Ever wondered how you can sync all those Contacts you have in your MSN Messenger to your iPhone. Well wonder no more cause there’s a simple solution. The trick is to use Windows Vista and Windows Live Messenger (which is one of the many programs to manage your contacts). You must do the following:
- Install Windows Live Messenger (obviously, only if it’s not installed)
- log in using your Windows Live ID
- Open Live Messenger window
- From the Menu, choose Tools then select Options
You are now in the Options Dialog. Click on the Security tab and you’ll find an option titled “Encrypt contact list data so that it is not accessible outside of Windows Live Messenger.” You need to uncheck this option, as it’s checked by default. Click OK to close the window.
What has happened? If you open your Windows Contacts in Windows Vista, you’ll see that a new folder was created titled as your Windows Live ID (username@live.com). In it you’ll find your Windows Live Contacts automatically synced with your account.
How do I sync now? The only thing remaining is to open up your iTunes and sync the iPhone with Windows Contacts. If you make changes or add new contacts on your iPhone, they are synced back to Windows Contacts. Another important thing is that next time you open Windows Live Messenger, the new synced contacts from the iPhone are automatically synced back to Windows Live Contacts (online).
This means that your contacts are synced throughout the whole cloud…
- On the web (Windows Live Contacts)
- On any computer (Windows Contacts, Windows Live Messenger)
- Anywhere you go (iPhone, iPhone 3G and any other mobile that is capable of syncing with Windows Contacts on Vista)
September 7, 2008 at 5:08 am
gracia
September 16, 2008 at 8:20 pm
any idea if this will work in windows xp sp2?
October 15, 2008 at 12:51 am
This does not seem to be an option with the latest Windows Live Messenger beta (version 2009, build 14.0.5027.908).
October 30, 2008 at 6:07 pm
Just curious… i have 2 msn messenger accounts. I have 2 folder in the contacts folder for the separate accounts. Neither of them sync directly to my iphone..
How do I set the iphone to sync to that folder directly??
December 7, 2008 at 12:51 am
Great Job! Thanks
vajinismus
December 7, 2008 at 12:52 am
good job!
vajinismus
December 26, 2008 at 11:44 pm
Great Work-they had no idea at iphone help. Thank you,Thank you,Thank you.
Now do you know how to sync th live calender?
January 28, 2009 at 1:55 pm
Hmmm didn’t work for me…
March 11, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Why can’t Microsoft just open up ActiveSync on hotmail / windows live accounts – looks like it might be coming with Outlook Live (but some time away yet), already here with Exchange Online services – but aimed at businesses.
With ActiveSync, iPhone users can use the Exchange Connector (i.e. the ActiveSync connector) to sync Mail/Contacts/Calendar all in one go!
Come on – it’s what everyone wants!!
March 13, 2009 at 1:08 am
Thank you, it works like a charm now!
April 6, 2009 at 5:32 am
Seems to me the option to “Encrypt contact list data so that it is not accessible outside of Windows Live Messenger” isn’t displayed on the newest version of WL Messenger (Build 14.0.8…). Anyone notice this? Am I missing something? Is there a workaround?
April 13, 2009 at 4:35 pm
Is there any other application that will let me do this? Messenger won’t let me sign in.
April 18, 2009 at 9:09 am
No option to ‘Encrypt contact list dat etc’ in my version of live mesenger 2009
April 27, 2009 at 1:28 pm
Great Job! Thanks
http://dersanlatimi.blogcu.com
April 29, 2009 at 12:04 pm
Hmmm didn’t work for me…
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May 15, 2009 at 5:10 am
i have unchecked option titled “Encrypt contact list data so that it is not accessible outside of Windows Live Messenger.” but i still can’t find the new folder as described and still can’t sync my contacts
May 19, 2009 at 4:03 am
GOSTARIA DE CANSELAR O SERVIÇO, DE ENVIO DE MENSAGEM EM MEU CELULAR.
July 12, 2009 at 12:29 am
I have no problem with contacts synching. but I cannot get Windows Live calendar items to synch with anything on the iphone… not via mobileme, nothing… how do I get my windows live calendar visible on the iphone???
I have connected the windows live calendar to outlook 2007 and use outlook to view my calendar. but I can’t get the data visible in any way on the iphone. thanks.