The fastest way: export from Apple Calendar, then import into Outlook
You can move your Apple Calendar events to Outlook by exporting them as a file and then importing that file into Outlook. The process takes about five minutes and works on both Mac and Windows. Apple Calendar stores events in a format called iCalendar (.ics files), which Outlook reads directly.
The steps differ slightly depending on whether you use Apple Calendar on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, and whether your Outlook is the desktop app or the web version. All routes work, but the desktop versions are faster because you can see both programs at once.
Key Takeaways
- Export your calendar from Apple Calendar as an .ics file, then open that file in Outlook to import the events.
- On a Mac, right-click the calendar name in Apple Calendar and choose "Export" — this creates a single file you can drag into Outlook.
- On an iPhone or iPad, you cannot export directly; you must use a Mac or Windows computer, or use iCloud.com to access your calendar in a browser.
- Outlook on the web (outlook.com or outlook.office.com) imports calendars through the Settings menu, not by dragging files.
- After import, check that recurring events carried over correctly, because some all-day events or complex repeating patterns sometimes need adjustment.
Export from Apple Calendar on a Mac
Open Apple Calendar on your Mac. In the left sidebar, find the calendar you want to export — it might be labeled "Calendar" or a custom name you created. Right-click (or Control-click) on that calendar name. A menu appears with options including "Export." Click Export.
A save dialog opens. Choose where you want to save the file — your Desktop is easiest to find later. The filename will be something like "Calendar.ics". Click Save. The file is now on your computer as a single .ics file containing all events from that calendar.
If you have multiple calendars in Apple Calendar and want to move them all, repeat this step for each one. You will end up with separate .ics files — one per calendar. You can import them one at a time or combine them later if you prefer.
Import into Outlook on Windows or Mac
Open Outlook on your computer. In Outlook, go to File (top left), then Open & Export, then Import/Export. A wizard window opens. Select "Import an iCalendar (.ics) or vCalendar (.vcs) file" and click Next.
Click Browse and navigate to the .ics file you exported from Apple Calendar. Select it and click Open. Outlook shows you a preview of the events it found. Click Finish. The events now appear in your Outlook calendar — usually in a calendar called "Imported" or under your default calendar, depending on your Outlook version.
If you exported multiple calendars from Apple Calendar, repeat this import process for each .ics file. Each import adds more events to Outlook.
Import into Outlook on the web (outlook.com or outlook.office.com)
Log in to your Outlook account at outlook.com or outlook.office.com. Click the calendar icon on the left side. At the bottom of the calendar list, look for a link or button that says "Add calendar" or a plus sign. Click it and select "Import calendar."
A dialog asks you to upload a file. Click "Browse" or "Choose File" and select the .ics file you exported from Apple Calendar. Click Import. Outlook processes the file and adds the events to your calendar. This usually takes a few seconds.
The web version works the same way whether you use a personal outlook.com account or a work account through Microsoft 365. If you use both, you can import the same .ics file into each account separately.
What to check after import
After the import finishes, open your Outlook calendar and look at a few events to make sure they came through correctly. Check the event title, date, time, and any notes or descriptions you added. Most events import perfectly, but a few things sometimes need fixing.
All-day events from Apple Calendar usually import as all-day events in Outlook, but occasionally they shift by one day if the original event was set to a different time zone. If you see this, edit the event in Outlook and set it back to the correct date. Recurring events (like "every Monday") usually import correctly, but if you had a complex pattern — like "every other Tuesday except holidays" — check the first few instances to make sure the pattern matches what you set up in Apple Calendar.
If an event has an attachment or a link, those sometimes do not carry over. You may need to add them again in Outlook. Reminders (notifications) usually import, but the timing might be different — Outlook defaults to 15 minutes before, while Apple Calendar might have been set to 10 minutes or 1 hour.
If you cannot export from your device
If you are using an iPhone or iPad, Apple Calendar does not have an export button built in. You have two options. The first is to use a Mac or Windows computer if you have access to one — sync your iPhone calendar to that computer, then export from there. The second is to use iCloud.com in a web browser on any device. Log in to iCloud.com with your Apple ID, click Calendar, find the calendar you want, right-click it, and select "Export Calendar." This downloads an .ics file to your computer, which you can then import into Outlook.
If you use iCloud.com, make sure you are exporting from the correct calendar. iCloud shows all your calendars in the left sidebar — personal calendars, shared calendars, and any you subscribed to. Only export the ones you actually want to move to Outlook.
Keeping both calendars in sync going forward
Importing your Apple Calendar into Outlook is a one-time move of past events. It does not set up automatic syncing. If you add new events to Apple Calendar after the import, they will not automatically appear in Outlook, and vice versa. You have three choices going forward.
The first is to use only Outlook from now on and stop using Apple Calendar for scheduling. The second is to use Apple Calendar as your main calendar and manually export and re-import it into Outlook every week or month — this is tedious but works if you need both programs. The third is to subscribe to your Apple Calendar from within Outlook. If your Apple Calendar is shared or published (through iCloud), you can add it as a subscribed calendar in Outlook, and new events will sync automatically. To do this in Outlook, go to Add Calendar and select "Subscribe from the Internet," then paste the iCalendar URL from your Apple Calendar settings.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my Apple Calendar events delete after I import them into Outlook?
No. Importing creates a copy of your events in Outlook. Your original events stay in Apple Calendar. You can delete them from Apple Calendar later if you want, but the import itself does not remove them.
Can I import just one calendar if I have multiple calendars in Apple Calendar?
Yes. Export only the calendar you want by right-clicking its name in Apple Calendar and selecting Export. You will get a single .ics file with only that calendar's events. Import it into Outlook the same way. Repeat for other calendars if needed.
What happens to calendar colors when I import?
Colors do not transfer. Apple Calendar uses one color per calendar, but that color information is not included in the .ics file. After import, your events appear in Outlook's default color. You can manually change the calendar color in Outlook settings after the import is done.
Can I import Apple Calendar events into Outlook on my phone?
The Outlook app on iPhone and Android does not have an import function. You must import on a computer using either Outlook desktop or Outlook on the web. After import, the events sync to the Outlook app on your phone automatically.
Why are some of my recurring events showing the wrong dates after import?
This usually happens with all-day events or events in a different time zone. Open the event in Outlook, check the date and time settings, and adjust if needed. If the recurrence pattern itself is wrong (for example, it says "every week" instead of "every other week"), edit the recurrence rule in Outlook to match what you had in Apple Calendar.