How to Sync My Outlook Contacts With My iPhone

Apple and Microsoft may not exactly be best friends, but many of their products get along just fine. You can, for example, sync your Microsoft Outlook contacts with your Apple iPhone by adjusting a few settings in Outlook and in iTunes on your computer.

Step 1

Open iTunes and connect your iPhone to your computer.

Step 2

Click your iPhone name in the "Devices" section of the left menu column.

Step 3

Click the "Info" tab in the main window.

Step 4

Check the box marked "Sync Contacts with".

Step 5

Click the drop-down box next to "Sync Contacts with" and select "Outlook."

Step 6

Select "All Contacts" or "Selected Groups."

Step 7

Check the boxes next to the Outlook contact groups you wish to sync if in Step 6 you chose to sync only groups.

Step 8

Click "Apply." If the sync is successful, skip to Step 15. If the sync is unsuccessful, continue to Step 9.

Step 9

Open Outlook.

Step 10

Click "Tools" and select "Trust Center."

Step 11

Click "Add-ins."

Step 12

Click "COM Add-ins" in the "Manage" section.

Step 13

Click "iTunes Sync Add-in," then click OK.

Step 14

Repeat Steps 1-8.

Step 15

Connect your iPhone to your computer and sync as normal.

Tip

• Some application add-ons and settings in Outlook and iTunes may interfere with contact syncing. See Resources for some recommended troubleshooting articles specific to syncing Outlook contacts with the iPhone.

References

• Microsoft Office: Outlook - Synchronize Outlook and Apple iPhone or iPod Touch Contacts
• Microsoft Office: Outlook - Enable or Disable Add-ins in Office Programs
• Microsoft Office: Outlook - Add, Remove, or View a Trusted Publisher
• Apple: Syncing iPad, iPhone, or iPod Touch with iTunes

Resources

• Apple: iPhone iOS4 User Guide (PDF)
• Apple: iPhone, iPad, iPod Touch - Troubleshooting Contact and Calendar Syncing via USB on Windows
• Apple: Microsoft Outlook Hotmail Connector May Conflict With Syncing iPhone...
• Apple: iPod: Unable to Sync Data With Outlook 2010 64-bit Version

About the Author

Will Conley's writing has appeared in a variety of print publications since 1999, including "National Journal," "Art New England," "Pulse of the Twin Cities" and "Minnesota Daily." He has also contributed to websites such as Salon.com and ThisBlogRules.com. Conley studied journalism at the University of Minnesota.

Photo Credits

• Justin Sullivan/Getty Images News/Getty Images