Got a new Apple iPad and since you’re already a MobileMe subscriber, you’re dreaming of having it just magically get all your calendar events, contacts and even Safari bookmarks? Of course you are! The question is, how do you hook up your iPad to your existing MobileMe service?
My experience when I was setting up my iPad for the first time was that it asked if I wanted to sign up for MobileMe, but the “I already have an account” link actually didn’t take me to a point where I could enter my MobileMe credentials, so I ended up just skipping that point in the desire – I admit – to get to the point where I could play with my new toy!
Problem is, that left me without contacts, calendar events, etc etc, where my iPad wasn’t part of my little digital universe. Not so good.
Fortunately, I then figured it out. And here’s how ya do it…
Everything takes place on the iPad itself, so all of these screen shots are from the iPad. If you don’t have one, you might find it remarkably similar to how you’d set up MobileMe on your iPhone.
First off, find the Settings icon if you haven’t already, and tap on it:
Now you’re in the Settings area where there’s lots you can play with and tweak. On the top left are the main app choices:
You want to tap on “Mail, Contacts, Calendars” just below “General”. Now you’ll see the general Mail account settings, probably empty, as mine was:
Tap on “Add Account…”
Tap on “MobileMe” (right about now you’re thinking, “well, d’uh!” but bear with me, okay?)
Here’s where you’ll need to enter all of your login credentials that you should have gotten from when you signed up for MobileMe. Enter them all, then tap on “Next” in the top right corner (which activates once you’ve entered data).
You’ll get to stare at this:
If you’re in a café like I was, it might be blocking SSL so it’s possible you’ll actually see this error pop up:
If so, unless it’s a place full of hackers and ruffians, I’d suggest you tap on “Yes” and let it proceed.
Eventually it’ll verify your MobileMe account information and show you the default settings options for your account, specifically which data you want to keep in sync:
Not sure what you have hooked up to your MobileMe account, but I have everything synchronized, using Address Book for my contacts, iCal for my calendar, and so on. I leave everything in the “On” position.
Worthy of a bit more discussion is the “Find My iPad” option. Like “Find My iPhone”, it is a nice feature that lets you log in to the MobileMe Web site (me.com) to geolocate your iPad in case it gets lost, misplaced or stolen. I recommend you enable it. Tap on “Yes” and …
Really, tap on “Yes”. Trust me on this one!
One more setting before you go back to hunting for the perfect iPad game: do you want MobileMe to be able to “push” information to you when you’re working on the iPad? If so, go back to the main Mail, Contacts, Calendars configuration and look for “Fetch New Data”:
Tap on it and you’ll be able to configure your push notifications exactly as you’d prefer:
That’s it. Your MobileMe account should be all hooked up. Have a bit of patience and you should shortly find that all of your data has invisibly streamed onto the Apple iPad and you’ve got your contacts, calendars, bookmarks and more!
If you’ve read this, I’m sure you’re looking for iPad help. Guess what? You just found it!
I have followed all of the steps for setting up my Mobile Me accoun on my IPad. The email address shows up under my email accounts. However the Mobile Me icon hasnt shown up on my screen so I can’t access my email. Help!!
Hey, thanks for the info: I have another questions: I have an IPAD and have mobile me, which I set up when I got it. I just bought a macbook air and I can’t seem to synch the macbook with the information on the ipad, such as contacts, calendar etc. Can you tell me how to do it? All my contacts and calendar info is on the ipad.
Cheers
John.
If “Push” is on, does that cause an automatic sync anytime information changes on my computer? I seem to be getting contact and calendar information to my iPad but my e-mail is not coming across. I thought all the sync information came from the ‘cloud’.
When I hit the e-mail icon on the main screen, it is taking me to the place where you setup an e-mail account. When I try to enter anything, it tells me that account (loneracer@me.com) already exists, but there is NO e-mail like what I am seeing on my iMac. Any ideas?
Dave, I checked all your instructions for setting up my iPad & they are all correct. My calendar & contacts from my pc are in the cloud but not on iPad. I have no idea what to do next.
Dave, you’re the best. I’m coming to you for all my ????? from now on. I’m a visual girl and need the visuals! Thanks a million, Chris
Thank you Dave, but I have one question:
I can locate my iPhone no problem, but not my iPad!
It allows me to send a message, lock or wipe the iPad, but not locate it on the map. Why is this? My iPad has WiFi only, and not 3G option. Does that make a difference?
Thanks again!
dave
thanks a million …
ipad sync working brilliantly ….
tasmania australia
well almost …
just had to adjust that push data instruction …
recommendation …
buy mobileme
its brilliant
On my account, I discovered that when I added Find My iPad, I can no longer Find My iPhone. Anybody else having this problem?
Dear Dave,
Thank you for you crystal clear instructions. Why can’t people like you write the “How To…” books ;o).
Barbara
Dear Dave,
Thank you so much! Your direct and simple instructions is just what I needed. I struggled for many hours, and no one was as direct and clear as you were. Fabulous! Why can’t Apple help be as clear?
Best,
Michi Itami