How to sync Google Calendar with Outlook 2019 / 365?

Applicable to: Office 2016, 2019, 365; Windows and partly applicable to macOS operating systems.

Here is a question we got from one of our readers:

I am right now in the process of installing Outlook 365 software on my new computer. I also use a web version Google Calendar to manage my personal calendar. Wanted to explore the option of using Microsoft Outlook to access both my personal and business calendars on one desktop email application. I would like to ask you if there is a way to view my Google calendar in Outlook and probably keep them in Sync?

Thanks for the question. Sure there is – couple caveats though, as you might typically expect when interfacing / integrating between technologies from different technology companies.

In this post, we would like to cover two main use cases:

  • One direction integration that allows to access but not update the Gmail calendar in Microsoft Outlook.
  • Bi-directional updates between Gmail and Outlook calendars.

So without further ado, let’s get started.

Add google calendar to MS Outlook

The more trivial integration option is a one direction sync between Outlook and Google Calendar. Outlook becomes the one-stop solution to access your meetings/appointments entries; but you can continue to update your Google Calendar as you see fit, as those will be synced into Outlook.

In this case, changes made in Outlook won’t be reflected in Google Calendar.

  • Log into your Google Account, Open Google Calendar.
  • In My calendar list, select the particular calendar drop down box and click Calendar Settings.
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  • Select ICAL in the Private Address.
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  • Copy your ICAL link (hit Control + C) . Now hit Enter.
  • Next open Outlook, click on File and select Account Settings
  • Now select Account Settings again.
  • Navigate to the Internet Calendars section.
  • Hit New.
  • Now paste (hit Control + D) the URL of your Google Internet Calendar that you previously copied.
  • Hit Add
  • Click Open Calendar, browse to the your calendar file.
  • Done! your calendar is now visible in Outlook.
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Note: Support for Internet Calendars is still not available as of Outlook 2019 for MAC OS X.

Bi-directional Sync between Google Cal and Outlook

Couple of more advanced solutions that you might want to try if you are an advanced user:

  1. This freely available sync tool allows you to sync your calendars. Note that both one or bi directional updates are available. Support for Office 2019 seems not available at this point.
  2. Using Microsoft Flow, you are able to set up an ongoing sync between GMail calendar and Outlook.com (which you are able to easily access via Outlook 365/2019). The caveat here is that you’ll need Outlook.com to sync up the accounts.

Hope it helps!

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