To import an ICS file into Google Calendar, open Google Calendar on a computer, click the Settings gear > Settings > Import & export. Click Select file from your computer, choose the .ics file, pick the calendar to add the events to, and click Import. You can’t import files in the Google Calendar app on a phone, but the imported events sync to your phone automatically.
If you want events that keep updating, like a team schedule or a school calendar, subscribe to the calendar’s link instead of importing a file. Both methods are below.
Import vs. subscribe: which do you need?
| Import an .ics file | Subscribe by URL | |
|---|---|---|
| What you have | A downloaded file ending in .ics | A link, often starting with webcal:// or ending in .ics |
| Updates | No. It’s a one-time copy. | Yes, Google checks the link for changes |
| Can you edit the events? | Yes | No, they’re read-only |
| Where you can do it | Computer only | Computer only |
How to import an ICS file into Google Calendar
- Go to calendar.google.com on a computer and sign in.
- Click the Settings gear in the top-right corner, then click Settings.
- In the left menu, click Import & export.
- Click Select file from your computer and choose your .ics file.
- Under Add to calendar, choose which of your calendars should get the events.
- Click Import.
Google Calendar shows how many events it imported. Go back to your calendar to see them. Google Calendar can also import CSV files set up in its format.
Tip: Import into a new calendar
If the file has lots of events, create a separate calendar for them first. Click + next to Other calendars in the left sidebar, choose Create new calendar, name it, and click Create calendar. Then choose it under Add to calendar when you import. If something goes wrong, you can delete that one calendar without touching your other events.
How to subscribe to a calendar link instead
- Copy the calendar’s link.
- In Google Calendar on a computer, click + next to Other calendars in the left sidebar.
- Click From URL.
- Paste the link and click Add calendar.
If the link starts with webcal://, you can usually replace that part with https://. Subscribed calendars can take several hours or longer to show new changes, because Google decides how often to refresh them.
How to import an ICS file on iPhone or Android
The Google Calendar app doesn’t have an import option. You have a few choices:
- Use a browser in desktop mode. Open calendar.google.com in your phone’s browser and request the desktop site, then follow the steps above. It works, but it’s fiddly on a small screen.
- On iPhone, open the file from an email or Files. Tapping an .ics attachment usually offers to add the events to the Apple Calendar app. If your Google Account is added in Settings > Apps > Calendar > Calendar Accounts, choose a Google calendar and the events sync to Google Calendar.
- On Android, tap the file. Some phones offer to open it with Google Calendar and add a single event. Files with many events are more reliable to import on a computer.
ICS import not working? Try these fixes
- “Unable to process your ICS/CSV file”: The file may be damaged or not a real calendar file. Open it in a text editor. It should start with BEGIN:VCALENDAR. Download it again from the source.
- Events show up at the wrong time: The file may not include a time zone. Check Settings > General > Time zone in Google Calendar, then ask the sender to export it with time zones included.
- Some events are missing: Very large files can fail partway. Split the file into smaller files and import them one at a time.
- Duplicate events: Importing the same file twice can create duplicates. Import into a new calendar so you can delete it and start over.
- Can’t choose a calendar: You can only import into calendars you own or can edit.
Students can also add their Canvas calendar to Google Calendar as a live feed.
Frequently asked questions
Will imported events update if the original calendar changes?
No. An imported file is a one-time copy. To get updates, subscribe with the calendar’s URL instead.
Can I undo an import?
There’s no undo button. You need to delete the events one by one, or delete the whole calendar if you imported into a separate one.
How do I export Google Calendar as an ICS file?
Go to Settings > Import & export and click Export in the Export section. Google downloads a ZIP file with an .ics file for each calendar you own.
Can I import an Outlook calendar into Google Calendar?
Yes. Export or save the Outlook calendar as an .ics file, then import it using the steps above. You can also publish the Outlook calendar and subscribe to its link to keep it updated.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.