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BusyContacts: iCloud China (icloud.com.cn) sync issues

If your Apple ID is an iCloud China account (domain icloud.com.cn), BusyContacts must connect to the China CardDAV service endpoint:

  • contacts.icloud.com.cn

When this is misconfigured or blocked, you may see errors such as:

  • SSL errors
  • “Unable to find a server with the specified hostname”
  • Authentication failures even when using an app‑specific password

Setup checklist​

  1. Generate (or regenerate) an app‑specific password for iCloud.
  2. In BusyContacts, add your account in BusyContacts > Settings > Accounts.
  3. Use one of these approaches:

Option A: Use the iCloud China account type (when available)​

BusyContacts can show a dedicated iCloud China service in the account type list (depending on your Mac’s region/timezone configuration).

If you see it, select it and sign in with:

  • Username: your Apple ID email
  • Password: your iCloud app‑specific password

Option B: Use Generic CardDAV (always available)​

If you don’t see “iCloud China” as an option, you can still connect using Generic CardDAV with:

  • Server: https://contacts.icloud.com.cn
  • Username: your Apple ID email
  • Password: your iCloud app‑specific password

Troubleshooting​

  • Verify your Mac’s date/time are correct: System Settings > General > Date & Time → enable Set time and date automatically.
  • If you’re behind a restrictive network, confirm that your Mac can reach https://contacts.icloud.com.cn over HTTPS.
  • If BusyCal works with iCloud but BusyContacts doesn’t, double-check that the BusyContacts account is using the CardDAV Contacts endpoint (not CalDAV).

For general iCloud guidance, see:

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