HT4489 How can I synchronize contacts between Apple Address Book/iPhone address book and Outlook (I'm on Mac OX10.7.4 and using Office 2011)?

Question

I appear to have done what I should to move to iCloud on my Mac, MacbookAir, iPhone and iPad.  Using Outlook 2011 on the iMac and unable to sync contacts between Outlook and my Apple Address Book and iPhone over the cloud.  I gather lots of people have the same problem but some appear to have solved it... any ideas?
Also, in some sync, I managed to duplicate the entries on the Address Book on my Mac, whereas the iCloud Address Book is ok.  How can I replace the Address Book on my computer with the one on iCloud?
Thank You for any help!

Answer 1

Hi Lucy, I had the same problem with Outlook data sync. Once you've enabled iCloud all your contacts are moved to iCloud and are no longer stored on Mac, that's why Outlook cannot reach them - there is simply nothing to reach as data physically stored in cloud.
I use SyncMate to solve this problem. This app allows connecting and syncing numerous devices and accounts with your Mac and they have recently added iCloud into this list (here the page where they describe sync with iCloud http://www.sync-mac.com/cloud-sync.html ).
This is how I established sync of my Outlook data with iCloud via this app.
1. SyncMate syncs only that data which is located on your Mac so you will need to move your contacts back to Address Book on mac from iCloud and disable iCloud for contacts (in order they were stored on Mac, not in iCloud).
2. You install SyncMate and add iCloud as a new connection (depending on data you want to sync you need to choose "Cloud contacts" or "Cloud calendars" connection in SyncMate wizard and log into your iCloud via SyncMate). Once you've done this, you can sync data on Mac with iCloud via SyncMate.
3. I may assume that automatic sync option is enabled in Outlook preferences (as previously your contacts on Mac were synced with Outlook). If no - please, enable it (got to Outlook preferences).
4. Once all this done, data will be automatically synced betwen Outlook and iCloud (latter via SyncMate). The trick of SyncMate is that data is physically located on your Mac (thus ensuring it will be synced with other devices and accounts SyncMate supports, as I said before, SyncMate works with data which is located on Mac), but you still can have it in iCloud (sync will be performed via SyncMate, no need to enable iCloud itself).
5. And of course, you will be able to sync your iPhone contacts with your Mac (SyncMate supports sync with iPhones also). These contacts will be also synced to Outlook.