How to Sync Contacts to Mac from iPhone: 5 Best Ways

Keeping my iPhone and Mac contacts in sync used to be a challenge, but I’ve found some easy methods that work great. Here’s what I’ve learned.

How to Sync Contacts to Mac From iPhone

If you’re looking to move your iPhone contacts to your Mac, there are multiple ways to do it. Below, I’ve shared five ways to sync contacts to Mac from iPhone.

1. Using iCloud to Sync Contacts

If you prefer automatic updates, iCloud is perfect for syncing contacts and data across your Apple devices. Here’s how you can sync contacts from your iPhone to your Mac using iCloud:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and tap your Apple ID at the top of the screen.

2. Select iCloud on the next screen.

3. Click Show All under the Apps Using iCloud section.

4. Toggle on the switch next to Contacts.

Now that you have turned on contact syncing on your iPhone, here’s how to turn on contact syncing on Mac:

1. Click the Apple icon at the top-left corner and select System Settings.

2. Click your Apple ID in the upper left and select iCloud.

3. Click the Show All button under the Apps Using iCloud section.

4. Toggle on the Contacts option.

5. Click Merge on the pop-up and it will sync your iPhone contacts to your Mac.

6. Open the Contacts app on your Mac, and your contacts will be there.

2. Using AirDrop to Transfer Contacts

AirDrop is a game-changer for quickly syncing contacts from iPhone to Mac. Here’s how to use it:

1. Connect your iPhone and Mac to a stable Wi-Fi network.
2. Turn on AirDrop on both your Mac and iPhone.

a. On iPhone: Access the Control Center. Press and hold the network settings card, which includes the Wi-Fi and Bluetooth icons. Then, tap the AirDrop icon and select Everyone to allow contacts to sync via AirDrop.

b. On Mac: Open Finder > AirDrop > Allow me to be discovered by > Everyone.

3. Open the Contacts app on your iPhone and select the contact you want to sync to your Mac. You can select individual or multiple contacts at once by tapping the Select button. Then, tap Share.

4. Select AirDrop from the list of sharing options.

5. Your Mac should appear as an AirDrop option on your iPhone. Tap Mac’s icon to select it as the recipient.
6. On your Mac, you will receive an AirDrop notification that [your iPhone] would like to share a contact card. Click Accept to start the transfer.
7. A .vcf file will download. Double-click it, and it will open the Contacts app. Select Add.
8. This will sync your contacts to the Mac Contacts app.

3. Using Google or Microsoft Accounts to Sync Contacts

Using Google or Microsoft accounts makes syncing contacts between iPhone and Mac simple and hassle-free. Here’s a quick guide on how to sync your iPhone contacts to your Mac using Google or Microsoft accounts:

1. On your Mac, go to System Settings by clicking the Apple icon in the top menu.

2. Select Internet Accounts in the left sidebar.

3. Under Internet Accounts, you may see your Google or Microsoft accounts. If not, you can add them by clicking the Add Account button.

4. Choose the account you want to add from the list.

5. Follow the on-screen instructions to add your account.
6. After you have signed in, make sure the Contacts toggle is on. This will ensure your iPhone’s contacts are synced to your Google or Microsoft account.

4. Using Gmail to Import Contacts

I often use Gmail to sync and manage contacts across devices. It’s simple to import iPhone contacts to your Mac. Here’s how to import your iPhone contacts to your Mac using Gmail:

1. On your iPhone, go to Settings and select Contacts.

2. Click Add Account and select Google. If your account is already added, click Accounts.

3. Next, click Add Account.

4. Select Google from the list and tap Continue on the pop-up.

5. Enter your Gmail address and password to sign in and click Next.

6. After verifying your account, click Save.
7. Open your iPhone’s Contacts app, and the contacts will start syncing.

5. Using a USB Cable to Transfer Contacts

Contacts can be transferred via USB using iTunes (older macOS) or Finder (macOS Catalina+), ideal without internet. Here’s how you can transfer your contacts using a USB cable:

1. Connect your iPhone to your Mac using your USB cable.
2. Unlock your iPhone, and a Trust This Computer message will appear on your iPhone screen. Select Trust to establish the connection. You’ll need to do the same on your Mac.

3. Open iTunes on your Mac if you’re using macOS Mojave or earlier. Open Finder if you’re using macOS Catalina or later.
4. Click the iPhone icon in the iTunes/Finder window.

5. Click the Info tab in the menu under your iPhone name.

6. Click the Sync button at the bottom right of the screen.

7. After completing the transfer, check if your contacts have been synced to your Mac’s Contacts app. You should see the same contacts on both your iPhone and your Mac.

Sync Your iPhone Contacts to Your Mac

This guide covers syncing contacts and avoiding issues. For smoother syncing, try these additional tips:

• Quickly transfer photos from an iPhone to a Mac to make them accessible across devices.
• To AirDrop from iPhone to Mac, make sure both your devices are accessible and in close proximity.
• Use MacKeeper’s Duplicate Finder to delete duplicate files on your Mac and save time while syncing file to your iPhone.

Frequently Asked Questions