Google Calendar and Outlook don't sync directly, but you can view both calendars in one place

Google Calendar and Outlook are separate systems that don't automatically share information with each other. However, you have working options to see both calendars at the same time without switching between apps. The method you choose depends on which calendar is your main one and whether you're using Outlook on the web, desktop, or mobile.

The most reliable approach is to add your Google Calendar to Outlook as a subscribed calendar. This lets Outlook display your Google events alongside your Outlook events. The connection works one way — changes you make in Google Calendar show up in Outlook, but changes in Outlook won't sync back to Google Calendar. If you need two-way sync, you'll need a third-party tool or a different setup.

Key Takeaways

  • You can add Google Calendar to Outlook as a subscribed calendar so both appear in one view, but the sync only works one direction.
  • The steps differ depending on whether you use Outlook on the web, the desktop app for Windows or Mac, or Outlook on your phone.
  • If you need changes in Outlook to update Google Calendar automatically, you'll need a third-party automation tool like Zapier or IFTTT.
  • Exporting your Google Calendar as an .ics file and importing it into Outlook creates a one-time copy, not an ongoing sync.

Adding Google Calendar to Outlook on the web

Outlook.com (the web version) can display your Google Calendar events without leaving the browser. Start by going to Google Calendar and finding your calendar's subscription link. In Google Calendar, click the three dots next to the calendar name you want to share, then select "Settings and sharing." Scroll down to "Integrate calendar" and copy the public calendar address (the long URL that starts with https).

Now go to Outlook.com and click "Add calendar" in the left sidebar. Choose "Subscribe from web" and paste the Google Calendar address into the box. Outlook will add your Google Calendar to your calendar list. Events from Google Calendar will now appear in your Outlook view, though they'll show as read-only — you can't edit them directly from Outlook.

Adding Google Calendar to Outlook desktop app (Windows and Mac)

The desktop version of Outlook handles this differently than the web version. Open Outlook and go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export. Select "Import a calendar" and choose "From file." You'll need to export your Google Calendar first as an .ics file, then import that file into Outlook.

To export from Google Calendar, open Google Calendar, click the three dots next to your calendar name, and select "Settings." Scroll to "Export calendar" and download the .ics file to your computer. Go back to Outlook, complete the Import/Export wizard, and select that .ics file. Your Google Calendar events will now appear in Outlook. Keep in mind this is a one-time import — future changes in Google Calendar won't automatically appear in Outlook unless you repeat this process.

Adding Google Calendar to Outlook mobile apps

On iPhone or Android, the Outlook app can display Google Calendar events if you add your Google account to your phone's calendar settings first. On iPhone, go to Settings > Calendar > Accounts > Add Account, select Google, and sign in with your Google credentials. On Android, open the Settings app, go to Accounts, tap Add Account, select Google, and sign in.

Once your Google account is linked to your phone's calendar system, open the Outlook app and check your calendar settings. You should see an option to display calendars from other accounts. Enable your Google Calendar, and it will appear alongside your Outlook calendar in the app. Changes made in Google Calendar will show up in Outlook mobile, but edits in Outlook won't sync back to Google.

Setting up two-way sync with a third-party tool

If you need changes in both directions — events created in Outlook updating Google Calendar and vice versa — you'll need an automation service. Tools like Zapier, IFTTT, and Make (formerly Integromat) can watch both calendars and copy new events from one to the other automatically.

These services work by creating a "zap" or automation rule that says "when a new event appears in Google Calendar, create a matching event in Outlook." You set up the same rule in reverse for Outlook to Google. Most of these tools have free tiers that cover basic calendar syncing, though they may limit the number of automations or events per month. Check the pricing page of whichever tool you choose to see if the free plan covers your needs.

Exporting and importing as a one-time solution

If you only need to move your calendar once — for example, switching from Google Calendar to Outlook — you can export your entire Google Calendar and import it into Outlook. This copies all past and future events but doesn't create an ongoing connection.

In Google Calendar, click the three dots next to your calendar name and select "Settings." Scroll to "Export calendar" and download the .ics file. In Outlook, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export, select "Import a calendar," choose "From file," and select your downloaded .ics file. All events will now be in Outlook. If you later add events to Google Calendar, they won't automatically appear in Outlook — you'd need to export and import again.

Troubleshooting common sync problems

If Google Calendar events aren't showing up in Outlook after you've added the subscription, check that you copied the correct calendar address. In Google Calendar, make sure the calendar is set to "Public" or "Make available to public" in the sharing settings — Outlook can't see private calendars. If it's already public, try removing the subscription from Outlook and adding it again.

If you're using the desktop app and imported an .ics file but new events don't appear, remember that this method only copies events at the moment of import. You'll need to export and import again to pick up new events. For ongoing sync, use the web version of Outlook or set up a third-party automation tool instead. If events appear in Outlook but won't let you edit them, that's normal — subscribed Google Calendar events are read-only in Outlook.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I edit Google Calendar events from Outlook?

No. When you add Google Calendar to Outlook as a subscribed calendar, those events appear as read-only. You can view them and see the details, but you can't change them from Outlook. To edit an event, you need to open Google Calendar directly and make the change there.

Will events I create in Outlook show up in Google Calendar?

Not automatically. If you only subscribe to Google Calendar in Outlook, events go one direction only — from Google to Outlook. To sync events from Outlook back to Google Calendar, you need a third-party tool like Zapier or IFTTT set up with a two-way automation rule.

What's the difference between subscribing and importing?

Subscribing creates an ongoing connection — Outlook checks Google Calendar regularly and displays new events. Importing copies all events at one moment in time but doesn't update automatically. Use subscribing if you want to see changes as they happen; use importing if you're moving calendars one time.

Does this work with shared Google Calendars?

Yes, as long as the shared calendar is set to public or you have permission to view it. Follow the same steps to get the calendar address and add it to Outlook. If the calendar is private and shared only with specific people, Outlook won't be able to access it.

Can I sync Outlook to Google Calendar instead of the other way around?

Not directly through Outlook's built-in features. Outlook doesn't have a "subscribe to calendar" option for Google Calendar the way Google Calendar can subscribe to other calendars. Your best option is to use a third-party automation tool that watches Outlook and copies events to Google Calendar, or export your Outlook calendar as an .ics file and import it into Google Calendar.