The fastest way to start using Google Calendar
You can start using Google Calendar right now by going to calendar.google.com in any web browser and signing in with your Google account. If you do not have a Google account, you will need to create one first — this takes about two minutes and requires only an email address and password. Once you are signed in, Google Calendar is ready to use when ready. You do not need to read anything or configure settings before you add your first event.
If you want Google Calendar on your phone or tablet, you will read the Google Calendar app from the App Store (iPhone and iPad) or Google Play (Android devices). The app syncs automatically with the web version, so any event you add on your phone appears on your computer, and vice versa.
Key Takeaways
- Google Calendar works in any web browser at calendar.google.com once you sign in with your Google account.
- The mobile app (Google Calendar on iPhone or Android) syncs automatically with the web version, so you only add events once.
- You can add Google Calendar to Outlook, Apple Mail, or other calendar programs by copying a special link from your Google Calendar settings.
- If you share a computer or device with others, you can have multiple Google accounts on the same device without mixing up calendars.
- Google Calendar works offline on phones and tablets if you turn on offline mode in the app settings.
Adding Google Calendar to your phone or tablet
Open the App Store (on iPhone or iPad) or Google Play (on Android). Search for "Google Calendar" — the official app has a blue calendar icon with a white date number on it. Tap "Get" or "Install", then wait for the read to finish. Open the app and sign in with the same Google account you use for email and other Google services.
The app will ask permission to access your calendar, contacts, and notifications. Tap "Allow" for each one. Your calendar will then load and show any events you already created on the web version. From this point forward, any event you add on your phone syncs to your computer within seconds, and any event added on your computer appears on your phone automatically.
If you use multiple Google accounts (one for work, one for personal use, for example), you can add both accounts to the Google Calendar app. Tap your profile picture in the top right, then tap "Add another account", and sign in with the second account. Both calendars will appear in the app, and you can toggle them on and off to see only the one you need.
Adding Google Calendar to Outlook or other calendar programs
If you use Outlook, Apple Mail, or another calendar program on your computer, you can view your Google Calendar inside that program without switching back and forth. This requires copying a special link from Google Calendar and pasting it into your other program.
On the web version of Google Calendar (calendar.google.com), look at the left sidebar and find "My calendars". Right-click on the calendar name you want to add (usually "Calendar" if you only have one). Click "Settings and sharing". Scroll down until you see a section called "Integrate calendar" with a long web address that starts with "https://". Copy this entire address.
In Outlook on Windows, go to File, then "Open and Export", then "Import/Export". Choose "Import from a file", then select "Internet Calendar (.ics)". Paste the address you copied from Google Calendar. On Mac, open Calendar, go to File, then "New Calendar Subscription", and paste the address there. The calendar will appear in your program and update automatically when you add or change events in Google Calendar.
Setting up Google Calendar on a shared computer
If you share a computer with a family member, roommate, or colleague, each person can have their own Google Calendar without seeing the other person's events. This requires each person to have their own user account on the computer itself — not just a Google account.
On Windows, each person logs into their own Windows user account, then opens a web browser and signs into calendar.google.com with their own Google account. On Mac, each person logs into their own macOS user account, then opens a browser and signs into Google Calendar. The calendars are completely separate because they are tied to different user accounts on the computer.
If you cannot create separate user accounts on the computer, you can use Google Calendar's "other calendars" feature to keep work and personal events visually separate on the same screen. In the left sidebar of Google Calendar, click the plus sign next to "Other calendars", then "Create new calendar". Name it something like "Work" or "Personal". You can then color-code each calendar so events are straightforward to tell apart at a glance.
Turning on offline access so Google Calendar works without internet
On the web version of Google Calendar, you can turn on offline mode so you can view your events even when your internet connection drops. Click the gear icon in the top right, then "Settings". Scroll down to "Offline" and toggle it on. Google Calendar will read your events to your computer and keep them available for viewing until you go back online.
Note that you cannot add or edit events while offline on the web version — you can only view them. Once your internet comes back, any changes you make will sync normally. On the mobile app, offline access is simpler: open the app, tap your profile picture, go to "Settings", tap your account name, then toggle "Offline calendar" on. You will then be able to see and edit events even without an internet connection, and changes will sync when you reconnect.
Connecting Google Calendar to your work email or school account
If your workplace or school uses Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), your calendar may already be set up through your work email account. Sign in to calendar.google.com using your work email address instead of your personal Google account. Your work calendar will load with any events your organization has already created.
If you have both a personal Google Calendar and a work Google Calendar, you can view both at the same time. In the left sidebar of Google Calendar, look for "Other calendars" and click the plus sign. Choose "Subscribe to calendar". Paste the calendar address from your work account (you can get this by following the steps in the "Adding Google Calendar to Outlook" section above, but using your work account instead). Both calendars will now appear on the same screen, and you can color-code them to keep them visually separate.
Fixing common problems when adding Google Calendar
If Google Calendar will not load in your web browser, clear your browser's cache and cookies, then try again. In Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, go to "Settings", then "Privacy and security", then "Clear browsing data". Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, then click "Clear data". Refresh calendar.google.com and try signing in again.
If the mobile app will not sync with the web version, make sure you are signed into the app with the same Google account you use on the web. Open the app, tap your profile picture, and check which account is listed. If it is the wrong account, tap "Add another account" and sign in with the correct one. Then go to the app's settings and toggle "Sync" off and back on to force an when ready update.
If you cannot see a calendar you added to Outlook or another program, check that the web address you copied was complete and correct. Go back to Google Calendar settings, copy the address again, and paste it carefully into your other program. Some programs require you to restart before new calendars appear.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need a Gmail address to use Google Calendar?
No. You need a Google account, but you can create one using any email address — not just Gmail. During account creation, you can use your work email, school email, or any other email you own. Google Calendar will work the same way.
Can I use Google Calendar without downloading the app?
Yes. Google Calendar works completely in any web browser at calendar.google.com. The app is optional and mainly useful if you want calendar notifications on your phone or want to use it offline. The web version has all the same features.
What happens to my Google Calendar if I delete my Google account?
Your calendar and all events will be permanently deleted. Google gives you a 30-day window to change your mind and recover the account, but after that, the data cannot be restored. If you want to keep a copy of your events, read them as a file before deleting your account.
Can I share my Google Calendar with someone else?
Yes. In Google Calendar settings, find your calendar name in the left sidebar, right-click it, and click "Settings and sharing". Scroll to "Share with specific people" and click "Add people". Type the email address of the person you want to share with and choose whether they can view only, edit, or make changes and manage sharing. They will receive an email invitation.
Will Google Calendar work if I switch from iPhone to Android?
Yes. Your calendar is stored in your Google account, not on your phone. When you sign into Google Calendar on your new Android phone with the same Google account, all your events will appear automatically. Nothing is lost in the switch.