What's Likely Happening
- iCloud Background Sync Delays or Failures
- iCloud's sync engine occasionally hangs — particularly after sleep, network changes, or when switching networks (Wi-Fi to cellular or vice versa).
- Account Token Mismatch or Refresh Lags
- Your devices may retain outdated session tokens or fail to refresh sync credentials — which results in one device being “stuck” and not pulling the newest data.
- Google Calendar > iCloud Conversion Lag
- When events are moved between calendar systems (like from Google to iCloud), especially on mobile, propagation can be unreliable.
Recommended Fixes and Preventive Steps
1. Force iCloud Resync on Each Device
Sometimes a light kick gets it going:
- Mac:
- Open System Settings > Apple ID > iCloud > iCloud Drive, toggle OFF, wait 10–15 seconds, then toggle ON again.
- Do the same for Notes and Calendars individually.
- iPhone:
Go to Settings > [your name] > iCloud, toggle Notes and Calendars off and back on.
2. Verify Default Accounts
Sometimes Notes or Calendar entries are created under non-iCloud accounts (like Gmail or local “On My Mac”).
On iPhone:
- Notes: Settings > Notes > Default Account → Set to iCloud.
- Calendar: Settings > Calendar > Default Calendar → Set to iCloud.
On Mac:
- Notes > Preferences > Default Account → Should be iCloud.
- Calendar > Preferences > General > Default Calendar → Should be iCloud.
3. Sign Out and Back In (iCloud) — Only as Last Resort
This is drastic but effective when sync is totally broken:
- Sign out of iCloud on Mac and iPhone (after backing up).
- Restart both devices.
Sign back in and enable Notes and Calendars again.
4. Advanced Logging (Optional)
If you’re technical, you can enable iCloud debugging logs via Console.app or even run log stream --predicatefilters for syncdefaultsd or cloudd. This helps spot sync errors, but it’s not for the faint of heart.
