Sync Google Calendar and iCal

I am an avid Google Calendar user. I love using it, but there are times when I want to just use iCal as well on my Mac. So it would only make sense that I would want to keep the two in sync. In this post I will demonstrate how to keep Google Calendar and iCal in sync on my Mac.

The first thing you are going to want to do is to make sure you have a Google Calendar set up. You can sign up for a Google Account so that you can have a Google Calendar. Once you do this you can now sync it with iCal.

Next, you are going to want to open up iCal. Then click on “iCal” in the menu bar. Then click on “Preferences.

From here you are going to then click on “Accounts”. This is where you will set up your Google Cal account so that it will sync with iCal. You are going to want to click on the “+” button on the bottom left corner. You are going to be asked to add an account. For account type you are going to want to select Google. Then you are going to want to fill in your user name and password for your Google account. Make sure you write in your whole email for the user.

After you are done putting in this information, click on “Create” and then your Google Cal should now be syncing with your iCal. Depending on how many events you have, this may take some time.

Now, lets say you have more than one calendar on Google Cal. For example, I have a calendar for my wife and I as well as for work. You will notice that only your main calendar will show up. If you want all of your calendars to show up you need to do the following.

Click on Preferences again and click on Accounts. Then click on the Google account you just set up. Then, you are going to want to click on the “Delegation” tab. Here you should see all of the rest of your calendars from Google Calendar. You can check the boxes next to each one that you want to sync with iCal. When you are done here, the calendars that you just checked should now be syncing. Again, depending on the amount of events that you have, this may take some time.

And there you have it. You have now successfully synced your iCal and Google Cal. This is a two way sync, meaning that if you change or make an event on iCal or Google Cal, the event should sync to the other service. If you have any questions, feel free to leave it in the comments.

SK

Obsessed with tech since the early arrival of A/UX on Apple, Sudz (SK) is responsible for the original editorial direction of AppleToolBox. He is based out of Los Angeles, CA.

Sudz specializes in covering all things macOS, having reviewed dozens of OS X and macOS developments over the years.

In a former life, Sudz worked helping Fortune 100 companies with their technology and business transformation aspirations.