The quickest way to add an iCal file to Google Calendar
Open Google Calendar in your web browser, click the plus sign next to "Other calendars" on the left side, and select "Subscribe to calendar" or "Import & export" depending on whether you want to add a calendar that updates automatically or import a one-time file. If you have a file on your computer (usually ending in .ics), use the Import option. If someone gave you a calendar link or you want to follow a calendar that changes regularly, use Subscribe.
The difference matters: importing a file brings in the events that exist right now, but future changes to that file won't show up in Google Calendar. Subscribing to a calendar link means Google Calendar checks for updates automatically, so new events appear as soon as they're added to the source.
Key Takeaways
- Import an .ics file if you have it saved on your computer or received it as an attachment; Google Calendar will add all the events from that file to a new calendar.
- Subscribe to a calendar if someone gave you a link (usually starting with webcal:// or https://) so events update automatically when the source changes.
- Imported events stay in Google Calendar even if the original file is deleted, but subscribed calendars disappear if the source is removed.
- You can rename, hide, or delete the imported or subscribed calendar from Google Calendar without affecting the original file or source.
How to import an iCal file you already have
If someone sent you a calendar file as an attachment or you downloaded one from a website, you have a file on your computer with a name like "schedule.ics" or "events.ics". To bring it into Google Calendar, open Google Calendar on your computer (not the phone app), look for the plus sign next to "Other calendars" on the left side, and click it. A small menu appears with several options.
Click "Import & export" at the bottom of that menu. Google Calendar will ask you to choose a file from your computer. Click "Select a file from your computer", find the .ics file, and open it. Google Calendar then asks which calendar you want to add these events to — you can add them to your main calendar or create a new one just for these events. Click "Import" and the events appear in Google Calendar within a few seconds.
How to subscribe to a calendar link that updates automatically
If someone gave you a calendar link — usually a long web address that starts with webcal:// or https:// and ends in .ics — you can subscribe to it so Google Calendar pulls in new events automatically. Open Google Calendar, click the plus sign next to "Other calendars", and this time select "Subscribe to calendar".
Paste the link into the box that appears and click "Subscribe". Google Calendar checks that link regularly and adds any new events that appear there. This is useful for shared team calendars, public holiday calendars, or any calendar that changes over time. If the person who manages that calendar adds an event next week, it will show up in your Google Calendar without you having to do anything.
What happens to the events after you import or subscribe
Once you import a file, the events belong to Google Calendar. If the person who sent you the file updates it on their computer, those changes won't appear in your Google Calendar — you would have to import the updated file again. The original file can be deleted and your Google Calendar events stay put.
With a subscribed calendar, it's the opposite. Google Calendar keeps checking that link, so if the source adds, changes, or deletes an event, your calendar updates automatically. But if the person who manages that calendar removes the link or stops sharing it, the calendar disappears from your Google Calendar and you lose access to it.
Renaming, hiding, or removing the calendar
After you import or subscribe, the new calendar appears in your "Other calendars" list on the left side of Google Calendar. You can right-click on the calendar name to rename it, hide it from view (the events stay in Google Calendar but don't show on your screen), or delete it entirely.
Deleting an imported calendar removes it from Google Calendar but doesn't affect the original .ics file on your computer or anyone else's calendar. Deleting a subscribed calendar stops Google Calendar from checking that link, but the calendar still exists wherever it's hosted — you can subscribe to it again later if you want.
Troubleshooting when the import or subscription doesn't work
If Google Calendar won't import your file, the file might be corrupted or in a format Google Calendar doesn't recognize. Try opening the .ics file in a text editor (like Notepad) to see if it looks like calendar data — it should have lines starting with "BEGIN:VCALENDAR" and "BEGIN:VEVENT". If it looks like gibberish, the file may be damaged and you should ask whoever sent it to resend it.
If a subscription link isn't working, make sure you copied the entire link correctly and that it actually ends in .ics. Some calendar services require you to be logged in to access the link, so if you're not signed into that service, the subscription might fail. Try opening the link in your web browser first to confirm it works, then paste it into Google Calendar's subscribe box.
Moving events between calendars after import
If you imported events into your main calendar but want them in a separate calendar instead, you can move them. Click on an event, click "Edit event", scroll down to the calendar dropdown, and select a different calendar. You have to do this one event at a time, so if you imported hundreds of events, this gets tedious — it's better to choose the right calendar during the initial import.
For subscribed calendars, you can't move the events because they're controlled by the source. If you want them in a different calendar, you would have to unsubscribe, import the file instead, and then move the events manually.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I import an iCal file on my phone or tablet?
The Google Calendar app on Android and iPhone doesn't have an import option. You have to use a web browser on your computer to import files. After you import, the events show up on your phone automatically because they're now in your Google Calendar.
What if the iCal file has events that conflict with events already in my calendar?
Google Calendar will add all the events from the file, even if they overlap with existing events. You'll see both events on your calendar. You can delete the duplicate manually or choose not to import if you realize the conflict before clicking Import.
Can I edit events after I import them?
Yes, imported events are now part of your Google Calendar and you can edit them like any other event. Changes you make only affect your calendar, not the original file or anyone else's calendar.
What's the difference between a .ics file and other calendar file types?
.ics is the standard format that almost all calendar programs use, so Google Calendar accepts it. Other formats like .ical or .vcs are usually the same thing with a different name. If you have a file in a different format, try renaming it to end in .ics before importing.
If I subscribe to a calendar and then unsubscribe, do I lose the events?
Yes, unsubscribing removes the calendar and all its events from your Google Calendar. If you want to keep the events, import the calendar as a file instead of subscribing to it.