How to import ICS into Google Calendar

Quick Answer

In Google Calendar, click the gear icon → Settings → Import & export → Import. Select your .ics file and choose a destination calendar. The events will be added to your chosen calendar.

What You'll Need

• A Google account with access to Google Calendar
• An .ics file exported from another calendar application
• The calendar where you want to import events (or create a new one)

Step-by-Step Instructions

Method 1: Import via Settings (Full Calendar)

1. Open Google Calendar: Go to calendar.google.com and sign in.
2. Access Settings: Click the gear icon (⚙️) in the top right corner.
3. Select Settings: Click "Settings" from the dropdown menu.
4. Find Import & Export: In the left sidebar, click "Import & export".
5. Choose File: Click "Select file from your computer" and choose your .ics file.
6. Select Calendar: Choose which calendar to add the events to from the dropdown.
7. Import: Click the "Import" button.
8. Wait: Large imports may take a few minutes. You'll see a confirmation when complete.

Method 2: Import to a Specific Calendar

1. Open Calendar Settings: In the left sidebar, hover over the calendar you want to import to.
2. Click Options: Click the three dots (⋮) that appear.
3. Select Settings: Click "Settings and sharing".
4. Import: Scroll down to find "Import calendar" and upload your .ics file.

Before You Import

Check Your ICS File

• Verify the file has the .ics extension
• Open it in a text editor to confirm it contains calendar data (should start with BEGIN:VCALENDAR)
• Check the file size - Google has limits on import size

Choose the Right Calendar

Consider creating a new calendar for imports to keep your main calendar clean:

1. In Google Calendar, click the plus (+) next to "Other calendars"
2. Select "Create new calendar"
3. Name it appropriately (e.g., "Imported from Outlook")
4. Use this calendar for your import

Common Problems and Solutions

Problem: Import fails or shows error

Solution:

• Check file size - must be under 1MB for Google Calendar import
• Verify the file isn't corrupted
• Try exporting the calendar again from the source app

Problem: Events show wrong times

Solution:

• Check time zone settings in both the source calendar and Google Calendar
• Events may shift if time zones don't match

Problem: Duplicate events appear

Solution:

• Google Calendar doesn't automatically detect duplicates
• Delete the imported calendar and re-import, or manually remove duplicates

Problem: Recurring events don't import correctly

Solution:

• Some calendar apps use non-standard recurrence rules
• Individual occurrences may import instead of recurring series

After Importing

• Review events: Check that dates, times, and details imported correctly
• Update notifications: Google Calendar may apply default notification settings
• Share if needed: Adjust sharing settings for the imported calendar
• Clean up: Delete the import calendar if you only needed it temporarily

Alternative: Subscribe Instead of Import

If you want to keep a calendar synced (rather than a one-time import):

1. Click the plus (+) next to "Other calendars"
2. Select "From URL"
3. Enter the calendar URL (if available)
4. Click "Add calendar"

This creates a subscribed calendar that updates automatically.

Related Tools

• ICS to Excel - Convert ICS files to spreadsheet format
• ICS to Excel Guide - For analysis and backup

FAQ

Q: Will importing delete my existing events?
A: No, importing adds events to your chosen calendar without affecting existing events.

Q: Can I undo an import?
A: If you imported to a separate calendar, you can delete that calendar. If you imported to your main calendar, you'll need to delete events manually.

Q: Does importing sync with the original calendar?
A: No, it's a one-time copy. Changes in the original calendar won't reflect in Google Calendar.

Q: Can I import to the Google Calendar app on my phone?
A: You need to use the web version for importing. Once imported, events sync to the mobile app automatically.