How to Sync Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar
While my personal email account is on Gmail, I also have a work account on Outlook. Both Google and Microsoft have calendar apps built into their email apps making it inconvenient for me to check and schedule two different calendars. One way to fix this problem is to sync the Outlook calendar with Google Calendar. That way, I can just check Google Calendar and find all my personal and work events right in one place.
Here’s how you can sync Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar.
Sync Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar
There are a few ways to sync these two calendar apps, but let me start with the default option — one I implemented in my workflow.
1. Subscribe to Outlook Calendar on Google Calendar
1.First, openOutlook web appin your favorite browser and selectCalendarin the sidebar to open Outlook Calendar.
2.Now, click on thecogicon at the top right corner to openOutlook Settings.
3.This will open settings in the right sidebar. Scroll down and click onView all Outlook settings.
4.This will open Outlook settings in a pop-up window. Select theShared Calendarsoption underCalendarmenu.
5.Again, scroll down toPublish a Calendarsection and select the Calendar you want to sync.
6.Now click onSelect permissionsand selectCan view all detailsand then click onPublish.
7.Here you shall find two links. Select the ICS link option and then click onCopy linkin the pop-up menu.
8.Once copied, openGoogle Calendaron the web browser and in the left sidebar, click on thePlus (+)icon besideOther calendars.
9.Now selectFrom URLin the pop-up menu.
10.Now paste the ICS link you copied in step 7 above and then click onAdd Calendarbutton.
That’s it. You have successfully added Outlook calendar to Google Calendar app. Now close settings and you will find the Outlook calendar under the Other calendars section in Google Calendar by the same name that you gave it in the Outlook app. Click on the three-dot menu icon to customize the look of the calendar.
The sync can take anywhere from a few seconds to a few minutes. The only con is that you’re able to view your Outlook calendar events in Google Calendar, but you cannot edit them or add a new event directly from here. For that, you will need to open the Outlook app.
2. Export and Import the Calendar
Though you have an in-built subscription option, it only offers the ability to view your Outlook calendar events in Google Calendar. You cannot edit existing or add new events. It works great when you only want a birds-eye view of your events in one place, but if you want to switch completely to Google Calendar and make it a one-stop solution for your event planning, you need to import all your Outlook Calendar data to Google Calendar.
Note:There is no way to export Outlook Calendar data from the official Outlook.com website. You will need the desktop app for that.
1.In Outlook’s desktop app, click on theCalendaricon in the bottom left corner.
2.Now, click on theFilemenu that is located in the top left corner.
3.On the next page, click onSave Calendarto save all the calendar data in an iCal file format.
4.Use the default name or give a name to the iCal file. Once done, click onSave.
5.Now openGoogle Calendar,click on theCogicon at the top right corner, and selectSettings.
6.In the settings, click on theImports and exportsoption, then click onSelect file from your computerto upload the iCal file you just downloaded from Outlook.
7.Now click onAdd to calendaroption and select the calendar that you want to add Outlook entries. If you want to add these Outlook details to a new calendar, you need to go back andcreate a new calendarfirst. Once the calendar is created and selected, click on theImportbutton.
All the Outlook Calendar details will be available in your Google Calendar instantly once the iCal file is imported.
Now you can use Google Calendar for all your day planning, events, reminders, etc. Note that this will not sync both the services and any new events you add to the Outlook app won’t appear in Google Calendar. You will need to export and import every now and then for that. The two calendar apps are not in sync via the cloud.
If you are looking to sync Outlook with Google calendar with the ability to edit entries on both the services, check out Zapier.
3. Use Zapier to Sync Outlook With Google Calendar
The in-built subscription option syncs both the calendars, but you can only view Outlook calendar events and not edit them. Exporting and importing calendars solve this problem, but new Outlook events won’t sync to Google Calendar. Enter Zapier.
While there are other tools like Calendar bridge that do the same job, they are paid. Zapier offers a freemium model where you can create up to three zaps for free. Zaps is what you need to connect two apps and make them work together.
1.First, openZapierand click onSign-upto create a Zapier account or you may directly log in with your Google Microsoft or Facebook account.
2.Once logged in,open Microsoft Outlook to Google Calendar zap. Click on theSign in to Microsoft Outlookbutton andSign in to Google accountto log in to these accounts.
4.Once done, you will find a third option below —Calendar. Click on theChoose Valueoption below it and select a calendar from your Google Calendar. All the Microsoft Outlook Calendar details will be synced to the selected Calendar. Create a new calendar beforehand in Google Calendar if you want to keep things organized and clean.
5.Once done, click on theTurn on Zapbutton at the bottom right corner. This will enable the Zap and all events from Outlook will begin syncing to Google Calendar.
If you are using the free version of Zapier, it may take around 15-20 mins to sync Outlook events. But Zapier has multiple premium plans to decrease the sync time that also provides additional features and more Zaps for you to add later.
Wrap Up: Sync Outlook Calendar to Google Calendar
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Ravi Teja KNTS
Tech writer with over 4 years of experience at TechWiser, where he has authored more than 700 articles on AI, Google apps, Chrome OS, Discord, and Android. His journey started with a passion for discussing technology and helping others in online forums, which naturally grew into a career in tech journalism. Ravi’s writing focuses on simplifying technology, making it accessible and jargon-free for readers. When he’s not breaking down the latest tech, he’s often immersed in a classic film – a true cinephile at heart.
