diff --git a/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter.rs b/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter.rs
index fd6cfdb2..e7e67cff 100644
--- a/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter.rs
+++ b/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,19 @@ use crate::application::adapters::webdav_adapter::{
 };
 use crate::application::dtos::calendar_dto::{CalendarDto, CalendarEventDto};
 
+/// Returns whether `caller_id` owns `calendar`.
+///
+/// CalDAV clients (DAVx5, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird) only mount a collection
+/// read-write when its `current-user-privilege-set` advertises `<D:write/>`, so
+/// this gate decides read-only vs read-write for the caller. `caller_id` and
+/// [`CalendarDto::owner_id`] are both the user's UUID rendered via
+/// `Uuid::to_string()`, so a direct comparison is exact. Calendars merely shared
+/// with the caller (non-owner access) stay read-only for now — this never
+/// over-grants write.
+fn caller_owns_calendar(calendar: &CalendarDto, caller_id: &str) -> bool {
+    !caller_id.is_empty() && calendar.owner_id == caller_id
+}
+
 /// CalDAV report type
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum CalDavReportType {
@@ -205,6 +218,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         request: &PropFindRequest,
         base_href: &str,
         username: &str,
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mut xml_writer = Writer::new(writer);
 
@@ -227,6 +241,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
                 calendar,
                 request,
                 &format!("{}{}/", base_href, calendar.id),
+                caller_id,
             )?;
         }
 
@@ -242,6 +257,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         calendars: &[CalendarDto],
         request: &PropFindRequest,
         base_href: &str,
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mut xml_writer = Writer::new(writer);
 
@@ -261,6 +277,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
                 calendar,
                 request,
                 &format!("{}{}/", base_href, calendar.id),
+                caller_id,
             )?;
         }
 
@@ -557,6 +574,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         calendar: &CalendarDto,
         request: &PropFindRequest,
         href: &str,
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         // Start response element
         xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:response")))?;
@@ -576,7 +594,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         match &request.prop_find_type {
             PropFindType::AllProp => {
                 // Write all standard properties for a calendar
-                Self::write_calendar_standard_props(xml_writer, calendar)?;
+                Self::write_calendar_standard_props(xml_writer, calendar, caller_id)?;
             }
             PropFindType::PropName => {
                 // Write only property names (empty elements)
@@ -584,7 +602,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
             }
             PropFindType::Prop(props) => {
                 // Write requested properties
-                Self::write_calendar_requested_props(xml_writer, calendar, props)?;
+                Self::write_calendar_requested_props(xml_writer, calendar, props, caller_id)?;
             }
         }
 
@@ -609,6 +627,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
     fn write_calendar_standard_props<W: Write>(
         xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
         calendar: &CalendarDto,
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         // Common WebDAV properties
 
@@ -676,9 +695,10 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:read")))?;
         xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:privilege")))?;
 
-        // Only add write privilege if user owns the calendar or has write access
-        if calendar.owner_id == "current_user_id" {
-            // This should be replaced with actual user check
+        // Advertise write only when the caller owns the calendar. Clients
+        // (DAVx5, Apple Calendar, Thunderbird) mount the collection read-only
+        // unless this privilege is present.
+        if caller_owns_calendar(calendar, caller_id) {
             xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:privilege")))?;
             xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:write")))?;
             xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:privilege")))?;
@@ -735,6 +755,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
         calendar: &CalendarDto,
         props: &[QualifiedName],
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         for prop in props {
             match (prop.namespace.as_str(), prop.name.as_str()) {
@@ -780,9 +801,8 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
                     xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:read")))?;
                     xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:privilege")))?;
 
-                    // Only add write privilege if user owns the calendar or has write access
-                    if calendar.owner_id == "current_user_id" {
-                        // This should be replaced with actual user check
+                    // Advertise write only when the caller owns the calendar.
+                    if caller_owns_calendar(calendar, caller_id) {
                         xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:privilege")))?;
                         xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:write")))?;
                         xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:privilege")))?;
@@ -882,6 +902,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         request: &PropFindRequest,
         base_href: &str,
         depth: &str,
+        caller_id: &str,
     ) -> Result<()> {
         let mut xml_writer = Writer::new(writer);
 
@@ -894,7 +915,7 @@ impl CalDavAdapter {
         ))?;
 
         // Write the calendar collection itself
-        Self::write_calendar_response(&mut xml_writer, calendar, request, base_href)?;
+        Self::write_calendar_response(&mut xml_writer, calendar, request, base_href, caller_id)?;
 
         // If depth > 0, include event resources
         if depth != "0" {
diff --git a/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter_test.rs b/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter_test.rs
index 75e21e3f..5f7847c6 100644
--- a/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter_test.rs
+++ b/src/application/adapters/caldav_adapter_test.rs
@@ -171,6 +171,7 @@ mod tests {
             &calendars,
             &request,
             "/caldav/",
+            "user-001",
         );
 
         assert!(
@@ -210,6 +211,7 @@ mod tests {
             &request,
             "/caldav/cal-001",
             "0",
+            "user-001",
         );
 
         assert!(
@@ -240,6 +242,7 @@ mod tests {
             &request,
             "/caldav/cal-001",
             "1",
+            "user-001",
         );
 
         assert!(
@@ -258,6 +261,54 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_owner_gets_write_privilege_but_non_owner_is_read_only() {
+        // Regression for #480: the privilege gate previously compared owner_id
+        // against the literal "current_user_id", so <D:write/> was never emitted
+        // and every CalDAV client mounted calendars read-only.
+        let calendar = sample_calendar(); // owner_id = "user-001"
+        let request = PropFindRequest {
+            prop_find_type: PropFindType::AllProp,
+        };
+
+        // Owner → read + write.
+        let mut owner_out = Vec::new();
+        CalDavAdapter::generate_calendar_collection_propfind(
+            &mut owner_out,
+            &calendar,
+            &[],
+            &request,
+            "/caldav/cal-001/",
+            "0",
+            "user-001",
+        )
+        .expect("owner propfind");
+        let owner_xml = String::from_utf8(owner_out).expect("utf8");
+        assert!(
+            owner_xml.contains("D:write"),
+            "Owner must be granted <D:write/>, got: {owner_xml}"
+        );
+
+        // A different caller (e.g. a read-only share) → read only, never write.
+        let mut other_out = Vec::new();
+        CalDavAdapter::generate_calendar_collection_propfind(
+            &mut other_out,
+            &calendar,
+            &[],
+            &request,
+            "/caldav/cal-001/",
+            "0",
+            "a-different-user",
+        )
+        .expect("non-owner propfind");
+        let other_xml = String::from_utf8(other_out).expect("utf8");
+        assert!(other_xml.contains("D:read"), "Non-owner keeps <D:read/>");
+        assert!(
+            !other_xml.contains("D:write"),
+            "Non-owner must NOT get <D:write/>, got: {other_xml}"
+        );
+    }
+
     // ========================
     // Calendar events response tests
     // ========================
@@ -434,6 +485,7 @@ mod tests {
             &request,
             "/caldav/",
             "testuser",
+            "user-001",
         );
         assert!(
             result.is_ok(),
@@ -483,6 +535,7 @@ mod tests {
             &request,
             "/caldav/",
             "testuser",
+            "user-001",
         );
         assert!(result.is_ok());
 
@@ -565,6 +618,7 @@ mod tests {
             &request,
             "/caldav/cal-001/",
             "0",
+            "user-001",
         );
         assert!(result.is_ok(), "Failed: {:?}", result.err());
 
diff --git a/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter.rs b/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter.rs
index 2d0e16f2..2f6b66e4 100644
--- a/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter.rs
+++ b/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter.rs
@@ -17,6 +17,20 @@ use crate::application::adapters::webdav_adapter::{
 use crate::application::dtos::address_book_dto::AddressBookDto;
 use crate::application::dtos::contact_dto::ContactDto;
 
+/// Render a requested property as a namespaced response element name, mapping
+/// the known namespaces to their response prefixes (`D:` for DAV, `CR:` for
+/// CardDAV). Used for the catch-all arms of the requested-property writers so
+/// the prefix mapping lives in exactly one place.
+fn carddav_prop_name(prop: &QualifiedName) -> String {
+    if prop.namespace == "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav" {
+        format!("CR:{}", prop.name)
+    } else if prop.namespace == "DAV:" {
+        format!("D:{}", prop.name)
+    } else {
+        prop.name.clone()
+    }
+}
+
 /// CardDAV report type
 #[derive(Debug, PartialEq)]
 pub enum CardDavReportType {
@@ -163,6 +177,96 @@ impl CardDavAdapter {
         Ok(())
     }
 
+    /// Generate a PROPFIND response for the CardDAV root `/carddav/`.
+    ///
+    /// Mirrors the CalDAV root: emits a discovery entry for `/carddav/` itself
+    /// advertising `current-user-principal` and `addressbook-home-set` (the
+    /// properties DAVx5 / Apple Contacts read to locate address books), then —
+    /// at Depth > 0 — one entry per address book. Without these discovery
+    /// properties clients never find the address books at all.
+    pub fn generate_root_propfind_response<W: Write>(
+        writer: W,
+        address_books: &[AddressBookDto],
+        request: &PropFindRequest,
+        base_href: &str,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut xml_writer = Writer::new(writer);
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(
+            BytesStart::new("D:multistatus").with_attributes([
+                ("xmlns:D", "DAV:"),
+                ("xmlns:CR", "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav"),
+                ("xmlns:CS", "http://calendarserver.org/ns/"),
+            ]),
+        ))?;
+
+        Self::write_carddav_root_response(&mut xml_writer, request, base_href, username)?;
+
+        for book in address_books {
+            Self::write_addressbook_response(
+                &mut xml_writer,
+                book,
+                request,
+                &format!("{}{}/", base_href, book.id),
+            )?;
+        }
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:multistatus")))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Generate a PROPFIND response for a CardDAV user principal resource at
+    /// `/carddav/principals/{username}/`.
+    ///
+    /// Returns `addressbook-home-set` so clients can resolve the collection
+    /// holding the user's address books, plus a self-referential
+    /// `current-user-principal`.
+    pub fn generate_principal_propfind_response<W: Write>(
+        writer: W,
+        request: &PropFindRequest,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        let mut xml_writer = Writer::new(writer);
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(
+            BytesStart::new("D:multistatus").with_attributes([
+                ("xmlns:D", "DAV:"),
+                ("xmlns:CR", "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav"),
+                ("xmlns:CS", "http://calendarserver.org/ns/"),
+            ]),
+        ))?;
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:response")))?;
+
+        let href = format!("/carddav/principals/{}/", username);
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(&href)))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:href")))?;
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:propstat")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:prop")))?;
+
+        match &request.prop_find_type {
+            PropFindType::AllProp | PropFindType::PropName => {
+                Self::write_carddav_principal_props(&mut xml_writer, username)?;
+            }
+            PropFindType::Prop(props) => {
+                Self::write_carddav_principal_requested_props(&mut xml_writer, username, props)?;
+            }
+        }
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:prop")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:status")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new("HTTP/1.1 200 OK")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:status")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:propstat")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:response")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:multistatus")))?;
+
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
     /// Generate PROPFIND for a single address book collection + contacts
     pub fn generate_addressbook_collection_propfind<W: Write>(
         writer: W,
@@ -384,14 +488,159 @@ impl CardDavAdapter {
                         .write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:current-user-privilege-set")))?;
                 }
                 _ => {
-                    let prop_name = if prop.namespace == "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav" {
-                        format!("CR:{}", prop.name)
-                    } else if prop.namespace == "DAV:" {
-                        format!("D:{}", prop.name)
-                    } else {
-                        prop.name.clone()
-                    };
-                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new(&prop_name)))?;
+                    xml_writer
+                        .write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new(carddav_prop_name(prop))))?;
+                }
+            }
+        }
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Write a populated `current-user-principal` element pointing at the user's
+    /// CardDAV principal. Shared by the root and principal discovery responses.
+    fn write_current_user_principal<W: Write>(
+        xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:current-user-principal")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(&format!(
+            "/carddav/principals/{}/",
+            username
+        ))))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:current-user-principal")))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Write a populated `addressbook-home-set` element pointing at the user's
+    /// address-book home collection. Shared by the root and principal responses.
+    fn write_addressbook_home_set<W: Write>(
+        xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("CR:addressbook-home-set")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(&format!(
+            "/carddav/{}/",
+            username
+        ))))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("CR:addressbook-home-set")))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Write the root `/carddav/` discovery entry.
+    fn write_carddav_root_response<W: Write>(
+        xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
+        request: &PropFindRequest,
+        href: &str,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:response")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:href")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(href)))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:href")))?;
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:propstat")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:prop")))?;
+
+        match &request.prop_find_type {
+            PropFindType::AllProp => {
+                xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:collection")))?;
+                xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                Self::write_current_user_principal(xml_writer, username)?;
+                Self::write_addressbook_home_set(xml_writer, username)?;
+            }
+            PropFindType::PropName => {
+                xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                xml_writer
+                    .write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:current-user-principal")))?;
+                xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("CR:addressbook-home-set")))?;
+            }
+            PropFindType::Prop(props) => {
+                for prop in props {
+                    match (prop.namespace.as_str(), prop.name.as_str()) {
+                        ("DAV:", "resourcetype") => {
+                            xml_writer
+                                .write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                            xml_writer
+                                .write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:collection")))?;
+                            xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                        }
+                        ("DAV:", "current-user-principal") => {
+                            Self::write_current_user_principal(xml_writer, username)?;
+                        }
+                        ("urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav", "addressbook-home-set") => {
+                            Self::write_addressbook_home_set(xml_writer, username)?;
+                        }
+                        _ => {
+                            xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new(
+                                carddav_prop_name(prop),
+                            )))?;
+                        }
+                    }
+                }
+            }
+        }
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:prop")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:status")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new("HTTP/1.1 200 OK")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:status")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:propstat")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:response")))?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Write the standard properties for a CardDAV principal resource.
+    fn write_carddav_principal_props<W: Write>(
+        xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
+        username: &str,
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:collection")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:principal")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:displayname")))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(username)))?;
+        xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:displayname")))?;
+
+        Self::write_addressbook_home_set(xml_writer, username)?;
+        Self::write_current_user_principal(xml_writer, username)?;
+        Ok(())
+    }
+
+    /// Write the requested properties for a CardDAV principal resource.
+    fn write_carddav_principal_requested_props<W: Write>(
+        xml_writer: &mut Writer<W>,
+        username: &str,
+        props: &[QualifiedName],
+    ) -> Result<()> {
+        for prop in props {
+            match (prop.namespace.as_str(), prop.name.as_str()) {
+                ("DAV:", "resourcetype") => {
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:collection")))?;
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new("D:principal")))?;
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:resourcetype")))?;
+                }
+                ("DAV:", "displayname") => {
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Start(BytesStart::new("D:displayname")))?;
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::Text(BytesText::new(username)))?;
+                    xml_writer.write_event(Event::End(BytesEnd::new("D:displayname")))?;
+                }
+                ("DAV:", "current-user-principal") => {
+                    Self::write_current_user_principal(xml_writer, username)?;
+                }
+                ("urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav", "addressbook-home-set") => {
+                    Self::write_addressbook_home_set(xml_writer, username)?;
+                }
+                _ => {
+                    xml_writer
+                        .write_event(Event::Empty(BytesStart::new(carddav_prop_name(prop))))?;
                 }
             }
         }
diff --git a/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter_test.rs b/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter_test.rs
index bc51e080..ac50a647 100644
--- a/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter_test.rs
+++ b/src/application/adapters/carddav_adapter_test.rs
@@ -307,6 +307,97 @@ mod tests {
         );
     }
 
+    #[test]
+    fn test_root_propfind_advertises_principal_and_home_set() {
+        // Regression for #480: without these discovery properties DAVx5 / Apple
+        // Contacts never locate the user's address books.
+        let books = vec![sample_address_book()];
+        let request = PropFindRequest {
+            prop_find_type: PropFindType::AllProp,
+        };
+
+        let mut output = Vec::new();
+        CardDavAdapter::generate_root_propfind_response(
+            &mut output,
+            &books,
+            &request,
+            "/carddav/",
+            "testuser",
+        )
+        .expect("root propfind");
+
+        let xml = String::from_utf8(output).expect("utf8");
+        assert!(
+            xml.contains("/carddav/principals/testuser/"),
+            "Root must expose current-user-principal href, got: {xml}"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            xml.contains("/carddav/testuser/"),
+            "Root must expose addressbook-home-set href, got: {xml}"
+        );
+        // Depth 1 also enumerates the books.
+        assert!(xml.contains("ab-001"), "Should list address book");
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_root_propfind_prop_request_returns_populated_discovery() {
+        // A DAVx5-style targeted request for the two discovery properties.
+        let request = PropFindRequest {
+            prop_find_type: PropFindType::Prop(vec![
+                QualifiedName {
+                    namespace: "DAV:".to_string(),
+                    name: "current-user-principal".to_string(),
+                },
+                QualifiedName {
+                    namespace: "urn:ietf:params:xml:ns:carddav".to_string(),
+                    name: "addressbook-home-set".to_string(),
+                },
+            ]),
+        };
+
+        let mut output = Vec::new();
+        CardDavAdapter::generate_root_propfind_response(
+            &mut output,
+            &[],
+            &request,
+            "/carddav/",
+            "testuser",
+        )
+        .expect("root propfind");
+
+        let xml = String::from_utf8(output).expect("utf8");
+        assert!(xml.contains("/carddav/principals/testuser/"));
+        assert!(xml.contains("/carddav/testuser/"));
+        // Properties must be populated, not empty self-closing placeholders.
+        assert!(!xml.contains("<D:current-user-principal/>"));
+        assert!(!xml.contains("<CR:addressbook-home-set/>"));
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn test_principal_propfind_returns_home_set() {
+        let request = PropFindRequest {
+            prop_find_type: PropFindType::AllProp,
+        };
+
+        let mut output = Vec::new();
+        CardDavAdapter::generate_principal_propfind_response(&mut output, &request, "testuser")
+            .expect("principal propfind");
+
+        let xml = String::from_utf8(output).expect("utf8");
+        assert!(
+            xml.contains("/carddav/principals/testuser/"),
+            "Principal href should be present"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            xml.contains("/carddav/testuser/"),
+            "addressbook-home-set should be present"
+        );
+        assert!(
+            xml.contains("D:principal"),
+            "resourcetype should include principal"
+        );
+    }
+
     #[test]
     fn test_generate_addressbook_collection_propfind_depth_0() {
         let addressbook = sample_address_book();
diff --git a/src/interfaces/api/handlers/caldav_handler.rs b/src/interfaces/api/handlers/caldav_handler.rs
index b6d6eb88..a4f6e22b 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/api/handlers/caldav_handler.rs
+++ b/src/interfaces/api/handlers/caldav_handler.rs
@@ -218,6 +218,9 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
         .to_string();
 
     let user = extract_user(&req)?;
+    // Caller UUID (string form) — gates the `<D:write/>` privilege on calendars
+    // the caller owns, so clients mount their own calendars read-write.
+    let caller_id = user.id.to_string();
     let calendar_service = get_calendar_service(&state)?;
 
     let body_bytes = body::to_bytes(req.into_body(), MAX_CALDAV_BODY)
@@ -256,6 +259,7 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
             &propfind_request,
             base_href,
             &user.username,
+            &caller_id,
         )
         .map_err(|e| AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e)))?;
 
@@ -333,6 +337,7 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
                     &propfind_request,
                     base_href,
                     &depth,
+                    &caller_id,
                 )
                 .map_err(|e| AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e)))?;
 
@@ -359,6 +364,7 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
                     &calendars,
                     &propfind_request,
                     base_href,
+                    &caller_id,
                 )
                 .map_err(|e| AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e)))?;
 
@@ -407,6 +413,7 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
                         &propfind_request,
                         base_href,
                         &depth,
+                        &caller_id,
                     )
                     .map_err(|e| {
                         AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e))
diff --git a/src/interfaces/api/handlers/carddav_handler.rs b/src/interfaces/api/handlers/carddav_handler.rs
index 1f45b017..29a8260a 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/api/handlers/carddav_handler.rs
+++ b/src/interfaces/api/handlers/carddav_handler.rs
@@ -58,6 +58,24 @@ pub fn carddav_routes() -> Router<Arc<AppState>> {
         .route("/carddav", axum::routing::any(handle_carddav_methods_root))
 }
 
+/// Creates the RFC 6764 well-known discovery route for CardDAV.
+/// Public (no auth) — simply redirects to the CardDAV root so clients that
+/// bootstrap from `/.well-known/carddav` can locate the service.
+pub fn well_known_routes() -> Router<Arc<AppState>> {
+    Router::new().route(
+        "/.well-known/carddav",
+        axum::routing::any(handle_well_known_carddav),
+    )
+}
+
+async fn handle_well_known_carddav() -> Response<Body> {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::MOVED_PERMANENTLY)
+        .header(header::LOCATION, "/carddav/")
+        .body(Body::empty())
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
 async fn handle_carddav_methods_root(
     axum::extract::State(state): axum::extract::State<Arc<AppState>>,
     req: Request<Body>,
@@ -226,10 +244,66 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
         .map_err(|e| AppError::bad_request(format!("Failed to parse PROPFIND: {}", e)))?
     };
 
+    // Discovery: the true root `/carddav/` advertises current-user-principal and
+    // addressbook-home-set so clients (DAVx5, Apple Contacts) can locate the
+    // address books. Depth 0 → only the root entry; Depth 1+ → also the books.
+    if path.is_empty() {
+        let address_books = if depth == "0" {
+            vec![]
+        } else {
+            addressbook_service
+                .list_user_address_books(user.id)
+                .await
+                .map_err(|e| {
+                    AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to list address books: {}", e))
+                })?
+        };
+
+        let mut response_body = Vec::new();
+        CardDavAdapter::generate_root_propfind_response(
+            &mut response_body,
+            &address_books,
+            &propfind_request,
+            "/carddav/",
+            &user.username,
+        )
+        .map_err(|e| AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e)))?;
+
+        return Ok(Response::builder()
+            .status(StatusCode::MULTI_STATUS)
+            .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "application/xml; charset=utf-8")
+            .body(Body::from(response_body))
+            .unwrap());
+    }
+
+    // Discovery: principal resource `/carddav/principals/{username}/` returns the
+    // addressbook-home-set the client should enumerate next.
+    if path == "principals" || path.starts_with("principals/") {
+        let username = path
+            .strip_prefix("principals/")
+            .map(|s| s.trim_end_matches('/'))
+            .filter(|s| !s.is_empty())
+            .unwrap_or(&user.username);
+
+        let mut response_body = Vec::new();
+        CardDavAdapter::generate_principal_propfind_response(
+            &mut response_body,
+            &propfind_request,
+            username,
+        )
+        .map_err(|e| AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to generate XML: {}", e)))?;
+
+        return Ok(Response::builder()
+            .status(StatusCode::MULTI_STATUS)
+            .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "application/xml; charset=utf-8")
+            .body(Body::from(response_body))
+            .unwrap());
+    }
+
     let effective_path = strip_username_prefix(path);
 
     if effective_path.is_empty() {
-        // Root CardDAV path or user home — list user's address books
+        // User address-book home `/carddav/{username}/` — list the user's books.
         let address_books = addressbook_service
             .list_user_address_books(user.id)
             .await
@@ -237,12 +311,8 @@ async fn handle_propfind(
                 AppError::internal_error(format!("Failed to list address books: {}", e))
             })?;
 
-        let base_href = if path.is_empty() {
-            "/carddav/".to_string()
-        } else {
-            let user_part = path.split('/').next().unwrap_or(path);
-            format!("/carddav/{}/", user_part)
-        };
+        let user_part = path.split('/').next().unwrap_or(path);
+        let base_href = format!("/carddav/{}/", user_part);
         let mut response_body = Vec::new();
         CardDavAdapter::generate_addressbooks_propfind_response(
             &mut response_body,
diff --git a/src/interfaces/middleware/auth.rs b/src/interfaces/middleware/auth.rs
index 34ca7c1a..547523c7 100644
--- a/src/interfaces/middleware/auth.rs
+++ b/src/interfaces/middleware/auth.rs
@@ -240,17 +240,12 @@ pub async fn auth_middleware(
                         }
                         Err(e) => {
                             tracing::warn!("App password verification failed: {}", e);
-                            // For WebDAV: include WWW-Authenticate so the client
-                            // knows to re-prompt rather than silently failing.
-                            if request.uri().path().starts_with("/webdav") {
-                                return Ok(Response::builder()
-                                    .status(StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED)
-                                    .header(header::WWW_AUTHENTICATE, r#"Basic realm="OxiCloud""#)
-                                    .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "text/plain; charset=utf-8")
-                                    .body(axum::body::Body::from(
-                                        "Invalid username or app password",
-                                    ))
-                                    .unwrap());
+                            // For DAV clients: include WWW-Authenticate so the client
+                            // re-prompts for credentials rather than failing silently.
+                            if is_dav_path(request.uri().path()) {
+                                return Ok(dav_basic_auth_challenge(
+                                    "Invalid username or app password",
+                                ));
                             }
                             return Err(AuthError::InvalidToken(
                                 "Invalid username or app password".to_string(),
@@ -312,23 +307,41 @@ pub async fn auth_middleware(
         return Err(AuthError::AuthServiceUnavailable);
     }
 
-    // For WebDAV requests with no credentials at all: return 401 with
-    // WWW-Authenticate so that spec-compliant clients (Nautilus, Cyberduck,
-    // Windows Explorer, macOS Finder) know to prompt for a username/password.
-    // Non-WebDAV routes return the standard AuthError which renders without
-    // this header — keeping browser sessions redirecting to /login as before.
-    if request.uri().path().starts_with("/webdav") {
-        return Ok(Response::builder()
-            .status(StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED)
-            .header(header::WWW_AUTHENTICATE, r#"Basic realm="OxiCloud""#)
-            .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "text/plain; charset=utf-8")
-            .body(axum::body::Body::from("Authentication required"))
-            .unwrap());
+    // For DAV requests with no credentials at all: return 401 with
+    // WWW-Authenticate so that spec-compliant clients (Thunderbird, DAVx5,
+    // Apple Calendar/Contacts, Nautilus, Cyberduck, Windows Explorer, macOS
+    // Finder) know to prompt for credentials and retry. Unlike `curl -u`, these
+    // clients do NOT send Basic credentials preemptively — without the
+    // challenge they never authenticate and fail with "discovery failed" / 401.
+    // Non-DAV routes return the standard AuthError which renders without this
+    // header — keeping browser sessions redirecting to /login as before.
+    if is_dav_path(request.uri().path()) {
+        return Ok(dav_basic_auth_challenge("Authentication required"));
     }
 
     Err(AuthError::TokenNotProvided)
 }
 
+/// DAV protocol surfaces (WebDAV, CalDAV, CardDAV) authenticate over HTTP Basic.
+/// Spec-compliant clients (Thunderbird, DAVx5, Apple Calendar/Contacts, file
+/// managers) only send credentials after receiving a `401` carrying a
+/// `WWW-Authenticate: Basic` challenge, so these paths must emit it. Browser and
+/// JSON-API routes deliberately do not, so they keep redirecting to `/login`.
+fn is_dav_path(path: &str) -> bool {
+    path.starts_with("/webdav") || path.starts_with("/caldav") || path.starts_with("/carddav")
+}
+
+/// Build the `401 Unauthorized` Basic-auth challenge shared by every DAV
+/// surface, so clients re-prompt for credentials instead of failing silently.
+fn dav_basic_auth_challenge(message: &'static str) -> Response {
+    Response::builder()
+        .status(StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED)
+        .header(header::WWW_AUTHENTICATE, r#"Basic realm="OxiCloud""#)
+        .header(header::CONTENT_TYPE, "text/plain; charset=utf-8")
+        .body(axum::body::Body::from(message))
+        .unwrap()
+}
+
 /// Middleware to verify that the authenticated user has an admin role.
 ///
 /// Must be applied AFTER auth_middleware, as it depends on
@@ -353,3 +366,53 @@ pub async fn require_admin(request: Request, next: Next) -> Response {
     let error = AuthError::AccessDenied("Admin role required".to_string());
     error.into_response()
 }
+
+#[cfg(test)]
+mod tests {
+    use super::*;
+
+    #[test]
+    fn dav_paths_receive_basic_auth_challenge() {
+        // Regression for #480: CalDAV/CardDAV clients (Thunderbird, DAVx5) only
+        // send credentials after a 401 carrying WWW-Authenticate. All three DAV
+        // surfaces must qualify so the challenge is emitted.
+        for path in [
+            "/webdav/",
+            "/webdav/admin/file.txt",
+            "/caldav/",
+            "/caldav/admin/cal/",
+            "/carddav/",
+            "/carddav/principals/admin/",
+        ] {
+            assert!(is_dav_path(path), "{path} should be treated as a DAV path");
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn non_dav_paths_do_not_receive_basic_auth_challenge() {
+        for path in [
+            "/",
+            "/api/files",
+            "/login",
+            "/index.html",
+            "/.well-known/caldav",
+        ] {
+            assert!(
+                !is_dav_path(path),
+                "{path} must not get a Basic-auth challenge (browser/API surface)"
+            );
+        }
+    }
+
+    #[test]
+    fn challenge_sets_www_authenticate_header() {
+        let resp = dav_basic_auth_challenge("Authentication required");
+        assert_eq!(resp.status(), StatusCode::UNAUTHORIZED);
+        assert_eq!(
+            resp.headers()
+                .get(header::WWW_AUTHENTICATE)
+                .and_then(|v| v.to_str().ok()),
+            Some(r#"Basic realm="OxiCloud""#),
+        );
+    }
+}
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index 3aa56196..6f462fbb 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -311,7 +311,9 @@ async fn main() -> Result<(), Box<dyn std::error::Error>> {
     use oxicloud::interfaces::api::handlers::carddav_handler;
     use oxicloud::interfaces::api::handlers::webdav_handler;
     let caldav_router = caldav_handler::caldav_routes();
-    let well_known_router = caldav_handler::well_known_routes();
+    // RFC 6764 discovery for both CalDAV and CardDAV (public redirects).
+    let well_known_router =
+        caldav_handler::well_known_routes().merge(carddav_handler::well_known_routes());
     let carddav_router = carddav_handler::carddav_routes();
     let webdav_router = webdav_handler::webdav_routes();