As soon as your collecting of Apple devices run OS X or iOS expands to two or more , the issue of syncing is throttle to come up . You ’ll need most or all of the authoritative personal information on your first machine — e - ring mail , calendar , contacts , notes , and more — to be identical on your second gimmick , and you ’ll desire to be able to update the data point in either post and have the change reflected in the other .
That basic scenario is n’t hard to reach , but it gets more complicated as the number of variable increases . tote up more data point types , more equipment , different operating systems and version , cloud - based service , push sync , and other nicety , and passably soon you have an cryptical tangle of connections .
So , to keep the process as straight as possible , here are some primer coat rules for this article :
On the Sync tab of the MobileMe pane of System Preferences, you can turn on syncing for various types of data and adjust synchronization options.
I ’ll also offer one general piece of advice at the offset : Instead of sprain on all types of synchronise on all your devices at once , concentrate on getting just one type of information synchronize between two equipment , gradually tote up the residual of your devices , and then repeat the procedure for each data case .
Syncing with MobileMe
MobileMe is best known for its highly visible services such as atomic number 99 - mail and iDisk , but one of its most telling talents is keeping many kinds of datum in sync among multiple Macs and iOS devices . Because Apple ’s servers function as both intermediary and online storage for all your contemporise data , you’re able to also access your information in a Web web browser on almost any Internet - connected machine at http://www.me.com/. And the intact process is easy to set up , too , although not without casual glitches .
Before you get going experimenting with changes in your sync setup , I commend that you back up your Mac — most crucially your calendar and liaison information , which are specially vulnerable to accidental alteration or deletion . If you already use Time Machine or a cloning utility such asSuper Duper($28 ) , you ’re all put . Otherwise , to back up the contents of the OS X Address Book , open Address Book ( in /Applications ) , choose File - > Export - > Address Book Archive , insert a name and choose a location for the export datum ( preferably on a dissimilar record ) , and click Save . To back up your iCal calendars , open iCal ( in /Applications ) , choose File - > Export - > iCal Archive , enter a name and select a location for the exported data , and click Save . If you ’re using an iPhone , iPad , or iPod touch , attach it to your Mac using its USB cable or dock and let it to sync before proceeding .
Basic setupOn a Mac , start the MobileMe pane of System Preferences . If the windowpane shows Member Name and Password field of view , fill them in and fall into place Sign In . Next , click the Sync yellow journalism and select the Synchronize With MobileMe checkbox . The protrude - up carte du jour provides several options for synchronization relative frequency . The default option , mechanically , is what Apple recommends ( as do I ) . For most data types , this context mean that when data changes on your Mac , it ’s pushed to Apple ’s server immediately , and when changes are made elsewhere , they ’re call back from Apple ’s servers quickly — usually within second . ( Some types of data , include keychains and preferences , which I do n’t hide here , follow amore relaxed automatic syncing schedule . )
When you configure a MobileMe account on your iOS device, you can selectively turn on or off syncing for several types of data.
On the Sync yellow journalism of the MobileMe pane of System Preferences , you’re able to sour on syncing for various type of data point and adjust synchronization options .
You ’ll also ask to pick out the checkbox for each type of datum you want to sync . For our determination , that mean ( at least ) Bookmarks , Calendars , Contacts , and Notes . scan on for further detail , but commend that it never hurts to aerate and test these one at a fourth dimension . Finally , make certain Show Status In Menu Bar is selected ; that display the Sync menu ( an ikon with two pointer arrange in a roach ) in your card bar , which will come in ready to hand later on .
On an iOS 4 gadget , if you do n’t already have a MobileMe explanation set up , tap options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars - > Add Account - > MobileMe , enter your credentials , and tapdance Next . After Io verify your information , it display a serial publication of services you’re able to turn on or off , but you’re able to pull up stakes everything set at its nonpayment for now , and simply beg Done .
In the Advanced dialog, you can configure the Data Change Alert and reset sync data, among other activities.
E - mailMobileMe addresses the trouble of syncing e - chain armor in two unlike ways . First , your MobileMe e - ring armor account use IMAP ( Internet message admission protocol ) . With IMAP , the ring armour server always contain a passe-partout written matter of all your subject matter and mailboxes — including sent and filed due east - chain mail ( not to mention status iris such as read / unread , forwarded , and answer to ) . So , set up multiple guest using the same credentials , and after they ’ve had prison term to synchronize , they ’ll show incisively the same letter box and subject matter . ( Microsoft Exchange ActiveSync is a unlike communications protocol that offers similar benefits . )
Second , MobileMe lets you synchronise the configurations for all your accounts ( not just MobileMe ) between equipment , although it does n’t sync the message themselves . If all your accounts are of the IMAP and Exchange varieties , synchronize is simple-minded because MobileMe manage syncing account scope , while ring armor syncs the message themselves with the servers . ( If you have any pop music account , syncing messages between Macs is more tortuous ; read more in “ Sync your due east - mail messages . ” )
In the Sync view of the MobileMe pane of System Preferences are two checkboxes having to do with post : Mail business relationship ; and Mail Rules , Signatures , And Smart Mailboxes . When you select Mail Accounts on two or more Macs , OS X synchronizes the basic configurations ( such as server addresses and e - ring armour addresses ) for all your atomic number 99 - ring mail accounts between them . This setting doesnotsync your passwords , though ; if you salt away your chain armour passwords in your Keychain , you may select Keychains , separately , to synchronise those too . The effect is that , for IMAP and Exchange story , both Macs will download and display selfsame copies of the substance from the several server . ( Messages stored topically in “ On My Mac ” postbox do n’t sync via MobileMe . )
To sync iCal with Google Calendar, enter your Gmail credentials in this dialog, and then follow the prompts.
When you pick out Mail Rules , Signatures , And Smart Mailboxes , those component of Mail ’s taste sync between the Macs . This is commonly helpful , but if two Macs have different sets of combat-ready accounts or local mailboxes , some of your rules , signatures , and smart mailboxes may not work right .
Although MobileMe syncs ring armor scope between Macs , it does n’t sync Mail background to your iOS devices ; instead , iTunes does that occupation . With your iOS twist attached via USB , loose iTunes , select your gadget in the Devices section of the sidebar , and click the Info tab . Select Sync Mail Accounts , along with each e - mail account on your Mac for which you ’d care to transpose setting to your iOS machine . Then click Sync .
Once you ’ve done this , go to options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars on your iOS gadget , tap your MobileMe account , and verify the Mail substitution is pose to On . Repeat this procedure for each host - based account you want to synchronize .
When you’re finished configuring a Gmail account on your iOS device to use Exchange ActiveSync, the screen should look something like this.
When you configure a MobileMe explanation on your iOS equipment , you may selectively grow on or off syncing for several types of data .
In addition — still on the Mail , Contacts , calendar screen — ensure Fetch New Data is set to Push if you want data such as east - ring armor , calendars , and contact to update immediately on your iPhone when they change on another gimmick . ( If not , tap Fetch New Data and pink the switch next to Push . ) Push decreases battery life ; if that ’s your top concern , leave Push turned off and choose the frequency with which you need to fetch new data .
assume your options are right , your Internet connexion is active , and you ’ve hold off long enough for any messages on the host to download to each of your Macs , your e - mail should now be in sync . On iOS devices , Mail does n’t automatically download all the messages in all your mailbox ; it download the content of your Inboxes ( up to the limit point specify in options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars - > Show ) , and then it download the table of contents of any single letter box ( again , up to the limit you set ) when you pick out it .
ContactsTo synchronize your contact via MobileMe , verify the Contacts checkbox is select in the Sync view of the MobileMe Lucy in the sky with diamonds of System Preferences . OS X then syncs all the local ( “ On My Mac ” ) contacts between your Mac(s ) and Apple ’s server . Contacts on LDAP waiter , or in CardDAV or Exchange 2007 report , do n’t sync via MobileMe ; you must sic up these account statement separately on each gimmick .
To enable over - the - air link syncing for your MobileMe account on an iOS gadget , tap preferences - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars , tap your MobileMe account , and make certain contact is set to On . To sync with Exchange account as well , knock their epithet in the list of east - mail accounts and besides ensure that contact is turned on .
CalendarsMobileMe can sync the calendar you make on your Mac(s ) in iCal with Apple ’s servers , to other Macs , and to your iOS devices . Apple ’s calendar system for MobileMe utilise the industry - stock CalDAV protocol for syncing calendar data point ( just as Google does ) rather than rely on a proprietary mechanism . This should make calendar syncing more racy and flexible .
On an iOS 4 gadget , go to options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars ->Your MobileMe Accountand verify Calendars is turned on . After change state it on ab initio , you may see a prompt asking how to handle exist calendar data . If so , “ Merge with MobileMe ” is the correct selection .
To - Do itemsOS X considers to - do items , or tasks , to be calendar data point , and therefore they appear in iCal . ( If your tasks are n’t visible , choose View - > Show To Do List or press Command - Option - T. ) start with OS X 10.5 , Mail can also make and display to - do items , using the same calendar as iCal . To create a raw to - do item in Mail , sink in the To Do button in the toolbar ; tasks then appear in the To Do list under Reminders in the sidebar . ( I discuss the use of to - do items , as well as notes , in Mail in “ Master Mail ’s reminder . ” )
As a result , as long as you sync Calendars as key out above , your to - do items will come with them . you could then get at them in the Calendar app on the MobileMe WWW site ( if you do n’t see your project , choose Show To Do inclination from the gear - shaped pop - up Action menu ) , or in iCal on another Mac .
Unfortunately , for reasons I ’ve never sympathize , Apple provides no way to access to - do items on an iOS gimmick . They do n’t appear in the Calendar app , and there ’s no disjoined Tasks app either . If you want to synchronize to - do items with your iOS gimmick , you must turn to third - company software ( see “ Other sync options ” ) .
NotesAlong with to - do item , Mail lets you stash away notes — lists , thoughts , and other random snippets of information . you may create a note by sink in the New Note button in Mail ’s toolbar ; it then appear in the Notes lean under Reminders in the sidebar ( and potentially in your Inbox as well , depending on your preferences ) . In iOS 4 , Mail ’s banker’s bill can synchronize wirelessly with the Notes app on your iOS gimmick too ( see “ Syncing iPhone mark to MobileMe ” for more details ) . However , there ’s a catch or two .
First , you must verify note syncing is turned on for your MobileMe account . To do this , tap configurations - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars ->Your MobileMe Account , and swear that Notes is adjust to On . Second , you must verify your MobileMe invoice is the default location for make young preeminence : back on the options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars sieve , scroll to the bottom and check the Default Account fix under “ Notes . ” If it ’s not your MobileMe account , tip it and select that explanation . in the end , you ca n’t move bank bill between account , so any notes you antecedently stored topically on your iPhone , or in another account , must be re - created in your MobileMe business relationship for syncing to work right .
One significant drawback to this way of syncing note is that although you may see them on the MobileMe Website ( in the Notes mailbox within the Mail app ) , you ca n’t edit them there .
BookmarksIf you select the Bookmarks checkbox in the Sync view of MobileMe System Preferences on each of your Macs , OS X syncs Safari ’s bookmarks between them ; no further configuration is require . On an iOS twist , tap options - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars ->Your MobileMe Accountand make certain the Bookmarks electrical switch is correct to On . Bookmark syncing via MobileMe applies only to Safari ( on either OS X or iOS ) . See “ Other sync selection ” for a trace about syncing bookmarks across Mac web browser app .
TroubleshootingBecause synchronize is inherently complex , errors and unexpected demeanor can occur — specially if you oft go without Internet access on one or more devices . A complete troubleshooting guide would want many pages , but I can give you a few quick tips :
In the Advanced dialogue , you’re able to configure the Data Change Alert and reset sync information , among other activity .
Syncing with Google
For e - chain armor , striking , and calendar , Google ’s service offer features that intimately duplicate what MobileMe has — and without cost you a cent . you may sync your data between multiple computers and the swarm ; you may get at it in any Web web web browser ; and you may choose over - the - air push synchronization for mobile devices . For other types of data ( to - do items , notes , and bookmarks ) , the syncing account is much different , but with some try , you may achieve much of what MobileMe offers , at a fraction of the Leontyne Price .
Be aware , though , that because of differences between the way of life Google computer memory data and the way Address Book and iCal do , some item ( admit Address Book groups and the “ floating ” time zone in iCal ) do n’t sync at all , while others are subject to occasional mutilation as they seek to fit into Google ’s category , and vice - versa .
Basic setupBefore you set about , if you have n’t already done so , back up all the contact and calendar data on your Mac , as discussed in the beginning . If you ’re using Google Apps ( for a custom arena name ) , also make certain you ’ve enabled Google Sync for your domain by followingGoogle ’s pedagogy . And , if you habituate an iOS twist , be certain you sync it with your Mac using its exist options .
E - mailIf you ’re content to use a web internet browser for vitamin E - mail , then syncing is a non - offspring . However , if you prefer to apply a conventional e - mail guest such as Mail in OS X or iOS , you may set it up to get at your Gmail account . Gmail lets you connect using POP , IMAP , or Exchange ActiveSync protocols , but only the latter two automatically keep all your tocopherol - mail in sync across gadget . ( And , although you could use either communications protocol under iOS , Google does n’t currently support connecting from OS X via Exchange ActiveSync . But it ’s no job to use Exchange ActiveSync under iOS and IMAP , for the same invoice , under OS X. )
Before you’re able to access your Gmail invoice from Mail , you must turn on IMAP support . To do this , go to http://www.gmail.com/ ( or , if you use Google Apps for a custom Gmail arena name , go to the URL you usually expend ) and lumber in . press the preferences link , click Forwarding And POP / IMAP , and then , in the IMAP Access section , select the Enable IMAP checkbox . clack Save Changes .
Next , in Mail on OS X , select Mail - > Preferences , click write up , and click the + ( plus ) icon . Enter your full name , your Gmail address ( for Google Apps user , let in the @ signboard and the domain name ) , and your watchword , and click Create . post automatically configure the accounting to habituate IMAP .
On an iOS 4 gadget , the easiest way to configure Gmail to use IMAP is to intercept setting - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars - > Add Account - > Gmail , enter your credentials , tap Next , and then ( after your certificate are verify ) tap Done .
However , you’re able to also get at your Gmail report on your iOS equipment using Exchange ActiveSync , which fall in you the option of push vitamin E - post and mechanically syncs your Google calendar and contacts without any further fuss . The instructions for setting up your iOS machine to access Gmail using Exchange ActiveSync are somewhat lengthy , but Google write out all the details on itsWebsite .
Contacts in OS XTo sync Address Book with Gmail Contacts ’ My Contacts list , open Address Book , prefer Address Book - > preference , click account , quality On My Mac in the Accounts lean on the left field , and then click the Account Information tab . take the Synchronize With Google checkbox , and then click Configure . If you ’re setting up Google synchronise for the first clip , an alert appear explaining about the synchronization process ; learn this and click Agree . Then , in the dialog box that come along , enroll your Gmail address in the Google Account field and your password in the Password field , and click OK . You may see a monition that Address Book ca n’t swan the identity of the host ; if so , click Continue .
Next , verify the Sync fare appears in your Mac ’s menu streak , as discussed earlier . Choose Sync Now from the Sync fare . During the initial sync , if the Conflict Resolver window seem , click Review Now , resolve which version of each contact to use , and then snap Sync Now . After the first sync , OS X should sync changes once per hour , although you’re able to sync manually at any time by using the Sync Now command .
calendar in OS XTo sync iCal with Google Calendar , opened iCal , take iCal - > Preferences , flick on Accounts , and click the plus ( + ) button . Choose Google from the Account Type protrude - up carte , and enroll your full e - mail computer address ( whether ending in @gmail.com or your custom domain ) in the Email Address field and your watchword in the Password force field , and tap Create . You may see a warning that iCal ca n’t verify the indistinguishability of the waiter ; if so , click Continue . Your primary Google calendar then appears in iCal . To sync additional Google calendar , get across the Delegation tab in the Preferences window and select the Show checkbox for one or more calendars .
To synchronise iCal with Google Calendar , go into your Gmail credentials in this dialog , and then follow the command prompt .
This procedure syncs exist Google calendars with iCal , but not the other way around . To move your exist iCal data into Google Calendar , receive one of your calendar in Google on the left side of the filmdom , come home the configurations button beneath it , flick Import Calendar next to the Create New Calendar button , and then in the dialog box that appears , click Browse , navigate to the iCal musical accompaniment data file you create earlier , and select it . In the Import Calendar dialog boxful , choose the calendar to which you ’d like to add together the upshot ( if you have more than one ) from the Calendar pop - up menu and then penetrate the Import push button to bring your calendar info in .
By default , iCal syncs with Google Calendar every 15 minutes ( or when you add up , delete , or change an outcome on your Mac ) , but you may deepen the interval if you opt by clicking on the Account Information tab in the Preferences window and choosing a young time value from the Refresh Calendars pop - up menu .
When you ’re polish off configuring a Gmail story on your iOS twist to use Exchange ActiveSync , the filmdom should look something like this . calendar and contacts in iOSTo sync contacts and calendar on your iOS gadget , go to configurations - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars and tap Add Account at the bottom of the Accounts leaning . Tap Microsoft Exchange , participate the full e - mail address connect with your Google account in the Username field and your password in the Password field ; depart Domain blank . Tap Next . If an Unable To Verify Certificate message appears , tap Accept . In the Server field , embark m.google.com , and knock Next again . verify Contacts and Calendars are turned on ( plus Mail , if you want to sync your Gmail e - mail using Exchange ActiveSync ) and tap Done . When inspire to choose how to treat existing data point , dab Delete . Synchronization begins momentarily , and everything happens wirelessly .
To - Do itemsWhereas Apple considers to - do item to be calendar datum , in Google ’s cosmos , Tasks ( to - do items ) are part of Gmail , not Google Calendar . partially because of this conflict , and partially because Google does n’t use a received chemical mechanism ( such as WebDAV ) to provide access to task data , there ’s no verbatim style to synchronize your iCal to - do items with Gmail Tasks .
However , there is a third - party Mac software called iGTask for iCal that can sync to - do items between iCal and Gmail Tasks ( see “ Other sync alternative ” ) . instead , you could bound off iCal altogether and just manage all your tasks in Gmail Tasks in a Web internet browser .
On iOS devices , Apple provide no elbow room at all to synchronize or view to - do detail . However , if you visit http://gmail.com/tasks in Safari on your mobile gadget , Google presents you with a exceptional version of your task list that ’s optimized for small screens . This method acting does n’t store your project for offline approach , but in other respects it ’s a good direction to access Gmail Tasks on your peregrine equipment .
NotesGoogle has no service that corresponds closely to Apple ’s notion of billet . However , if you practice IMAP to get at your Gmail history , you may see ( though not edit ) notes you create in Mail , or in the iOS Notes app , in Gmail ( marked with a Notes label ) .
If you arrange up your Gmail account to use IMAP ( as is the case when you rap Gmail when choose an account type ) , go to preferences - > Mail , Contacts , Calendars ->Your Gmail Accountand tap the switch next to note to call on it on .
However , if you use Exchange ActiveSync to get at your Gmail story , the Notes option does n’t appear . Therefore , to get this capability you must do up an additional bill on your iOS twist . Tap options - > Mail , Contacts , calendar - > Add Account , and then Gmail . Enter your Gmail credentials and then work on note but turn off Mail and Calendars ( to avoid matching information on your equipment ) .
BookmarksGoogle can sync bookmark from its Chrome web web browser between computer , and can also ply an editable listing of bookmarks at bookmarks.google.com that you could access within any web web browser windowpane . However , unlike MobileMe , Google offer no pick for sync Safari ’s built - in bookmark list ( either the desktop or iOS reading ) . For an alternative , see “ Other sync pick . ”
