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Using BusyContacts with iCloud

iCloud is Apple’s free online service, which includes contact syncing among its many features. BusyContacts can connect to iCloud for syncing contacts across your devices.

Syncing with iCloud​

important

Apple requires all third-party apps to connect to iCloud using a special app-specific password, which protects your real password. Before adding your iCloud account to BusyContacts, you must first generate an app-specific password. This extra step ensures security while allowing BusyContacts to sync with your iCloud data. Learn how to generate an app-specific password.

BusyContacts can use iCloud to sync contacts data across all your devices.

To sync BusyContacts with iCloud, do the following:

  1. First and foremost, navigate to https://support.apple.com/HT204397 using your browser and follow instructions on generating an app-specific password for your iCloud account (see demo video for BusyCal). If you have already performed this step for some other app in the past or for another device running BusyContacts, you may re-use the same password on this device. App-specific passwords can be re-used multiple times in several apps, if desired. After you have generated an app-specific password, save it some place secure in order to re-use it on another device running BusyContacts. When unsure, generate a new one and copy / paste it somewhere secure.
Best Practices

Over the years we've gathered some best practices:

  • If you have a @mac.com email address, replace it with a @icloud.com instead when using with BusyContacts
  • iCloud allows one to generate aliases for their primary iCloud email addresses. When using it with BusyContacts, you must only use your primary iCloud email address to login, aliases do not work.
  • Your device must be configured to Set time and date automatically under System Settings > General > Date & Time otherwise the password will superficially fail to work without an obvious reason.
  1. Next, open BusyContacts Menu > Settings > Accounts
  2. Click the + (plus) icon, near the bottom left corner of the settings dialog, to add a new account.
  3. Choose iCloud from the Server Type pop-up menu, then enter your Apple ID / iCloud Email Address.
  4. Enter the app-specific password generated in step 1 above and click OK.
New iCloud Account

iCloud Limitations​

iCloud limits the amount of contact data you can sync, as follows:

  • Total number of contact cards: 50,000
  • Maximum size of a contact card: 256KB
  • Maximum size of a contact photo: 224KB
  • Maximum size of a contact group: 256KB
  • Maximum size of all contact cards:
  • Card text: 48MB
  • Card photos: 200MB
  • Supported file types for a contact photo: JPEG, BMP, PNG, GIF
  • vCard import limits:
  • Total number of vCards: 50,000
  • Maximum size of a vCard: 256KB (photo + text)
  • Maximum photo size for a vCard: 224KB

For more information, see iCloud: Limits for contact, address books and Reminders.

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