Guide

Import ICS into Google Calendar: upload a file, use CSV, or fix import not working

Short answer: on a computer, open Google Calendar, click Settings, then Import & export. Choose an .ics or .csv file, 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 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. Tapping an .ics attachment on iPhone is not a Google Calendar import.

Import is a one-time copy. Adding a published calendar From URL is a live, delayed subscription. That other path is in the Google Calendar iCal link guide. Resync does not import ICS or CSV files. It writes private Busy holds between Google calendars you connect.

Import an .ics or .csv file on a computer

Google Calendar Help documents importing with ICS and CSV files on a computer. You can export from another calendar application or from a different Google Account first. This page is the 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 .ics or .csv.
Choose which calendar to add the imported events to. By default, events are imported into your primary calendar.
Click Import.

If you have a .zip export, open it on your computer and import each .ics file on its own. 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.

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. Tapping an .ics 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.

Import vs subscribe (From URL)

These two Google features both mention .ics. They do not do the same job. This table stays on that difference. Copying a secret or public iCal address is in the iCal link guide. The delayed refresh of a From URL calendar is in the subscribed calendar not updating guide.

Option	What it is	Updates and edits	When to use it
Import an .ics or .csv file	Settings, then Import & export. Select a .ics or .csv file and choose which calendar receives the events. Guests and conference data are not imported.	One-time copy. Imported events do not stay in sync. You can edit those events later on the destination calendar. Importing the same file again can leave a second copy.	Use it to move a snapshot into Google Calendar. Share the calendar, or use Resync, if later changes should follow. Do not use it when you only need a live view of a published feed.
Subscribe From URL	On a computer, Other calendars, then From URL. Help says you can only add a calendar with a link if the other person's calendar is public. The copy is read-only.	Google re-fetches the ICS/iCal feed on its own schedule, often hours later. There is no refresh button. You cannot edit those events in Google Calendar the way you edit imported copies.	Use it for a published feed you only need to view. The iCal link guide covers copying a Google Calendar address. The subscribed-calendar guide covers the delay.

Import an .ics or .csv file

What it is: Settings, then Import & export. Select a .ics or .csv file and choose which calendar receives the events. Guests and conference data are not imported.
Updates and edits: One-time copy. Imported events do not stay in sync. You can edit those events later on the destination calendar. Importing the same file again can leave a second copy.
When to use it: Use it to move a snapshot into Google Calendar. Share the calendar, or use Resync, if later changes should follow. Do not use it when you only need a live view of a published feed.

Subscribe From URL

What it is: On a computer, Other calendars, then From URL. Help says you can only add a calendar with a link if the other person's calendar is public. The copy is read-only.
Updates and edits: Google re-fetches the ICS/iCal feed on its own schedule, often hours later. There is no refresh button. You cannot edit those events in Google Calendar the way you edit imported copies.
When to use it: Use it for a published feed you only need to view. The iCal link guide covers copying a Google Calendar address. The subscribed-calendar guide covers the delay.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Import events to Google Calendar and Subscribe to someone else's calendar.

CSV import fields

You can import a .csv file the same way you import a .ics file. Help says the first row is headers, those headers must be in English, and only the first two headers in this list are required. The rest are optional.

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 short example uses these three columns. Each later row is one event.

Subject	Start Date	Start Time
Final exam	05/30/2020	10:00 AM

Help's CSV example

Subject: Final exam
Start Date: 05/30/2020
Start Time: 10:00 AM

Help also documents End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, and Private for that same example event: Final exam on May 30, 2020, 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM. 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.

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
File too large	Fix problems importing Help says this usually happens when the file is too big. Google Calendar works with files that are one megabyte (1MB) or smaller.	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 or iCal code.
Wrong file type	Import Help says the file should end in .ics or .csv. A .zip export is not imported as one file. Semicolon or colon CSV delimiters also fail. Headers must be in English.	Use a .ics or .csv file. If you have a .zip, extract it and import each .ics on its own. Check that CSV fields are comma-separated and that the header row matches Help's English names.
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. If they already landed on the wrong calendar, delete those events or that calendar. Help does not document a bulk undo.
Time zone shifted	Fix problems importing Help says events show at the wrong time when the time zone in Google Calendar does not match the time zone in the original calendar application.	On a computer, open Settings and set Your current time zone to match the app you exported from. Check that app's time zone too. Then export again and re-import.
Duplicates from importing twice	Import is a snapshot. Importing the same .ics or .csv again can leave a second copy of the same events.	Check the destination calendar before you import again. If you already have two copies, hide the extra calendar or delete the extra copies. The duplicate-events guide covers that cleanup.
Recurring events	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.
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.
Work or school account	Google Calendar Help does not document a Workspace admin setting that turns Import & export off. If that menu is missing on a work or school account, Help does not name the cause.	Ask your admin whether calendar import is restricted. Confirm you are signed into the account that should receive the events.

File too large

Likely cause: Fix problems importing Help says this usually happens when the file is too big. Google Calendar works with files that are one megabyte (1MB) or smaller.
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 or iCal code.

Wrong file type

Likely cause: Import Help says the file should end in .ics or .csv. A .zip export is not imported as one file. Semicolon or colon CSV delimiters also fail. Headers must be in English.
Fix: Use a .ics or .csv file. If you have a .zip, extract it and import each .ics on its own. Check that CSV fields are comma-separated and that the header row matches Help's English names.

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. If they already landed on the wrong calendar, delete those events or that calendar. Help does not document a bulk undo.

Time zone shifted

Likely cause: Fix problems importing Help says events show at the wrong time when the time zone in Google Calendar does not match the time zone in the original calendar application.
Fix: On a computer, open Settings and set Your current time zone to match the app you exported from. Check that app's time zone too. Then export again and re-import.

Duplicates from importing twice

Likely cause: Import is a snapshot. Importing the same .ics or .csv again can leave a second copy of the same events.
Fix: Check the destination calendar before you import again. If you already have two copies, hide the extra calendar or delete the extra copies. The duplicate-events guide covers that cleanup.

Recurring events

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.

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.

Work or school account

Likely cause: Google Calendar Help does not document a Workspace admin setting that turns Import & export off. If that menu is missing on a work or school account, Help does not name the cause.
Fix: Ask your admin whether calendar import is restricted. Confirm you are signed into the account that should receive the events.

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.

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

Undo an import

Imported events become regular events on the calendar you chose. Help does not document a way to undo an import in one click. There is no Import history and no Select all from that file. Removing them is the same as deleting events you created yourself. That cleanup is in the Google Calendar delete all events guide.

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. Help says you can only create new calendars from a browser, and only the owner can permanently delete a calendar.

Google Calendar Help steps checked Nov 4, 2026. Cited from Create a new calendar and Delete or unsubscribe from a calendar.

How Resync fits

Use import when you want a snapshot of events inside Google Calendar. Use From URL when Google Calendar should show a published feed. 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 an ICS 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 an ICS file or ICS URL.

FAQ

How do I import an ICS file into Google Calendar?

On a computer, open Google Calendar, click Settings, then Import & export. Choose a file that ends in .ics or .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.

Can I import an ICS or iCal file 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. Tapping an .ics attachment on iPhone is not a Google Calendar import.

What is the difference between importing an ICS file and adding a calendar From URL?

Import is a one-time copy. Settings, then Import & export, puts the events onto the calendar you choose. Later changes in the original file or calendar do not follow. A later import of the same file can leave a second copy. From URL, next to Other calendars, is a live but delayed subscription. Google re-fetches that published ICS/iCal feed on its own schedule. There is no refresh button. Use the iCal link guide to copy a Google Calendar address, and the subscribed-calendar guide for the delay.

What CSV columns does Google Calendar need to import events?

Google Calendar Help says CSV headers must be in English. 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. Repeat events imported from a .csv file might appear as a series of one-time events.

Why is Google Calendar import not working?

Fix problems importing Help says Google Calendar works with files that are one megabyte (1MB) or smaller. The file should end in .ics or .csv. A .zip export needs each .ics imported on its own. Events land on the calendar you chose, primary by default. Times can shift if Calendar's time zone does not match the original app. Importing the same file again can create duplicates. Help documents import on a computer, not in the Calendar app. Help does not name a Workspace admin toggle that turns Import & export off.

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.

Google Calendar subscribed calendar not updating? Fixes

Sync Apple (iCloud) Calendar with Google Calendar

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