iPhone and Outlook 365 contacts not syncing

Anonymous
2019-11-15T17:24:05+00:00

Good morning all -

I have an iPhone and Outlook 365.  I use the iPhone native contacts / calendar / email apps.  I use Outlook on my laptop.  I use a live.com account for my calendar and contacts.  I do not use the Outlook app on my phone.

When I make a calendar item it immediately syncs with my phone, regardless of whether I made the appointment on the phone or on the laptop in Outlook.

HOWEVER the same is not true with Contacts. 

  1. Contacts I make or edit in Outlook on my laptop sync right away in the phone.
  2. Existing contacts that are edited on the phone sync right away in Outlook.
  3. New contacts made in the phone do not sync.
  4. If I edit the new iPhone contact it still won't sync.

What is going on and how can I fix this?  This is happening on two phones in my family.

Thanks for any help,

Chris

Outlook | Web | Outlook.com | Contacts

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  1. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T14:44:52+00:00

    It sounds to me like there are too many programs involved in yours.  I just use the native iPhone apps for phone, calendar, notes and it all works with my Outlook on my laptop.  Originally the phone didn't sync contacts made on the phone.  Now it just magically does.  I suspect because of an update to either IOS or Outlook.  Both have happened since I started this thread.

    I have an iPhone 11 Pro, IOS 13.5.1, Outlook 365 on my laptop with all the latest updates.

    Maybe Outlook for IOS is making it not work.  I found that using iTunes for syncing isn't good because you don't get instantaneous syncs.  And I can't stand iTunes as an interface.

    Have you tried the native iPhone apps?  Do they not work for you?  Do you need to use some form of Outlook for iPhones?  If you can just go back to the simple versions and try that, it works. (Although could this be an older phone issue?)

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  2. Anonymous
    2020-07-07T15:06:27+00:00

    i do need to use outlook.  it used to work years ago.  stopped and then i gave up trying to fix.  i even have IT support via work and they couldn't figure it out.  Who knows.  I've basically figure apple and microsoft products will never truly get along which is crazy to say in 2020, but why would things get better now.

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  3. Anonymous
    2020-07-13T20:00:25+00:00

    I know this is an older thread, and admittedly I did not read EVERY response, but maybe this will help.

    It sounds like you don't have your outlook (live) account set to the default for contacts.

    Go into settings on the iPhone and go to Contacts.  Look where it says default account -- it is likely set to iCloud.

    This would explain NEW contacts not syncing back to Outlook as they are going to iCloud.

    Contacts you had already created are being edited inside the correct account (Outlook) on the phone, because that is where they reside.   Make sense?

    Hope that helps!

    (I'm not from Microsoft, but I like to help!)

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  4. Anonymous
    2020-07-13T20:27:13+00:00

    this makes perfect sense and is appreciated, BUT, here's the thing, sadly i have it set to email, not iCloud.

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  5. Anonymous
    2020-07-13T20:27:24+00:00

    and thank you!

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