Setting up Google Contacts and Calendar the right way [iOS]

Your Google account Mail, Contacts and Calendars syncs very easily to your iPhone or iPad. Here I will show you how to set it all up.

I will start by saying that using the Apple Mail app for Gmail really, really sucks. So instead of using the standard Apple Mail app, I recommend you download and install the Gmail app. I have specific instructions on this page.

Now, as far as setting up your Google Contacts and Calendars so that they seamlessly sync to your iPhone or iPad, it is actually very simple...

Start by opening your "Settings" app.

Then, select the "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" option.

If you had previously set up Google Contacts and Calendars using the "Exchange" or "Gmail" option, start by selecting those accounts and deleting them. Then proceed adding the new accounts below...

You will follow the steps below twice, once when adding your "Contacts" account, and again once more when adding your "Calendar" account.

At "Mail, Contacts, Calendars" screen, select "Add Account...".

Then, select "Other".

If you are setting up your Google Contacts account, select "Add CardDAV Account".

If you are setting up your Google Calendars account, select "Add CalDAV Account".

In the setup screen, enter the following information:

Server: google.com

User Name: your Google account user name

Password: your Google account password

Description: Google Contacts (or "Google Calendar", depending on which of the two you are setting up)

Now go back and repeat the steps above to add the other account.

Once both accounts are setup, you are good to go! Now open up your Contacts app and all your Google Contacts should start immediately syncing. Open up your Calendar app and all your Google Calendars should start immediately syncing.

The sync is pretty seamless and works both ways. Any changes you make on your iPhone are synced to Google, and vice versa.

Now go and properly setup your Google Email My instructions are here.

Enjoy!