If a contact is in iCloud but missing from Dextr, follow the path it takes: iCloud → Apple Contacts on your Primary Sync Device → Dextr. Checking one stage at a time helps you find where the update stopped.
If the contact is already in Dextr on one device but missing from Dextr on another, use Contacts Not Syncing Between Dextr on iPhone and Mac instead.
1. Start with the Basics
- Confirm each device involved has a working Wi-Fi or mobile data connection. Open a webpage to check that the connection actually works.
- Turn off Airplane Mode if it is blocking your connection. If using mobile data, check that Dextr is allowed to use it.
- Check that your iCloud storage isn’t full. On iPhone, open Settings → your name → iCloud to review storage usage. On Mac, open System Settings → your name → iCloud. If storage is full, free up space or upgrade your plan, then reopen Dextr and allow syncing to resume. Apple’s iCloud storage guide explains the options.
- Open Dextr and Apple Contacts on the relevant devices and give them time to catch up, especially after a large import or a new installation.
- Install available Dextr and system updates. If the problem persists, restart the affected device and try again.
- Check Apple System Status for an iCloud Contacts or iCloud account service issue. Wait for an outage to clear before changing your setup.
After each step, check the same contact again so you can see which change helped.
2. Confirm the Contact Reaches Apple Contacts
On the device that normally handles your Dextr contact imports, open Apple Contacts → Lists → All iCloud. Search for the missing person. You can also check the contact at iCloud Contacts.
If the person is missing from Apple Contacts on this device, address that first. Dextr cannot import an iCloud contact that has not reached the device’s Apple Contacts library.
A contact under All Google, Exchange, or another account is not automatically an iCloud contact. For an existing Apple Contacts sync problem, follow Apple’s iCloud troubleshooting steps.
3. Check iCloud and Every Contact Account
On iPhone, open Settings → your name → iCloud → See All beside Saved to iCloud, then check that Contacts is enabled. The grouping can also be called Show All on other system versions.
Then open Settings → Apps → Contacts → Contacts Accounts. Check each account you use, including Google, Exchange, or Yahoo. Resolve any sign-in request and make sure Contacts syncing is enabled for that account.
If a Google contact is missing, confirm it exists at Google Contacts and that the same Google account is connected on your primary device. Dextr uses the contacts made available through Apple Contacts; it does not sign in to Google for you. See Apple’s contact account instructions and Google’s sync guide.
4. Check Dextr’s Contact Permission
On iPhone, open Settings → Privacy & Security → Contacts → Dextr.
If access is limited, make sure the missing person is included in the selected contacts. You can choose Full Access if you want Dextr to work with your entire address book. A contact outside a limited selection will remain unavailable even when you retry syncing.
5. Check Contacts Sync in Dextr
On your Primary Sync Device, open Dextr → Home → the Settings gear → Contacts Sync.
Check that Enable Contacts Sync is on. If setup is incomplete, follow Setup Contacts Sync and select your own contact card when asked. Once setup is complete, use Sync Now and allow the run to finish.
Open Last Sync Results when available and read any notices. A record without a usable name can be skipped. Check its first, middle, or last name, nickname, or organization name in Apple Contacts before trying again.
The results describe the latest run. Zero imported contacts can simply mean there were no new records to import.
If Dextr shows Multiple Devices, another device handles Apple Contacts. Run the checks on that existing primary device. Switching the primary role is intended for a replacement device or a reinstall, and can create duplicates for records without enough identifying information. Our Contacts Sync guide explains the setup and results.
6. Allow Dextr’s iCloud Sync to Finish
If the contact reaches Dextr on your primary device, its trip from Apple Contacts has succeeded. A delay reaching your other Dextr installations is a separate iCloud sync issue.
Check that Dextr is allowed to use iCloud, that those devices use the same iCloud account, and that iCloud storage is available.
If Dextr reports that it is still syncing with iCloud, keep it connected and let that finish. Do not delete app data or reinstall Dextr as an initial troubleshooting step.
Still Need Help?
If this article didn’t resolve the problem, reach out to Dextr Support. Tell us which devices and Dextr versions you use, which device is primary, which contact account is involved, and where the missing update appears.
Video recordings and photo or screenshot captures of the problem help us follow the steps you took and expedite a resolution. Include any exact error message, and hide private contact details before sharing.