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Syncing iCloud contacts

With newer versions of DAVx5 it is now possible to sync contacts (and calendars) from an iCloud account.

The process is described by DAVx5 on their website

Generating an app-specific password

A crucial part to point out is that in order to be able to access iCloud from a non-Apple device or app, the user is asked to generate an app-specific password and use that instead of the general user password. The idea is to not expose the actual password to a potentially untrustworthy party (from Apple’s point of view).

Generating an app-specific password for an iCloud account can be done on the site account.apple.com

Generating an app-specific password

There, head over to Security tab and the option to Generate Password.

DAVx⁵ settings for iCloud accounts

If you don't have the app installed, you can get it via F-Droid.

1. Open DAVx⁵
    If this is the first time you're opening the app, it will ask you to set up the required permissions for it
    
     >  on 'Tasks support' you can select 'I don't need task support'

   tasks support is integrated into the Fossify Calendar apps (green calendar icon)

   
   

   
   
   

   
   

2. On the Permissions screen, be sure to check all the sliders.

   On the first one 'Keep permissions' it will forward you to the App info page of DAVx5 and toggle OFF 'Manage app if unused'

   
   

   
   

   
   
    
     > on 'Regular sync intervals', you can toggle on the slider and allow DAVx5 to run in the background. This will ensure seamless syncing.

   
   

Add the account

Case A: if your iCloud account ends with @icloud.com:

1. Choose Login with email address

2. Email address: your iCloud account, e.g. example@icloud.com
   Password: app-specific password (see above)

Case B: If your iCloud account does not end with @icloud.com:

1. Choose Login with URL

2. Base URL: https://icloud.com
   User name: your iCloud account, e.g. user@host.example
   Password: app-specific password (see above)

Contact group method: groups are separate vCards

Known problems

1. Sometimes, the icloud.com DNS entries (SRV records) for CalDAV/CardDAV seem to have problems. In this case, only calendars/only contacts are found by DAVx⁵. Most times, it should be enough to delete the account from within DAVx⁵ and then set it up again.

Export iCloud contacts

This guide is for anyone who has contacts synced on iCloud and wants to directly download and import those contacts to the Above Phone. Note that it should be possible from any device to get access to iCloud in a similar way. 

Note: If your contacts are not synced to iCloud and only stored locally on the iPhone, you can only export them individually or use a 3rd party app like AnyTrans to do it in bulk.

In this tutorial we'll be using Vanadium as our web browser, which comes preinstalled with GrapheneOS.

Prerequisites:

• Working internet connection on your devices

• Check whether your Contacts are actually synced

• You'll need your Apple ID credentials (Email & password)

• You may need access to your old Apple device (iPhone, iPad)

1. Open Vanadium and type icloud.com into the URL bar.

2. Now log in with your Apple ID to the website.
   To finish logging in you may be asked about a Security code, which will be displayed on your old Apple device.
   
   NOTE: if you don't see the number fields for the code on your Above Phone, just try pressing the numbers on the keypad. Sometimes the number fields are out of view, but they keypad still works.

After successfully logging in, you should see your personal iCloud page with some of the data you have stored on it.

Now, unfortunately for phones, iCloud.com will not display the Contacts section on the mobile version of their site - so to work around this, we'll want to change it to a Desktop site:

Push on the three dots towards the top right, then turn on Desktop site

Now we can actually find and select Contacts. You should see it inside the box towards the bottom left, where it shows the different services iCloud provides:

After tapping on contacts, it should take you to this page: icloud.com/contacts/

Here you will see all the contacts that have been synced with your iCloud account.

To export them, we first want to select them. Look for the blue circle with three dots inside of it. This will open a small box where you get the option to Select All Contacts.

The selected contacts will light up blue. It will also show you the number of contacts you have selected. Next we will export them.

To export all the contacts into a single vCard file (.vcf), look for the sharing button. It is a blue box with an arrow pointing upwards, next to the + button towards the top right of the screen:

In the small box that shows up, push on Export vCard. This will bring up a window to download the file.

You can change the name of the vCard file, and the destination folder if you like.

By default it will put it inside the Downloads folder.

You can now swipe down from the very top of the screen to get to the notification section. You should see the successfully downloaded .vcf file there. Go ahead and tap on it to import them.

Sidenote: if you have an account with Above Suite, you can choose to directly import the contacts into your synced CardDAV account. We have a dedicated guide to help you setting up DAVx5 with Above Sync.