How to Sync Google Contacts to iOS Using CardDAV

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Posted September 27, 2012 at 6:00pm by iClarified

These are instructions on how to sync your Google Contacts to iOS using CardDAV.

Step One
Tap to open the Settings application on your device.

How to Sync Google Contacts to iOS Using CardDAV

Step Two
Choose Mail, Contacts, Calendars from the Settings menu.

Step Three
Select Add Account... from the Mail, Contacts, Calendars menu.

Step Four
Tap to choose Other from the Add Account page.

Step Five
Press to select the Add CardDAV Account option.

Step Six
Fill out the form with the following information and tap Next to continue.

- Server: Enter "google.com"
- User Name: Enter your full Google Account or Google Apps email address.
- Password: Your Google Account or Google Apps password. (If you’ve enabled 2 Step verification, you’ll need to generate and enter an application specific password.)
- Description: Enter a description of the account (e.g. Google Contacts).

Step Seven
Once your account has been authenticated you can open the Contacts app and syncing will automatically begin.

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English Doug - April 17, 2015 at 3:49am

Worked perfectly on an Iphone 6 (iOS 8.3) + Gmail 2 step verification. thanks very much!!!

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weston nash - March 21, 2013 at 7:28pm

Make sure 2 step verification is turned off.

andreas - November 8, 2012 at 12:01am

Having the same problem with ssl :s Doesn't work despite having enabled ssl. What gives?

amadex - September 30, 2012 at 1:06pm

Can't make this work... always gives back "Cannot Connect Using SSL"...

LRen - June 7, 2013 at 1:41pm

I'm having this same problem. Did you manage to find a solution?

Eric - September 27, 2012 at 10:03pm

Microsoft ActiveSync method is much easier and works for calendar too.

ralf83 - September 28, 2012 at 2:47am

Exchange is a far inferior way to sync contacts. Carddav is a open standard that is much more flexible then its microsoft counter parts. First, it allows more then three fields for emails and other arbitrary limits. Second, carddav makes many more categorizations of fields like, phone numbers more then the usual home, work, other. Lastly, customized entries let users put in twitter handles and more. Other standards like Caldav and IMAP can work in sync and offer more robust syncing mechanisms with less known issues. This feature is long overdue.

Tim - September 29, 2012 at 1:27am

Thx for the explanation, wasn't sure what the difference was. But will remove exchange contacts right now and enable this!

LRen - June 7, 2013 at 1:39pm

As of Jan 30 2013, Microsoft exchange will not work for google on apple devices. You have to use the gmail imap and the CardDAV under "Other".

Sami - September 27, 2012 at 6:41pm

There's another way to do this. 1. Settings 2. Mail Contacts Calendar 3. Add Account 4. Microsoft Exchange 5. Enter in your Gmail account info, click "next" 6. Under "server" enter "m.google.com" 7. Leave the domain blank 8. Under "username" enter your full Gmail Address 9. Click "next" On the next page you will see the option for "Contacts" to be checked on. Once you save you will see your Gmail contacts under your contact list. You email will be synced up as well.

#AChurchnerd - September 27, 2012 at 7:31pm

Wireless Cartel, You are correct, that is the way it is supposed to work, but many of us on Verizon cannot get our Gmail (Exchange) to push our email! Everyone is ranting about it all over the Net. Only very temporary fixes exist. After one or two syncs - everything quits working again. We have all had to resort to "fetch" to get our mail. Pretty sad for a brand new Apple iPhone 5! Shep www.churchnerd.org

suren - October 15, 2012 at 9:55am

The microsoft exchange setup is giving me option of either deleting my existing contacts or having duplicated entries. Does this mean that its one way sync (i.e. only downloading of contacts)