re currently using, or older devices you may not use anymore.
- Use a storage cleaner app available in App Store such as Smart Cleaner – Clean Storage, Phone Cleaner – Clean Storage, Gemini Storage Cleaner to clean up duplicate contacts, screenshots, similar pictures and live photos on your iCloud.
However, if you’re not already using iCloud or iTunes is your all-time best companion used to sync your iPhone to Mac, the option is to manually sync contacts every time you add or update contacts.
Use a Lightning-to-USB Connector: Sync contacts without iCloud
If you’re going to use this method of syncing, make sure that you turn off iCloud features on your iPhone by following the below steps.
- Go to Settings > [Your Name] Apple ID, iCloud, iTunes & App Store
- Tap iCloud
- Toggle off iCloud features on the menu.
When you’re ready, go through the below steps.
Step 1: Connect the Lightning-to-USB connector to connect your iPhone to Mac.
Step 2: Open the iTunes app on your Mac.
Step 3: Click on the iPhone icon on the top left corner.
Step 4: Click ‘Info’ on the sidebar.
Step 5: Check the box next to ‘Sync Contacts’.
Step 6: Click ‘Apply’ at the bottom.
AirDrop Contacts: Sync contacts without iCloud
AirDrop is an application preinstalled on your iPhone which can be used to easily transfer files including contacts, photos, videos, map locations, and many more among supported Macintosh computers and iOS devices. Remember, this is also a method of manually syncing contacts from iPhone to Mac. So, you may need to repeat the below steps to sync all or multiple contacts.
On your iPhone:
Step 1: Launch the Control Center by swiping up from the bottom bezel of your iPhone or iPad and long-press the ‘Wi-Fi’ button to on Wi-Fi.
Step 2: Tap AirDrop and select ‘Contacts Only’ or ‘Everyone’ from the pop-up menu to turn on AirDrop.
On your Mac:
Step 3: Go to ‘Finder’ > ‘Go’ > ‘AirDrop’.
Step 4: In the AirDrop window, set ‘Contacts Only’ or ‘Everyone’ to discover devices around you.
Send contacts from iPhone to Mac:
Step 5: Launch Phone app and tap ‘Contacts’
Step 6: Tap on the contact you want to sync to your Mac and select ‘Share Contact’ on the contact’s homepage. In the pop-up, choose AirDrop > [your Mac’s name].
Step 7: On your Mac, click ‘Accept’ to receive the shared contact.
Use Gmail: Sync contacts without iCloud
Another workaround to manually sync contacts from iPhone to Mac is to sync iPhone contacts to Gmail.
On your iPhone:
Step 1. Go to the Settings app on your iPhone.
Step 2. Scroll down and select ‘Passwords & Accounts’.
Step 3. Tap on ‘Add Account’ and select ‘Google’.
Step 4. Enter your Google Account credentials and click ‘Next’.
Step 5. Click ‘Save’ once your account is successfully verified.
Step 6. Turn on ‘Contacts’ to sync your iPhone contacts to Gmail and click ‘Save’ again.
On your Mac:
Step 7. Go to Google Contacts and sign in with the account you signed in or created on your iPhone.
Step 8. Select the contacts you want to import to your Mac and select ‘Export’.
Step 9. In the new window, check on ‘Selected contacts’ and set the format you want to export the contacts. Click ‘Export’ to export your iPhone contacts to your Mac.
It is always a wise move to keep a backup of your contacts. So, you don’t have to worry about losing your valuable business contacts or the contacts of your loved ones. Now that you have learned how to sync contacts from iPhone to Mac and most importantly without having to pay for any of the above methods.