I can't sync my iPad contacts with iPhone contacts

Question

I Have all my contacts on my iPhone, but can't get them transferred and synced on my iPad. I have iCloud contacts turned on and bot iPad and iPhone use the same username and password. I don't ever want my iPad to over write a contact on my iPhone but always want my iPhone to overwrite those on the ipad
i can't get it to work?
I have turned off and on the iCloud's contacts syncing on both iPad and iPhone in all possible configurations...
help?

Answer 1

Hello Texasgrillchef,
Thanks for using Apple Support Communities.
I see you have already turned off iCloud contacts on your devices to help troubleshoot this syncing issue, however there are some further steps I'd like you to follow through.
iOS
After each step, check to see if the issue still exists.
Make sure that iCloud Contacts is on
Tap Settings > iCloud on your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch and make sure that Contacts is on.
Update your iOS device
Make sure that you're using iOS 5 or later. To see your version, Go to Settings > General > About > Version.
If your issue continues, install the latest version of iOS that's supported by your device.
Check your Internet connection
Try to go to www.apple.com in Safari. If you can't connect to the Internet, your iCloud contacts won't update in the Contacts app. You can get help with your Internet connection.
Open a secure website from your iOS device to see if you can access ports 80 and 443. Contacts requires access to port 443 to push updates to and from the iCloud Contacts servers.
Refresh your contacts
If recent changes don't appear in Contacts on your iOS device, try refreshing:
In iOS 7, open Contacts, tap Groups in the upper-left corner, then swipe down to refresh the list of groups.
In iOS 6 and iOS 5, open Contacts, tap Groups in the upper-left corner, then tap the Refresh button in the upper-left corner.
Check your settings
Make sure that your device is set to display iCloud contacts:
Open Contacts and tap Groups in the upper-left corner.
Make sure All iCloud is selected.
See if a contact is stored with iCloud or another service, such as Google or Yahoo:
Open Contacts and tap Groups in the upper-left corner.
Deselect the All [account] option for any third-party, such as Gmail or Yahoo.
Make sure All iCloud is selected.
View your contacts. If the contact isn't visible, then it exists in a third-party account.
You can import the contact from a third-party service into iCloud. iCloud won't sync contacts that are associated with a different service.
You need to make sure that iCloud is your default account for Contacts:
If you want new contacts to appear automatically on your devices.
If you're syncing contacts with multiple accounts on your device (iCloud, Gmail, Yahoo) and recent changes to Contacts on your iOS device don't appear on your other devices.
See if iCloud is your default account:
Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.
In the Contacts section, tap Default Account.
Make sure iCloud is selected.
Restart Contacts
Close and restart the Contacts app on your iOS device:
iOS 7:
Double-click the Home button to see your open apps.
Find the Contacts preview screen and swipe it up to close the app.
Press the Home button to return to your Home screen.
Wait a minute, then reopen the Contacts app.
iOS 6 or iOS 5:
Double-click the Home button to open the multitasking menu.
Touch and hold the Contacts icon until it jiggles.
Tap the X to remove it from the list.
Press the Home button to return to the Home screen.
Wait a minute, then reopen the Contacts app.
Turn iCloud Contacts off and back on
Tap Settings > iCloud.
Turn Contacts off.
You can choose Delete from My [device] if your data exists at icloud.com/contacts and on one or more of your devices. Otherwise, choose Keep on My [device].
Wait a few minutes, then turn Contacts back on.
Restart your device
Hold down the Sleep/Wake button, then drag the slider when asked to power off. Turn your device back on.
Get help using iCloud Contacts - Apple Support
Take care,
Alex H.