How to Sync iCloud Calendar with Google Calendar

You can see iCloud and Google calendars together in a multi-account app, follow a public iCloud calendar through a read-only Google subscription, or use a sync tool to maintain selected copies between the accounts. The best choice depends on whether you need one view or actual events in the other provider.

There is no need to make a private iCloud calendar public simply because you also use Google Calendar. Start with the least-sharing method that gives you the result you need.

For one view, use a compatible app

Apple Calendar can display iCloud and Google accounts together. Add the Google account using the supported sign-in flow and turn on Calendars for that account, then choose which calendars to show.

Events stay with their original service. An appointment entered into a Google calendar through Apple's app remains a Google event, and an iCloud appointment remains in iCloud.

This is often the simplest answer for someone who wants a complete personal week. See Google and Outlook calendars in Apple Calendar for the same multi-account approach.

Follow a public iCloud calendar in Google

For a calendar intended to be public, enable its Public Calendar setting in iCloud and copy the published link. In Google Calendar on a computer, use the plus button beside Other calendars and choose From URL.

Google receives a read-only subscription. Edits must be made in the original iCloud calendar. Google refreshes subscribed calendars on its own schedule, so changes can take a while to appear.

Apple describes public read-only calendar sharing separately from private invitations. See Apple's calendar-sharing guide.

Do not publish a family calendar containing home addresses or children's activities to make this method available. Use authenticated access or selected copies for a private schedule.

Follow Google from an Apple calendar app

Connect your Google account through a compatible app's sign-in flow if you want to edit appointments there. A read-only iCalendar subscription is an alternative for an app that cannot sign in to Google or a view where you do not want editing access.

Google's Secret address in iCal format is intended for your own applications and should not be passed to another person as a sharing invitation. Google explains account sync and calendar addresses.

Showing a Google calendar in Apple Calendar does not copy its appointments into iCloud. Check where the events live before assuming they are now available to every iCloud-connected service.

Use a one-time import only for a migration

Export/import can transfer a snapshot of events when you are moving from one provider to another. It does not establish ongoing sync, and repeated imports can leave duplicates or outdated appointments.

If you are retiring an account, keep a backup and review recurring events, time zones, and active invitations before removing the source. If both accounts will remain active, use viewing, sharing, or ongoing copies.

Compare ICS imports with ongoing subscriptions before transferring the events.

When automatic copies are useful

You may need iCloud personal time to appear inside a Google work calendar. In the other direction, you might want copies of Google work events in iCloud, where your employer allows it.

Manual busy blocks are reasonable for occasional appointments. An approved automation or sync service can reduce maintenance when events move frequently, provided it handles updates and cancellations as well as creation.

Choose the details separately for each direction. Send generic busy time to work; retain real titles in your private planning view only where sharing them is allowed. Leave out full descriptions and locations unless you need them and can copy them.

Connecting both accounts in Avum

Connect your Google account and Apple Account in Avum, using an app-specific password for Apple. Select the source calendar and destination in a Sync Rule.

For iCloud-to-Google work availability, replace personal titles and omit notes and locations. Keep editing each appointment at its source, even if you add rules in both directions. Opposite one-way rules still leave each appointment with an original to edit.

Avum Calendar also shows both accounts in one view, which is enough if you only need to see them.

Confirm the connection and the privacy

Create a test event and open its destination copy. Inspect the date, time zone, busy status, and copied fields. Move the original, then delete it, checking that the copy follows both changes.

If you used a public feed and later stop, disable publication at the source as well as removing your subscription. If you used a sync service, follow its cleanup process and inspect remaining copies before revoking access.

Ready to coordinate iCloud and Google calendars? Start your free 30-day trial with Avum today.