Open the Calendar app and create a new event
To send a calendar invite from your iPhone, start by opening the Calendar app — the one with a grid of dates on the home screen. Tap the plus sign (+) in the top right corner to create a new event.
A form will appear asking for event details. Type the event name in the "Title" field, then set the date and time by tapping each field. You can scroll down to see more options like location, notes, and how often the event repeats. These details help the people you invite understand what the event is about and when to show up.
Add the person you want to invite
Scroll down in the event form until you see the "Invitees" field. Tap "Add Invitees" or the plus sign next to it. Your iPhone will show your contacts list, and you can search by typing a name or email address.
Tap the person's name from the list, or type their full email address if they are not in your contacts. You can add multiple people by repeating this step — tap the plus sign again and search for the next person. Each person you add will receive the invite when you save the event.
Key Takeaways
- Open Calendar, tap the plus sign, and fill in the event title, date, and time in the form that appears.
- Scroll to "Invitees" and tap "Add Invitees" to search for and select the people you want to invite by name or email address.
- You can add multiple people to a single invite by tapping the plus sign again for each person you want to include.
- Tap "Add" at the top right to send the invite — the other person will see it in their calendar app or receive it as an email.
- After sending, you can see who accepted, declined, or has not yet responded by opening the event and scrolling to the invitees section.
Choose which calendar to save it to
Before you send the invite, you may see a "Calendar" field showing which calendar the event will be saved to. If you have multiple calendars set up — such as Work, Personal, or a shared family calendar — tap this field to choose which one to use.
Most people use their default calendar, but if you share a calendar with your team or family, selecting the shared calendar makes the event visible to everyone automatically. This is useful when you want the event to appear on a calendar that multiple people already follow.
Send the invite by tapping Add
Once you have filled in the event details and added the invitees, tap "Add" in the top right corner of the screen. Your iPhone will send the invite to each person you listed in the invitees field.
The person will receive the invite through their calendar app if they use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. If they use Android or another device, they will typically receive it as an email with an attachment they can open and add to their calendar. Either way, they will see the event details you entered.
Check if people have responded
After you send an invite, you can see who has accepted, declined, or not yet responded. Open the event in your Calendar app and scroll down to the "Invitees" section. Each person's name will show their response status next to it — usually marked as "Accepted," "Declined," or "No Response."
If someone declines or you need to reschedule, you can edit the event. Tap "Edit" at the top right, make your changes to the time, location, or other details, and tap "Save." Everyone invited will be notified of the change automatically.
What to do if the invite does not go through
If someone says they did not receive your invite, the most common reason is a misspelled email address. Open the event, tap "Edit," and look at the "Invitees" field to check that you entered their email correctly. Even a small typo will prevent the invite from reaching them.
If the email address is correct but they still have not received it, ask them to check their spam or junk folder — some email systems filter calendar invites by mistake. You can also try removing them from the invitees list and adding them again, then save the event. This forces your iPhone to resend the invite.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I send a calendar invite to someone who does not have an iPhone?
Yes. If you add someone's email address as an invitee, they will receive the invite as an email attachment no matter what device they use. They can open it in their calendar app or email client and add it to their calendar.
What happens if I edit an event after sending invites?
When you edit an event and tap "Save," everyone invited will receive a notification that the event has changed. They will see the updated time, location, or other details in their calendar app or email.
Can I see if someone opened my calendar invite?
The Calendar app shows you whether someone accepted, declined, or has not yet responded. It does not show whether they opened the email or notification. You can only see their final answer.
What if I want to invite someone but do not have their email address?
You will need their email address to send a calendar invite. If you only have their phone number, you can send them a text message with the event details instead, or ask them for their email address first.
Can I send the same invite to a group of people at once?
Yes. Tap "Add Invitees" and add each person individually by typing their name or email. You can add as many people as you need before tapping "Add" to send the event. Everyone will receive the same invite with the same event details.