Set up and use iCloud Contacts

With iCloud, you can have your contacts in your pocket and on your desktop. When you add or update a contact, iCloud makes the change everywhere.

Set up iCloud Contacts

When you turn on iCloud Contacts, all of the information* stored on separate devices uploads to iCloud. If you turn off iCloud Contacts, your information won't automatically move from iCloud back to your device.

On your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch

  1. Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud.
  2. Turn on Contacts.
  3. When you're asked if you want to Merge or Cancel, tap Merge.

All of the information stored in Contacts uploads to iCloud.

On your Mac

  1. From the menu bar at the top of your computer screen, choose Apple menu  > System Preferences, then click Apple ID. If you're using macOS Mojave or earlier, you don't need to click Apple ID.
  2. Click iCloud.
  3. Select Contacts.

All of the information* stored in Contacts uploads to iCloud.

* If you have contacts information stored On My Mac, that information will not automatically sync. In Contacts, drag a contact from On My Mac to All iCloud, or export your contacts as Vcards, then manually sync with the Finder.

On iCloud.com or iCloud for Windows

After you turn on iCloud Contacts on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, your contacts upload to iCloud. You can find and edit your contacts on iCloud.com or in iCloud for Windows. Any changes that you make automatically update on your other devices.

If you turn off iCloud Contacts on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac, your contacts won't delete from iCloud, they won't update automatically, and any changes you make won't update across your other devices.

Add Contacts from third-party accounts

Use the Finder or iTunes to sync Contacts

If you don't want to manage your contacts with iCloud, or if you want to do a one-time sync, sync your Contacts manually with the Finder or iTunes.

When you sync with the Finder or iTunes, your information stores locally on your devices. There can be differences in information if you update one of your devices in between syncs. For example, if you delete contacts from your computer after syncing with your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch, the next time you sync with your computer, those contacts will delete from your iOS or iPadOS device, too.

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