How to Add a Calendar to Google Calendar: Step-by-Step Guide (4 Methods)

So you need to add a calendar to Google Calendar? Maybe your colleague sent you a team schedule, or you found a cool public calendar for sports events. I get it – I once spent 45 minutes trying to sync my kid's school calendar before realizing I'd missed a crucial step. Let's fix this for you.

Honestly, Google makes adding calendars weirdly complicated. Why are there four different ways to do this? And why does the "Import" button hide when you're on mobile? I'll cut through the confusion and show you exactly how to add calendars without the headache. We'll cover every method, troubleshoot common nightmares, and I'll even share which approach I avoid for important events.

Before You Start: What Kind of Calendar Are We Talking About?

Knowing your calendar type saves time. Get this wrong and you'll hit errors. Here's the breakdown:

Calendar Type	What It Looks Like	Best Adding Method
Public Google Calendar (e.g., holidays, sports)	Appears in Google's directory or has "Add to Google Calendar" button	Direct add from directory
iCal/.ics URL (school schedules, event tickets)	Link ending in .ics or webcal://	Subscribe via URL
Calendar File (.ics, .csv from apps)	Downloaded file on your device	Import file
New Blank Calendar (custom project)	Doesn't exist yet – you're creating from scratch	Create new calendar

Pro tip: If someone emailed you a calendar and it's just dates in a spreadsheet? Convert to CSV first. Tried importing Excel files once and it broke everything.

Method 1: Adding Public Calendars (The 10-Second Way)

Best for: Holidays, sports leagues, moon phases – anything in Google's directory. This is how I added the World Cup schedule last year.

On Desktop

1 Open Google Calendar and find "Other calendars" on the left sidebar

2 Click the + sign → "Browse calendars of interest"

3 Choose a category (Sports, Holidays, etc.)

4 Toggle calendars ON → They instantly appear

My favorite hack: Need regional holidays? After adding, click the calendar name → "Settings" → Duplicate and customize. I made separate calendars for US and UK holidays for work.

On Mobile (Android/iOS)

1 Tap ≡ → "Settings"

2 Tap "Add calendar" → "Browse calendars of interest"

3 Select your calendars

Why This Sometimes Fails

Updates delay: Sports calendars might not refresh instantly (check provider)
Regional restrictions: Some country-specific calendars require local Google account

Method 2: Subscribe via URL (For .ics Links)

Use this for: School calendars, shared work schedules, Eventbrite tickets. Copied that .ics link from an email? Here's where it goes.

Desktop Steps

1 Under "Other calendars" → Click + → "From URL"

2 Paste the calendar URL (usually starts with webcal:// or ends with .ics)

3 Click "Add calendar"

Warning: If the URL uses "http" instead of "webcal", manually change it. I learned this when my yoga class schedule wouldn't sync.

Mobile Workaround

Annoyingly, Google removed URL subscription in mobile apps. Here's my fix:

Open the calendar link in your phone browser
Choose "Open in Google Calendar" when prompted
If no prompt appears, copy link → open Google Calendar web version in desktop mode → paste URL

Critical Settings After Adding

Setting	Where to Find	Why Change It
Refresh Rate	Calendar Settings → "Refresh" dropdown	Defaults to 24hr updates → Change to "Every few hours" for time-sensitive events
Color Coding	Click calendar name → Color palette	Prevents confusion with personal events
Notifications	Calendar Settings → "Event notifications"	Subscribed calendars usually have NO alerts by default

Method 3: Import Calendar Files (.ics or .csv)

When to use: You downloaded an .ics file from Apple Calendar or have a CSV spreadsheet. Ideal for one-time transfers.

Step-by-Step Import

1 Under "Other calendars" → + → "Import"

2 Click "Select file from your device"

3 Choose the file (.ics, .csv)

4 Select which calendar to add events to

5 Hit "Import"

File Format Gotchas

.ics files: Preserve event details (locations, descriptions)
.csv files: Must have exact column headers ("Subject", "Start Date", etc.)

Personal rant: CSV imports fail silently if date formats mismatch. US vs. UK dates ruined my conference schedule. Always double-check!

Mobile Import? Not Straightforward

Google Calendar app doesn’t support file imports. Workarounds:

Use Chrome browser in desktop mode on your phone
Upload files via Google Drive → Open with Google Calendar

Method 4: Create a New Blank Calendar

Good for: Project timelines, content calendars, or family event planning. I use this for my gardening schedule.

1 "Other calendars" → + → "Create new calendar"

2 Name it (e.g., "Home Renovation Timeline")

3 Set time zone (critical for remote teams)

4 Optional: Add description, change color

5 Click "Create calendar"

Sharing tip: After creating, go to calendar settings → "Share with specific people" → Add collaborators. But warn them about edit permissions!

Calendar Management Pro Tricks

Adding is step one. Keeping things organized prevents chaos.

Visibility Settings Demystified

Setting	Location	When to Use
Show/Hide	Click checkbox next to calendar name	Temporarily mute busy calendars
Decline Events	Calendar Settings → "Automatically add invitations"	Prevents subscribed calendars from flooding RSVPs
Default Visibility	Calendar Settings → "Access permissions"	Hide personal calendars when sharing main calendar

My Color-Coding System

Red: Deadline-driven work
Green: Personal/family events
Blue: Subscribed calendars (sports, holidays)

Common Problems & Fixes (From My Own Screens)

Calendar Not Updating?

Refresh subscribed calendars manually: Web version only → Click calendar → Settings → "Refresh"
Check URL status: Providers sometimes break links. I lost a concert calendar this way

Events Imported Incorrectly

Verify CSV date formats match Google Calendar settings (MM/DD/YYYY vs DD/MM/YYYY)
Delete botched import → Fix source file → Reimport

Duplicate Events

Happens when you import/subscribe to the same calendar twice. Fix:

1 Find duplicate events

2 Delete ONE calendar source

3 Keep the one with better updating

FAQs: What People Really Ask About Adding Calendars

Can I add Apple iCloud calendars to Google Calendar?

Yes! Export from iCloud as .ics file → Import to Google Calendar. But it won't sync live – exports are static snapshots.

Why can't I add a calendar via URL on phone?

Google removed it from mobile apps. Use desktop mode workaround mentioned earlier.

How to add multiple calendars at once?

No bulk import for public calendars. For files: Upload ZIP of .ics files (Google supports this).

My added calendar disappeared! Recovery steps?

Check "Other calendars" collapsed section. If gone, re-add it. Sadly no recycle bin for calendars.

Best way to add Outlook calendar to Google Calendar?

Export Outlook calendar as .ics → Import into Google. Better than syncing tools which often break.

Parting Advice: Don't Do What I Did

When adding calendars to Google Calendar, avoid these mistakes I made:

Over-subscribing: That "Interesting Calendars" section is addictive. I ended up with 27 calendars. Unseeable mess.
Ignoring time zones: Added a client's calendar without checking. Missed a meeting by 3 hours.
Forgetting notifications: Subscribed to my kid's school lunch calendar. Zero alerts. Many forgotten sandwiches.

Start small. Add one calendar, test notifications, check event accuracy. Took me 3 botched attempts to add calendars properly. Yours will be smoother.