7 Best Fixes for Outlook Contacts Not Syncing on iPhone and Mac

If you prefer using an Outlook account to save your contacts, you can sync them with the Contacts app on your iPhone and Mac. You don’t have to install any separate app on your iPhone or Mac to access your contacts once you sync them on your devices.

However, some users complain that their Outlook contacts are not syncing with iPhone and Mac. If you are also facing the same, here are the best ways to fix Outlook contacts not syncing on iPhone and Mac.

1. Check if Contact Syncing Is Enabled

You need to check if contact syncing has been enabled for your Outlook account. This is the first solution if your iPhone or Mac is not syncing with Outlook contacts. Here’s how to check the same.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Contacts.

Step 3: Tap on Accounts.

Step 4: Select your Outlook account and check if Contacts syncing is enabled.

If not, tap the toggle next to Contacts to enable it.

Step 5: After that, go back and tap on your iCloud account name at the top.

Step 6: Tap on iCloud.

Step 7: Select Show All.

Step 8: Tap the toggle next to Contacts.

Step 9: Close the Settings app, wait for some time, and open Contacts to check if the problem is solved.

On Mac

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Contacts, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Contacts at the top-right corner and select Settings.

Step 3: Under the Accounts tab, select your Outlook account from the left menu and click the checkbox next to Enable This Account.

Step 4: Close the window and open Settings on your Mac.

Step 5: Click on your Apple account name from the left menu.

Step 6: Select iCloud.

Step 7: Click on Show All.

Step 8: Click the toggle next to Contacts and select Done.

Step 9: Close the Settings window and check if the problem is solved.

2. Set Outlook As Default Account

If your Outlook contacts are still not syncing with iCloud, you can check if your Outlook account is set as default. Here’s how.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and select Contacts.

Step 3: Tap on Default Account.

Step 4: Select Outlook.

Step 5: Close the Settings app and check if the problem is solved.

On Mac

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Contacts, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Contacts at the top-right corner and select Settings.

Step 3: Under the General tab, click the dropdown next to Default Account.

Step 4: Select Outlook.

Step 5: Close the window and check if the problem is solved.

3. Switch From Mobile Data to Wi-Fi (iPhone)

If your contacts are still not syncing between Outlook and iCloud on your iPhone, you need to check your internet speed. If you are using Mobile Data, we suggest switching to a Wi-Fi network. This would provide a faster and more stable internet connection for your iPhone. If you have a dual-band router, we suggest connecting your iPhone to a 5GHz frequency band.

4. Disable Low Data Mode for Wi-Fi

After you connect to a Wi-Fi network, you need to ensure that Low Data Mode has been disabled for the connected Wi-Fi network. You need a good internet speed from your Wi-Fi to sync your Outlook contacts. Here’s how to check the same on your iPhone and Mac.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Tap on Wi-Fi.

Step 3: Tap the ‘i’ icon next to the connected Wi-Fi network.

Step 4: Tap the toggle next to Low Data Mode to disable the feature.

Step 5: Close Settings and check if the problem is solved.

On Mac

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Wi-Fi, and press Return.

Step 2: Click on Details next to the connected Wi-Fi network name.

Step 3: Click the toggle next to Low Data Mode to disable the feature.

Step 4: Click on Ok to confirm.

Step 5: Close the Settings window and check if the problem is solved.

5. Add Your Outlook Account Again

If your Outlook contacts are still not syncing, try adding your Outlook account again. This means you can log in again with your Outlook account on your iPhone and Mac.

On iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app on your iPhone.

Step 2: Scroll down and tap on Contacts.

Step 3: Select Accounts.

Step 4: Select your Outlook account and tap on Delete Account.

Step 5: Tap on Delete Account again to confirm.

Step 6: Tap on Add Account and add your Outlook account again.

Step 7: Close Settings and check if the problem is solved.

On Mac

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Internet Accounts, and press Return.

Step 2: Select your Outlook account.

Step 3: Click on Delete Account.

Step 4: Click Ok to confirm.

Step 5: Select Add Account and enter your Outlook credentials again.

Step 6: After that, check if the problem is solved.

6. Force Quit and Restart Contacts App

You can also try to force quit and restart the Contacts app on your iPhone and Mac. This is another basic yet effective solution to give the app a fresh start.

On iPhone

Step 1: On the home screen, swipe up and hold to reveal the background app windows.

Step 2: Swipe right to look for the Contacts app and swipe up to remove it.

Step 3: Relaunch the Contacts app and check if the problem is solved.

On Mac

Step 1: Click the Apple icon at the top-left corner and select Force Quit.

Step 2: Select the Contacts app and click on Force Quit.

Step 3: Open the Contacts app again and check if the problem is solved.

7. Update Contacts App

The last solution that we recommend is to update the Contacts app. Do this if none of the solutions have worked on your iPhone or Mac.

Update on iPhone

Step 1: Open the Settings app and tap on General.

Step 2: Tap on Software Update.

Step 3: If an update is available, download and install it.

Step 4: After that, relaunch the Contacts app and check if the problem is solved.

Update on Mac

Step 1: Press Command + Spacebar keyboard shortcut to open Spotlight Search, type Check For Software Updates, and press Return.

Step 2: If an update is available, download and install it.

Step 3: Once done, check if the problem is solved.

Sync Your Outlook Contacts

These solutions will help fix the Outlook contacts not syncing with iPhone and Mac. You can also read our post to change your Outlook account password.