Get Contacts back from iCloud

[benwiggy]

Removing iCloud has been a complete pig.

After spending ages removing the account from AddressBook and iCal, only to have all my data disappear; I then tried exporting archives, deleting the account and importing back the data -- but the archive re-imports the settings to use the Cloud!!!!!

Eventually, I found a way in System Prefs to delete the iCloud account and Keep your data on the Mac.

I did the same on my iPhone. However, now the two of them won't sync.

When I select sync contacts and calendars in iTunes, I get a message saying "a sync session could not be started". If I don't select to sync those items, syncing works fine.

Sorry, this may be better off in a different area of the forum. And the subject 's wrong.

[benwiggy]

It's taken about an hour and half, but finally cracked it. Restarting both the iPhone and the iMac fixed the sync errors.

Think I've finally removed iCloud from my machines. But, boy! it's like a virus to get rid of.

[aubreyapple]

So... how did you do it? What is your sync source?

[benwiggy]

Deleting the iCloud account from the System Prefs > mail, calendars & contacts gives you the option to keep your data. I'm still getting multiple events on my iPhone, but I think if I set iTunes to delete before syncing next time, that will fix it.

[aubreyapple]

And what is the sync source? Do you sync directly to one of your systems or is there another 'cloud' like google or fruux or ???.

[benwiggy]

I don't understand exactly what you're asking. The data has been kept (or replaced) on the Mac from iCloud, and then the Mac and iPhone synced together in the usual way.

[agentx]

The whole point of iCloud is that you do not need to use iTunes USB Cable/WIFI sync for contacts, cals etc. This should be turned off or you wil get dupes.

iCloud is your master data source so they have made it hard to delete the master. The best thing to do is check that data on iCloud.com is how you want it. Then sync info back down to devices after wiping the info of the devices.

[aubreyapple]

Quote: Originally Posted by benwiggy I don't understand exactly what you're asking. The data has been kept (or replaced) on the Mac from iCloud, and then the Mac and iPhone synced together in the usual way.

What is the 'usual way'? I thought the 'usual way' was iCloud.

[benwiggy]

The usual way is syncing the Mac and phone through iTunes.