You can display your Gmail calendar inside Outlook on Windows, Mac, or the web

Outlook can show your Gmail calendar alongside your Outlook calendar in the same view. The process differs depending on whether you use Outlook on your computer, Outlook on the web, or Outlook for Mac, but all three routes take about five minutes and require only your Gmail address and password.

The connection is one-way: Outlook displays your Gmail calendar, but changes you make in Outlook do not sync back to Gmail. If you need two-way syncing, you will need to use a third-party tool like Zapier or IFTTT instead. For most people who want to see both calendars without switching between apps, adding Gmail to Outlook works well enough.

Key Takeaways

  • Outlook on the web is the fastest route: go to Settings, select Calendar, then choose "Add Calendar" and paste your Gmail address.
  • Outlook on Windows requires you to add your Gmail account through Settings first, then enable the calendar in the calendar list.
  • Outlook for Mac uses the same account-based method as Windows but the menu path is different.
  • Gmail calendar changes appear in Outlook automatically, but Outlook changes do not sync back to Gmail.
  • If the calendar does not appear after 24 hours, check that two-factor authentication is not blocking the connection.

Adding Gmail calendar in Outlook on the web

Open Outlook.com in your browser and sign in with your Microsoft account. In the left sidebar, find the calendar section and look for a plus icon or "Add Calendar" button. Click it and select "Subscribe from the Internet" or "Add from URL" depending on your version.

Paste your Gmail address in the field that appears. Outlook will send a request to Google asking permission to read your calendar. A new browser tab will open asking you to sign in to your Google account and confirm that you want to let Outlook access your calendar. Click "Allow" and return to Outlook. Your Gmail calendar should appear in the left sidebar within a few seconds.

Adding Gmail calendar in Outlook on Windows

Open Outlook and go to File, then Account Settings, then Account Settings again. Click the "New" button and select "Email Account". Enter your Gmail address and password. Outlook will attempt to set up your Gmail account automatically. If it succeeds, click "Next" and then "Finish".

Once your Gmail account is added, go to the Calendar view in Outlook. In the left sidebar under "Other Calendars" or "My Calendars", you should see your Gmail account listed. Click the checkbox next to it to display the calendar. If you do not see it when ready, close and reopen Outlook. The calendar may take a few minutes to appear.

Adding Gmail calendar in Outlook for Mac

Open Outlook and go to Outlook in the top menu, then Preferences. Select Accounts and click the plus icon to add a new account. Choose "Google" from the list of account types. Enter your Gmail address and click "Continue".

A browser window will open asking you to sign in to Google and grant Outlook permission to access your calendar. Sign in and click "Allow". Return to Outlook and your Gmail calendar will appear in the calendar list on the left. If it does not show up right away, restart Outlook.

What to do if your Gmail calendar does not appear

If your Gmail calendar does not show up after 24 hours, the most common cause is two-factor authentication. Google blocks some apps from accessing your calendar unless you create an app-specific password. Go to your Google Account settings, find "Security" in the left menu, scroll down to "App passwords", and generate a new password for Outlook. Use this password instead of your regular Gmail password when Outlook asks for it.

If you still see nothing, check that you are signed into the correct Google account. Some people have multiple Gmail addresses and Outlook may have connected to the wrong one. Remove the account from Outlook and try again, making sure you sign into Google with the address that contains the calendar you want to see.

Keeping your Gmail calendar up to date in Outlook

Outlook checks your Gmail calendar for changes every 30 minutes by default. If you add an event to Gmail and want to see it in Outlook when ready, you can manually refresh by closing and reopening the Calendar view or restarting Outlook entirely. On the web version, straightforward refresh the page.

Remember that this connection only works one direction. If you create an event in Outlook's calendar view, it will not appear in Gmail. You need to create events in whichever app matches where you want them to live. Many people solve this by keeping their main calendar in Gmail and using Outlook only to view it, or by using a single calendar system entirely.

When to use Gmail calendar in Outlook versus switching between apps

Adding Gmail to Outlook makes sense if you spend most of your day in Outlook for email and want to glance at your schedule without switching windows. It is less useful if you need to create and edit events frequently, because you will still have to go back to Gmail to make changes stick.

If you find yourself constantly jumping between the two apps to edit events, consider moving entirely to one system. Outlook's calendar is more powerful for scheduling meetings with others and setting up recurring events, while Gmail's calendar integrates more smoothly with Gmail's email and is simpler for basic scheduling. The best choice depends on where you spend most of your time and what features matter most to your work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit Gmail calendar events from inside Outlook?

You can view and open Gmail events in Outlook, but edits made in Outlook do not save back to Gmail. To change a Gmail event, you must open it in Gmail itself. This is a limitation of how Outlook connects to Google Calendar.

Will events I create in Outlook appear in Gmail?

No. Events created in Outlook's calendar stay in Outlook only. If you need events to appear in both places, create them in Gmail instead, where Outlook can see them.

What if I have two Gmail accounts?

You can add multiple Gmail accounts to Outlook by repeating the setup process for each one. Each calendar will appear separately in your calendar list, and you can toggle them on and off independently.

Does Outlook need to be open for Gmail calendar to sync?

No. Outlook checks your Gmail calendar in the background whether the app is open or not. Changes made in Gmail will appear in Outlook the next time you open it or within 30 minutes if it is already running.

Can I share my Gmail calendar with others through Outlook?

Sharing settings are controlled in Gmail, not Outlook. Go to Google Calendar, find the calendar you want to share, click the three dots next to it, and select "Settings and sharing". Changes you make there explore everywhere the calendar is displayed, including in Outlook.