Syncing iPhone with Local and Exchange Contacts

A recurring issue reported by several readers, Syncing iPhone Contacts with both local and Microsoft Exchange Contacts just requires a few easy steps

The workaround is to Resync iPhone Contacts by turning off syncing and then Resync iPhone with Exchange Contacts

  • On your iPhone, go to Settings -> Mail, Contacts, Calendars -> Account
  • Turn OFF syncing for Contacts
  • Choose to remove or keep the Contacts on your iPhone depending on what you want to do. Ideally, you'd want to delete Contacts on your iPhone, but if you want to keep them, that's fine too
  • To resync Contacts, repeat the above steps and turn syncing back ON
  • Tap Contacts on your iPhone and your Contacts should show up. If they don't, click Groups in the upper-left corner and All Contacts

From now on, you should be able to sync iPhone Contacts with MS Exchange without duplicates or missing local Contacts


Notes & possible issues

The same procedures allows to Resync iPhone with MobileMe Contacts

iPhone Expert

Mike Johnson

Founder and Editor of sync-iphone.com has a sincere desire to provide readers with honest and useful solutions for their iPhone
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3 Responses to Sync iPhone with Local Contacts AND Exchange Contacts

  1. Jason says:

    That sounds simple but there is no sync tab under contacts. There is a sync tab under calender only. How do you clear contacts from the sim card on an iphone 4? My contacts are now syncing upto 7 times but it’s always the same ones and I have no idea where it’s syncing them from.
    Thanks Jason

    • iPhone Expert says:

      Dear Jason,

      To remove / delete contacts from your iPhone sim card, you’ll need an app called SIManager, which is available through Cydia on jailbroken iPhones

  2. Bruce Pembor says:

    I want to download outlook 10 contact list to my iphone 4. Before I do, I need to erase all my current contacts. Please help. Thx.

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