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Google Calendar and iCloud Calendar: 3 ways to use them together

Apple and Google don't sync calendars with each other. Three workarounds using their own settings, and what each one can't do.

5 min readCaltsu Team

On this page6
  1. Why don't Google and iCloud calendars sync automatically?
  2. Method 1: subscribe to your Google Calendar (view-only)
  3. Method 2: see both calendars on your iPhone
  4. Method 3: move personal events to Google
  5. Which method is right for you?
  6. Wrapping up

Google Calendar and iCloud Calendar don't sync with each other. You have three workarounds:

  1. Subscribe to your Google Calendar. You see your Google events on your Apple devices, but you can't edit them there and updates arrive on a delay.
  2. Add your Google account to your iPhone. Both calendars show side by side on your phone, but nothing is copied between them.
  3. Keep personal events in Google instead of iCloud. Your iPhone still shows them in the Apple Calendar app, and Google-based tools can see them.

Apple and Google keep their calendars separate, so keeping both up to date is harder than it should be. Each method below uses only Apple's and Google's own settings, and each one has a gap you should know about before you pick it.

Why don't Google and iCloud calendars sync automatically?

Neither company offers a two-way sync with the other. When you add a Google calendar to your iPhone, Apple Calendar reads it and shows it. It doesn't merge it with iCloud. An event in one calendar doesn't mark you busy in the other, and that's where scheduling conflicts come from.

Method 1: subscribe to your Google Calendar (view-only)

This is the oldest workaround. You subscribe to your Google calendar's feed and see its events in Apple Calendar on a Mac or iPhone.

The catch is that it's read-only. You can't edit Google events from Apple Calendar, and changes only show up when Apple Calendar next refreshes the feed.

  • Open Google Calendar on your computer.
  • Hover over the calendar you want and click the three dots.
  • Choose Settings and sharing.
  • Scroll down to Integrate calendar.
  • Copy the Secret address in iCal format.

Keep that address to yourself. Google says not to share it, and if you do share it by accident you can click Reset to make a new one.

  • Open the Calendar app on your Mac.
  • Go to File > New Calendar Subscription.
  • Paste the URL and click Subscribe.
  • Name the calendar and pick a color if you like.
  • Set Location to your iCloud account so it shows on your other devices.
  • Set Auto-refresh to the shortest interval offered.
  • Click OK.

The limitations of this method

  • You can't edit events from Apple Calendar.
  • Changes are delayed until the next refresh.
  • Tools that read your iCloud calendar still don't see your Google events as busy.

If your goal is to prevent calendar conflicts, this method won't be enough.

Method 2: see both calendars on your iPhone

This is how most iPhone users get all their events in one place. The iOS Calendar app shows both calendars, but they stay separate in the cloud.

How to set it up:

  • Open Settings on your iPhone or iPad and go to the Calendar settings. On newer iOS versions, Calendar is listed under Apps.
  • Open the accounts section, tap Add Account and choose Google.
  • Sign in and turn on Calendars.
  • In the Calendar app, make sure your Google calendars are selected.

The downside

  • The two calendars appear on the same screen, but nothing is synced between Google and iCloud.
  • Your Google events don't mark you busy in iCloud, and your iCloud events don't mark you busy in Google.

Method 3: move personal events to Google

If your personal events live in a Google calendar instead of iCloud, they sit in the same system as your other Google calendars. Google's sharing settings and calendar sync tools can then reach them.

On your iPhone, set Default Calendar in the Calendar settings to your personal Google calendar. You keep using the Apple Calendar app, but new events are saved to Google. For events that stay in iCloud, use Method 1 or 2.

Caltsu works with this setup. It syncs Google and Microsoft accounts, creating "Busy" blocks in your other calendars, and those blocks show in Apple Calendar because the accounts are already on your iPhone. It doesn't sync iCloud calendars.

Which method is right for you?

Use Method 1 (subscription) if:

  • Your schedule doesn't change often.
  • Delayed updates are fine.
  • Nobody else needs to see when you're busy.

Use Method 2 (iOS settings) if:

  • You only check your calendars on your iPhone.
  • You don't use scheduling tools or share your availability.

Use Method 3 (Google as default) if:

  • You manage both work and personal calendars.
  • You use scheduling links like Calendly.
  • You're willing to keep personal events in Google instead of iCloud.
  • You want other people and scheduling tools to see your personal busy time.

Wrapping up

If you only need to see everything, Method 2 takes two minutes. If other people book your time, only Method 3 puts your personal busy time where they can see it.

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