Outlook and iPhone Calendar

[BCXtreme]

Hey,

If I have calendar items already on my iPhone, and I decide I want to start syncing with Outlook, is it safe for me to just enable the calendar sync, or do I risk overwriting the iPhone data instead of the Outlook data?

I would greatly appreciate it if anyone knows the answer to this question.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I thought you had the option to decide which way to sync, or to allow a 2 way sync?

 

[BCXtreme]

Can you please point that out to me? I know there is a place where you can force it to override the iPhone data, but I need to force it to override the PC data, just to be sure there is NO risk of losing stuff from the iPhone.

 

[DeaconFrost]

I can't pull a screenshot because I'm syncing with Exchange. Plug your Phone in and look through the options for configuring the Calendar to see what you find. Nothing happens until you apply those changes.

 

[osholt]

I think it is safe to start doing it without fear of removing all your calendar events.

Make sure you don't have the overwrite calendar data on iPhone box ticked though, that will lose you your data.

The worst thing that could happen would be be that your Outlook Calendar becomes a different calendar to the one on your phone but I don't think this should happen (assuming there's nothing on the Outlook Calendar to start with).

Just to be safe ensure you have a backup of your phone from today (done automatically while syncing with iTunes).

You may also want to consider using Google Calendar which can 'push' your calendar to your iPhone and Outlook without any wires involved, you also get the added benefit of being able to access it from any internt enables device via Google Cal online if you forget your iPhone.

Oli

 

[BCXtreme]

I think it is safe to start doing it without fear of removing all your calendar events.

Make sure you don't have the overwrite calendar data on iPhone box ticked though, that will lose you your data.

The worst thing that could happen would be be that your Outlook Calendar becomes a different calendar to the one on your phone but I don't think this should happen (assuming there's nothing on the Outlook Calendar to start with).

Just to be safe ensure you have a backup of your phone from today (done automatically while syncing with iTunes).

You may also want to consider using Google Calendar which can 'push' your calendar to your iPhone and Outlook without any wires involved, you also get the added benefit of being able to access it from any internt enables device via Google Cal online if you forget your iPhone.

Oli

Thanks, that was exactly what I needed to know! Might look into Google Calendar as well. +1

 

[osholt]

I think it is safe to start doing it without fear of removing all your calendar events.

Make sure you don't have the overwrite calendar data on iPhone box ticked though, that will lose you your data.

The worst thing that could happen would be be that your Outlook Calendar becomes a different calendar to the one on your phone but I don't think this should happen (assuming there's nothing on the Outlook Calendar to start with).

Just to be safe ensure you have a backup of your phone from today (done automatically while syncing with iTunes).

You may also want to consider using Google Calendar which can 'push' your calendar to your iPhone and Outlook without any wires involved, you also get the added benefit of being able to access it from any internt enables device via Google Cal online if you forget your iPhone.

Oli

Thanks, that was exactly what I needed to know! Might look into Google Calendar as well. +1

No problem, you're welcome.

Don't forget to mark this solved when you get it done.

Oli

 

[BCXtreme]

OK well it turns out the sync did overwrite the calendar. Thankfully it was backed up. Apparently there were some very old calendar items in Outlook from a long time ago, and that was enough to make iTunes think I wanted Outlook to have priority.

 

[osholt]

To fix the auto sync problem, in iTunes go to Edit->Preferences->Devices and check the box which says 'Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically'.

Make sure you have deleted all the calendar events from Outlook and it should work.

However I would recommend using Google Cal over anything else simply because it is easier to setup in many respects.

Oli

 

[BCXtreme]

To fix the auto sync problem, in iTunes go to Edit->Preferences->Devices and check the box which says 'Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically'.

Make sure you have deleted all the calendar events from Outlook and it should work.

However I would recommend using Google Cal over anything else simply because it is easier to setup in many respects.

Oli

I did try checking that box, but it still tried to automatically sync. Not sure why.

I am going to be looking into multiple alternative sync options, including Google.

 

[osholt]

To fix the auto sync problem, in iTunes go to Edit->Preferences->Devices and check the box which says 'Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically'.

Make sure you have deleted all the calendar events from Outlook and it should work.

However I would recommend using Google Cal over anything else simply because it is easier to setup in many respects.

Oli

I did try checking that box, but it still tried to automatically sync. Not sure why.

I am going to be looking into multiple alternative sync options, including Google.

Strange, no matter what there will always be a sync in progress screen on your iPhone for a second or two when you first plug it into iTunes; I don't know why but there is, it doesn't do anything.

If it does come up just cancel it on the iPhone.

I think Google Cal is the way to go but Yahoo Cal and Mobile Me are all good.

Oli

 

[BCXtreme]

To fix the auto sync problem, in iTunes go to Edit->Preferences->Devices and check the box which says 'Prevent iPods, iPhones and iPads from syncing automatically'.

Make sure you have deleted all the calendar events from Outlook and it should work.

However I would recommend using Google Cal over anything else simply because it is easier to setup in many respects.

Oli

I did try checking that box, but it still tried to automatically sync. Not sure why.

I am going to be looking into multiple alternative sync options, including Google.

Strange, no matter what there will always be a sync in progress screen on your iPhone for a second or two when you first plug it into iTunes; I don't know why but there is, it doesn't do anything.

If it does come up just cancel it on the iPhone.

I think Google Cal is the way to go but Yahoo Cal and Mobile Me are all good.

Oli

I know that the Sync in Progress screen does come up for a second anyway, but according to iTunes it was trying to perform a full sync (starting syncing contacts).

And I think canceling on the iPhone is how we finally got around it.

MobileMe would be the best choice because of the native support, but it's too expensive. Google and Yahoo are both options I'll be looking at.

 

[dom5885]

I have had an interesting problem with syncing IOS 4 with Microsoft Outlook.

It concerns Birthdays. As you may know when you set up a contact in Outlook, you have the option to enter a Birthday in the Contact/Details section. This will enable "John Doe's Birthday" to appear on the relevant day of the calendar every year as a reminder.

When the iPhone is synced with Outlook, these entries appear on the iPhone calendar.

I cannot recall any problems with this procedure until IOS 4.

Now, any Birthdays prior to 1933 are NOT transferred from the Outlook calendar to the iPhone one.

I have confirmed this using the following combinations:

a) Windows 7 Home Edition / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2010 / IOS 4
b) Windows 7 Ultimate / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2010 / IOS 4
c) Windows XP Pro SP3 / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2007 / IOS 4

I would appreciate if someone else would confirm they have the same problem. I have reported the problem to Apple, and as I am the only one to have reported it, they are implying it is MY problem!!!

 

[BCXtreme]

I have had an interesting problem with syncing IOS 4 with Microsoft Outlook.

It concerns Birthdays. As you may know when you set up a contact in Outlook, you have the option to enter a Birthday in the Contact/Details section. This will enable "John Doe's Birthday" to appear on the relevant day of the calendar every year as a reminder.

When the iPhone is synced with Outlook, these entries appear on the iPhone calendar.

I cannot recall any problems with this procedure until IOS 4.

Now, any Birthdays prior to 1933 are NOT transferred from the Outlook calendar to the iPhone one.

I have confirmed this using the following combinations:

a) Windows 7 Home Edition / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2010 / IOS 4
b) Windows 7 Ultimate / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2010 / IOS 4
c) Windows XP Pro SP3 / iTunes 9.2.0.16 / Outlook 2007 / IOS 4

I would appreciate if someone else would confirm they have the same problem. I have reported the problem to Apple, and as I am the only one to have reported it, they are implying it is MY problem!!!

iOS 4 gives the iPhone its own birthdays calendar. I don't know why, but that's probably what is causing your issue. There is probably a conflict of some kind. Unfortunately, I can't really experiment with it right now, maybe someone else can.