Sync Nextcloud Contact Groups With Android and IOS

Nextcloud is a powerful self-hosted cloud platform that includes built-in support for contacts and calendars via the CardDAV and CalDAV protocols. If you’re looking to keep your contact groups synced across Android and iOS devices using Nextcloud, this guide will show you how to do it with the help of DAVx⁵—a popular open-source CardDAV/CalDAV sync app for Android.

Why Sync Contact Groups?

Syncing contact groups ensures better organization and smoother communication across devices. If you maintain separate personal, business, or family groups in Nextcloud, syncing them helps keep things consistent across your mobile devices.

Prerequisites

• A Nextcloud account with the Contacts app enabled.
• The DAVx⁵ app installed on your Android device.
• An iOS device with native CardDAV support.
• Internet access on your devices.

Syncing Contact Groups to Android Using DAVx⁵

1. Install DAVx⁵
   Download DAVx⁵ from Google Play or F-Droid.

2. Open DAVx⁵ and Set Up Account

   • Tap the + icon to add an account.
   • Choose Login with URL and user name.
   • Enter the base URL of your Nextcloud instance (e.g., https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/dav).
   • Enter your Nextcloud username and app password.
   • Tap Login.

3. Grant Required Permissions

   • Allow DAVx⁵ access to your contacts and calendars when prompted.

4. Ensure Correct Contact Group Method

   • Before syncing, go to DAVx⁵ → Settings → Contact group method.
   • Set this to “Groups are separate vCards”.
     ✅ This setting is necessary to correctly sync groups created on iOS (which uses separate vCards for group membership).
     ⚠️ Caveat: When using this method, contact groups will not be visible in the Nextcloud web interface, but they will appear correctly on both iOS and Android.

5. Select Address Books to Sync

   • DAVx⁵ will list your available address books from Nextcloud.
   • Enable the ones you want to sync.

6. Verify Groups in Android Contacts App

   • Open your contacts app.
   • You should now see your contact groups (like Family, Friends, etc.).
   • Changes to group membership will sync across devices through Nextcloud.

Syncing Contact Groups to iOS

iOS includes native support for CardDAV, so you don’t need a separate app.

1. Open Settings → Contacts → Accounts → Add Account

2. Select “Other” → Add CardDAV Account

3. Enter Your Nextcloud Credentials

   • Server: https://cloud.example.com/remote.php/dav
   • Username: Your Nextcloud username
   • Password: Your app password
   • Description: Anything you like (e.g., “Nextcloud Contacts”)

4. Save the Account

5. Enable Contacts

   • Ensure the toggle for “Contacts” is enabled.

6. View Contact Groups

   • Open the iOS Contacts app.
   • Tap “Groups” (top-left corner) to view your synced groups.
   • You can choose which ones to display.

Troubleshooting Tips

• Ensure your contacts are properly categorized in Nextcloud using the Contacts app.
• On Android, make sure DAVx⁵ sync is enabled in the system settings (Accounts → DAVx⁵ → Sync now).
• If changes don’t show up immediately, force a manual sync.
• Use app passwords in Nextcloud for added security and easier management.

Final Thoughts

With DAVx⁵ and built-in CardDAV support on iOS, syncing contact groups from Nextcloud is both secure and convenient. Whether you’re managing contacts for personal use or coordinating a team, having access to the same structured contact data across devices saves time and avoids confusion.