Guide

Import CSV into Google Calendar: headers, template, and common errors

Short answer: on a computer, open Google Calendar, click Settings, then Import & export. Choose a .csv file, pick the destination calendar, and click Import. Headers must be the nine English names Help lists. Only Subject and Start Date are required. Start Time, End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, and Private are optional. Guests and conference data are not imported. Imported events do not stay in sync. Google Calendar Help only documents this on a computer. The Android and iPhone and iPad pages say to open Google Calendar on a computer. The Calendar app has no Import option.

A .csv is a spreadsheet of events. An .ics is a calendar file. That other path is in the Import ICS into Google Calendar guide. Repeat events from a .csv file might import as one-time events. Resync does not import ICS or CSV files. It writes private Busy holds between Google calendars you connect.

Import a CSV on a computer

Google Calendar Help documents importing with ICS and CSV files on a computer. You can export from another calendar application first, or build a spreadsheet with the headers below. This page is the CSV import step.

On your computer, open Google Calendar.
In the top right, click Settings.
In the menu on the left, click Import & export.
Click Select file from your computer and select the file. The file should end in .csv.
Choose which calendar to add the imported events to. By default, events are imported into your primary calendar.
Click Import once. A second click can report Processed zero events even when the first click worked.

Help says guests and conference data are not imported. Imported events do not stay in sync between two accounts. If you want those calendars to stay updated, share the calendar, or use Resync for private Busy holds.

Tip: create a new calendar first, then import into that calendar. If the file is wrong, you can delete that calendar instead of picking events off your primary calendar.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Import events to Google Calendar.

The nine English headers

Help says the first row is headers, those headers must be in English as shown in Help, and only the first two headers in this list are required. The rest are optional. Color is not a documented header.

Header	Required	What Help documents
Subject	Required	The name of the event. Example: Final exam.
Start Date	Required	The first day of the event. Example: 05/30/2020.
Start Time	Optional	The time the event begins. Example: 10:00 AM.
End Date	Optional	The last day of the event. Example: 05/30/2020.
End Time	Optional	The time the event ends. Example: 1:00 PM.
All Day Event	Optional	True if it is an all-day event. False if it is not.
Description	Optional	Description or notes. Put quotation marks around text that includes commas.
Location	Optional	The location. Example: "Columbia, Schermerhorn 614".
Private	Optional	True if the event should be marked private. False if it should not.

Subject

Required: Required
What Help documents: The name of the event. Example: Final exam.

Start Date

Required: Required
What Help documents: The first day of the event. Example: 05/30/2020.

Start Time

Required: Optional
What Help documents: The time the event begins. Example: 10:00 AM.

End Date

Required: Optional
What Help documents: The last day of the event. Example: 05/30/2020.

End Time

Required: Optional
What Help documents: The time the event ends. Example: 1:00 PM.

All Day Event

Required: Optional
What Help documents: True if it is an all-day event. False if it is not.

Description

Required: Optional
What Help documents: Description or notes. Put quotation marks around text that includes commas.

Location

Required: Optional
What Help documents: The location. Example: "Columbia, Schermerhorn 614".

Private

Required: Optional
What Help documents: True if the event should be marked private. False if it should not.

Help's example event is Final exam on May 30, 2020, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM, at "Columbia, Schermerhorn 614", marked private. Fields with commas need quotation marks. If you import repeat events from a .csv file, they might show up as a series of one-time events.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Import events to Google Calendar.

Free CSV template

Download a comma-separated template with Help's nine English headers and two sample rows. The first row is Help's Final exam example. The second is an all-day event with empty Start Time and End Time. You can copy the table, or replace the sample rows with your events and keep the header row as written.

Download the Google Calendar CSV template

Subject	Start Date	Start Time	End Date	End Time	All Day Event	Description	Location	Private
Final exam	05/30/2020	10:00 AM	05/30/2020	1:00 PM	False	50 multiple choice questions and two essay questions	Columbia, Schermerhorn 614	True
Company holiday	07/04/2020	—	07/04/2020	—	True	Office closed	—	False

Final exam

Subject: Final exam
Start Date: 05/30/2020
Start Time: 10:00 AM
End Date: 05/30/2020
End Time: 1:00 PM
All Day Event: False
Description: 50 multiple choice questions and two essay questions
Location: Columbia, Schermerhorn 614
Private: True

Company holiday

Subject: Company holiday
Start Date: 07/04/2020
Start Time: —
End Date: 07/04/2020
End Time: —
All Day Event: True
Description: Office closed
Location: —
Private: False

You can also copy this CSV text into a new file:

Subject,Start Date,Start Time,End Date,End Time,All Day Event,Description,Location,Private
Final exam,05/30/2020,10:00 AM,05/30/2020,1:00 PM,False,50 multiple choice questions and two essay questions,"Columbia, Schermerhorn 614",True
Company holiday,07/04/2020,,07/04/2020,,True,Office closed,,False

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Import events to Google Calendar.

Import on iPhone or Android

Importing is not available in the Google Calendar mobile apps. Google Calendar Help only documents importing on a computer. Help's Android page and iPhone and iPad page both say: to import events, open Google Calendar on your computer.

Android: the Calendar app has no Import option. Use a computer.
iPhone and iPad: same computer path. Opening a .csv attachment is not a Google Calendar import.

Fix problems importing Help says you can only follow those troubleshooting steps on a computer, not on a phone or tablet.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from the Android and iPhone and iPad Import events pages, and Fix problems importing.

CSV vs ICS

Settings, then Import & export, accepts both .csv and .ics. They are different files. This table stays on that difference. The .ics path, including a .zip of several calendars, is in the Import ICS into Google Calendar guide.

File	What it is	Repeats and extras	When to use it
Import a .csv file	A spreadsheet of events. Headers must be the English names Help lists. Only Subject and Start Date are required. Guests and conference data are not imported.	Repeat events from a .csv file might import as one-time events. Help does not document a Color header. Import is a one-time copy. Importing the same file again can leave a second copy.	Use it when you already have events in a spreadsheet, or you want to type events in Google Sheets and import them once.
Import an .ics file	A calendar file from another app or a Google Calendar export. Settings, then Import & export, also accepts .ics. A .zip export needs each .ics imported on its own.	An .ics from the original app may keep a repeating series if that app exported it that way. Guests and conference data are still not imported. Import is still a snapshot.	Use it when the other app exported .ics, or you exported from another Google account. The ICS import guide covers that file type.

Import a .csv file

What it is: A spreadsheet of events. Headers must be the English names Help lists. Only Subject and Start Date are required. Guests and conference data are not imported.
Repeats and extras: Repeat events from a .csv file might import as one-time events. Help does not document a Color header. Import is a one-time copy. Importing the same file again can leave a second copy.
When to use it: Use it when you already have events in a spreadsheet, or you want to type events in Google Sheets and import them once.

Import an .ics file

What it is: A calendar file from another app or a Google Calendar export. Settings, then Import & export, also accepts .ics. A .zip export needs each .ics imported on its own.
Repeats and extras: An .ics from the original app may keep a repeating series if that app exported it that way. Guests and conference data are still not imported. Import is still a snapshot.
When to use it: Use it when the other app exported .ics, or you exported from another Google account. The ICS import guide covers that file type.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Import events to Google Calendar and Fix problems importing.

Import not working

If the import errors or the results look wrong, use the tips Help documents on a computer. If Help does not name a menu, this table says so.

What you see	Likely cause	Fix
Processed zero events	Fix problems importing Help documents Processed zero events if you clicked Import more than once. The first click already imported the file, so a second click, including a double-click, has no new events. Help also documents that error for a .zip of .ics files that was not unpacked first.	Check the destination calendar before you import again. For a .zip, double-click it to open it, then import each .ics on its own. Double-clicking a .csv on your computer opens a spreadsheet. That is not a Google Calendar import. Use Settings, then Import & export.
Semicolon or colon delimiter	Fix problems importing Help says Google Calendar does not work with files that use a semicolon or a colon to separate fields. Spreadsheets in some locales export with semicolons.	Make sure all fields are separated by commas. Re-save the file as CSV (comma delimited), or download the template on this page and paste your rows into it.
Non-English headers	Import Help says the headers must be in English as shown in that article. Translated column names such as Asunto or Objet do not match.	Use the nine English headers Help lists: Subject, Start Date, Start Time, End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, and Private. Only Subject and Start Date are required.
File larger than 1 MB	Fix problems importing Help says Google Calendar works with files that are one megabyte (1MB) or smaller. A large export can fail.	Export a shorter date range from the original application. Help also says you can separate the file into smaller files if you are comfortable editing CSV.
Repeating events become one-offs	Import Help says if you import repeat events from a .csv file, they might show up as a series of one-time events. Troubleshooting Help says some apps export repeating events as a collection of single events.	Expect a .csv series to import as separate events. An .ics from the original app may keep the series if that app exported it that way. Help does not document a setting that forces a CSV series to stay recurring.
No Color column	Help documents nine English headers. Color is not one of them. Imported events use the destination calendar's color.	Import first, then change the event or calendar color. The color-coding guide covers those steps. Do not add a Color header and expect Calendar to read it.
Can't import on phone	Android and iPhone Help say to import events, open Google Calendar on your computer.	Open calendar.google.com on a computer. Click Settings, then Import & export. The Calendar app has no Import option per Help.
Events land in the wrong calendar	Help says you choose which calendar receives the imported events. By default, events are imported into your primary calendar.	On the Import & export page, choose the destination calendar before you click Import. Create a new calendar first if you want an easy undo.

Processed zero events

Likely cause: Fix problems importing Help documents Processed zero events if you clicked Import more than once. The first click already imported the file, so a second click, including a double-click, has no new events. Help also documents that error for a .zip of .ics files that was not unpacked first.
Fix: Check the destination calendar before you import again. For a .zip, double-click it to open it, then import each .ics on its own. Double-clicking a .csv on your computer opens a spreadsheet. That is not a Google Calendar import. Use Settings, then Import & export.

Semicolon or colon delimiter

Likely cause: Fix problems importing Help says Google Calendar does not work with files that use a semicolon or a colon to separate fields. Spreadsheets in some locales export with semicolons.
Fix: Make sure all fields are separated by commas. Re-save the file as CSV (comma delimited), or download the template on this page and paste your rows into it.

Non-English headers

Likely cause: Import Help says the headers must be in English as shown in that article. Translated column names such as Asunto or Objet do not match.
Fix: Use the nine English headers Help lists: Subject, Start Date, Start Time, End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, and Private. Only Subject and Start Date are required.

File larger than 1 MB

Likely cause: Fix problems importing Help says Google Calendar works with files that are one megabyte (1MB) or smaller. A large export can fail.
Fix: Export a shorter date range from the original application. Help also says you can separate the file into smaller files if you are comfortable editing CSV.

Repeating events become one-offs

Likely cause: Import Help says if you import repeat events from a .csv file, they might show up as a series of one-time events. Troubleshooting Help says some apps export repeating events as a collection of single events.
Fix: Expect a .csv series to import as separate events. An .ics from the original app may keep the series if that app exported it that way. Help does not document a setting that forces a CSV series to stay recurring.

No Color column

Likely cause: Help documents nine English headers. Color is not one of them. Imported events use the destination calendar's color.
Fix: Import first, then change the event or calendar color. The color-coding guide covers those steps. Do not add a Color header and expect Calendar to read it.

Can't import on phone

Likely cause: Android and iPhone Help say to import events, open Google Calendar on your computer.
Fix: Open calendar.google.com on a computer. Click Settings, then Import & export. The Calendar app has no Import option per Help.

Events land in the wrong calendar

Likely cause: Help says you choose which calendar receives the imported events. By default, events are imported into your primary calendar.
Fix: On the Import & export page, choose the destination calendar before you click Import. Create a new calendar first if you want an easy undo.

For times that look wrong after import, also check Change your time zone. For two copies of the same events, see Google Calendar duplicate events. Event colors after import are in Google Calendar color coding.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Fix problems importing and Import events to Google Calendar.

How Resync fits

Use a CSV import when you want a snapshot of spreadsheet events inside Google Calendar. Use an .ics import when the other app exported a calendar file. Resync does not import an .ics or .csv file and does not subscribe to an ICS or iCal URL. It currently syncs Google calendars only. It does not sync Outlook, Apple Calendar, or iCloud.

Use Resync when busy time on one connected Google account should block time on another Google calendar without sharing titles. Resync uses the Google Calendar API with the accounts you connect. It writes Google-only private Busy holds. Holds are titled Busy. If you import events onto a calendar you later mark as Source, Resync reads those imported events like any other event and can write Busy holds for them. $1.50/month or $9/year after a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

Resync lists calendars Google returns for each connected account. It hides calendars Google marks hidden. It does not take a CSV file or ICS URL. A calendar you already imported events onto appears if Google lists it.
You mark Source on the calendars to read and Mirror on the calendars that should receive holds. Resync does not automatically import a file.
Holds are titled Busy. Description, location, attendees, and conference data are left empty, so source meeting details stay on the source calendar.
Each hold occupies the time. Resync sets that availability on the hold. It does not copy the source title.
If a source event moves, Resync updates the hold. If the event is cancelled, marked free, declined, or is a working-location event, Resync does not keep a hold.
Resync looks 90 days ahead when it reads source events. It watches source calendars with Google push notifications and updates holds when those events change. A polling fallback also runs about every 5 minutes. Read-only calendars cannot be mirrors. Resync currently syncs Google calendars only.
If you delete or edit a hold, Resync records that and does not recreate it for the same source event on that mirror.
If the source event is Private, the hold is Private. Otherwise the hold uses default visibility.

Seeing Google calendars in Apple Calendar, or an iCloud public link in Google Calendar, is in the Sync Apple (iCloud) Calendar with Google Calendar guide.

Set up Resync

Sign in with GoogleOpen Resync and sign in with the Google account you want as your primary account. You land on setup.
Connect another Google accountChoose Connect another Google account and finish Google's permission screen. Resync needs at least two Google accounts before you can start.
Start syncingWhen a second account is connected, setup shows bidirectional mirroring as the intended default: real events on either side become private busy blocks on the other. Choose Start syncing to open the dashboard.
Mark sources and mirrorsIn Sync configuration, turn on Source to read busy time from a calendar and Mirror to receive Busy holds. A calendar can be both. Read-only calendars cannot be mirrors because Resync needs write access to create holds. Imported events on a Source are read through the Calendar API. Resync does not take a CSV file.

FAQ

How do I import a CSV into Google Calendar?

On a computer, open Google Calendar, click Settings, then Import & export. Choose a file that ends in .csv, pick the destination calendar, and click Import. By default, events land on your primary calendar. Guests and conference data are not imported. Imported events do not stay in sync. Google Calendar Help documents these steps on a computer, not in the Calendar app.

What CSV headers does Google Calendar accept?

Google Calendar Help says CSV headers must be in English as shown in Help. Only Subject and Start Date are required. Optional headers are Start Time, End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, and Private. All Day Event and Private use True or False. Fields with commas need quotation marks. Help does not document a Color header.

Why does Google Calendar say Processed zero events?

Fix problems importing Help documents Processed zero events if you clicked Import more than once. The first click may have already imported the file, so the second click has no new events. Check the destination calendar. Help also documents that error for a .zip of .ics files: double-click the .zip to open it, then import each .ics on its own. Semicolon or colon delimiters and non-English headers can also fail. Double-clicking the .csv on your computer opens a spreadsheet. That is not a Google Calendar import.

Can I import a CSV into Google Calendar on iPhone or Android?

Google Calendar Help only documents importing on a computer. The Android and iPhone pages say to open Google Calendar on your computer. Troubleshooting Help also says those steps are for a computer, not a phone or tablet. The Calendar app has no Import option.

Do repeating events stay repeating after a CSV import?

Import Help says if you import repeat events from a .csv file, they might show up as a series of one-time events. Troubleshooting Help says some apps export repeating events as a collection of single events. Help does not document a setting that forces a CSV series to stay recurring. An .ics from the original app may keep the series if that app exported it that way.

If I import events onto a calendar I mark as a Resync Source, will Resync copy them?

Resync does not import ICS or CSV files and does not subscribe to an ICS feed. It uses the Google Calendar API with Google accounts you connect. Imported events already on a calendar you mark as Source are read like any other event. Resync writes private holds titled Busy onto calendars you mark as Mirror. Description, location, attendees, and conference data stay empty. It skips free, declined, cancelled, and working-location events. It looks 90 days ahead. A polling fallback also runs about every 5 minutes. $1.50/month or $9/year after a 30-day free trial, no credit card required.

How to copy events from one Google Calendar to another (one event, all events, or keep copying)

Google Calendar recurring events: set up & fixes

Google Calendar color coding: event colors, calendar colors, and ideas

Google Calendar duplicate events: why they show and how to fix them

Connect the Google calendars you want to keep aligned, then mark sources and mirrors on the dashboard.

Resync will ask Google for permission to:see your list of calendars; see events on the calendars you choose as Sources, to know when you're busy; and create, update and delete events titled "Busy" on calendars you choose as Mirrors. We never store event titles, attendees or locations. Privacy policy