How to Sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar? Guide 101

Google Calendar and Apple Calendar are two of the most popular calendar tools, each with unique features and benefits. For Apple device users who prefer Google Calendar’s flexibility, syncing it with Apple Calendar can create a seamless, unified experience across all their devices.

Syncing allows you to view and manage all your events in Apple Calendar while keeping Google Calendar updated, creating a single source for all your scheduling needs.

In this guide, we’ll walk through step-by-step instructions to set up Google Calendar mac syncing on your Apple devices, including your Mac, iPhone, and iPad. We’ll also cover tips for managing multiple calendars, troubleshooting common issues, and ensuring your synced setup stays organized and efficient.

Why Sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar?

Syncing Google Calendar with Apple Calendar has several benefits, especially for those who use both Google and Apple devices:

1. Unified View: Syncing means you don’t have to switch between multiple calendar apps to see your events.

2. Cross-Device Access: Your calendar events are accessible across all Apple devices—Mac, iPhone, iPad—without needing to manually update them.

3. Offline Access: Apple Calendar allows offline viewing and management, so you can check your events anytime, even without an internet connection.

4. Enhanced Productivity: Simplifies scheduling by keeping personal and work events visible in a single app, allowing for better time management.

How to Sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar on Your Mac?

To sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar on your Mac, you’ll need to add your Google account to macOS. Once set up, your Google Calendar events will automatically appear in Apple Calendar.

Step-by-Step Guide

1. Open the Calendar App: On your Mac, download Google calendar mac app. You can find it in the Applications folder or by searching for it in Spotlight.

2. Add Google Account: Go to the Calendar menu in the top-left corner, and select Accounts. This will open the Internet Accounts settings.

3. Select Google: In the Internet Accounts window, click the Google option to start the process of adding your Google account.

4. Sign in to Google: Enter your Google email address and password, then follow the prompts to sign in. You might be asked to grant permission for macOS to access your calendar and other Google data.

5. Enable Calendar Sync: After signing in, you’ll see several options for syncing data. Make sure the Calendar option is checked, along with any other data you’d like to sync, such as Contacts or Notes.

6. Open Apple Calendar: Close the Internet Accounts window and go back to the Calendar app. Your Google Calendar events should now appear alongside any other calendars you use with Apple Calendar.

7. Customizing Display: If you have multiple calendars within your Google account, click Calendars in the top-left corner of the Calendar app. This will open a sidebar where you can select which specific Google calendars to display.

Adjusting Calendar Preferences

You can adjust the way synced events appear by going to Calendar > Preferences and navigating to the Accounts tab. 

Here, you can change the color for each calendar, set default alert times, and specify the update frequency.

Syncing Google Calendar with Apple Calendar on iPhone and iPad

Adding Google Calendar to your iPhone or iPad is similar to the Mac process and offers the added convenience of having your calendar on the go.

Step-by-Step Guide for iPhone and iPad

1. Open Settings: On your iPhone or iPad, open the Settings app.

2. Add Google Account: Scroll down and select Calendar (or Mail if you’re setting up multiple features simultaneously), then tap Accounts > Add Account.

3. Select Google: From the list of account types, tap Google.

4. Sign in to Google: Enter your Google email address and password. You may be asked to allow permissions for iOS to access your Google Calendar.

5. Enable Calendar Sync: After signing in, ensure that the Calendars toggle is switched on. This will enable your Google Calendar events to appear in the Apple Calendar app.

6. Open Apple Calendar: Once the account is added, open the Calendar app. Your Google Calendar events will sync automatically and appear alongside any other calendars you have.

Managing Multiple Calendars on Apple Calendar

After syncing Google Calendar, you might notice that events from your different calendars—such as work, personal, or family calendars—all show up together in Apple Calendar.

 Apple makes it easy to manage and view specific calendars to avoid clutter.

Choosing Which Calendars to Display

1. Open Calendar App: In Apple Calendar, click Calendars in the top-left corner (on Mac) or tap Calendars at the bottom of the screen (on iPhone/iPad).

2. Select or Deselect Calendars: You’ll see a list of all your calendars. Simply check or uncheck boxes next to each calendar to show or hide it in Apple Calendar.

3. Color-Coding for Clarity: Assign different colors to different calendars for quick identification. On a Mac, right-click a calendar and choose Get Info to change its color.

Setting Default Calendar for New Events

If you’re syncing multiple calendars, you may want to set a default calendar for new events. This way, any event you create in Apple Calendar will go to your preferred Google calendar by default.

1. On Mac, go to Calendar > Preferences > General, and select a default calendar from the dropdown.

2. On iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Calendar > Default Calendar and choose your preferred calendar.

This feature is especially helpful if you often create events in Apple Calendar and want them to appear in a specific Google calendar.

Troubleshooting Common Sync Issues

Syncing is generally seamless, but sometimes issues can arise. Here are some common troubleshooting tips:

1. Events Not Showing Up

• Refresh the Calendar: In Apple Calendar, click View > Refresh Calendars (Mac) or pull down on the Calendar screen (iPhone/iPad) to force a sync.

• Check Internet Connection: Ensure you’re connected to the internet, as sync requires an active connection.

• Verify Account Settings: Go to System Preferences > Internet Accounts (Mac) or Settings > Calendar > Accounts (iPhone/iPad) to make sure your Google account is still signed in and enabled.

2. Duplicate Events

• Turn Off Calendar Sync in Google Calendar App: If you’re using the Google Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad, it might also sync with Apple Calendar, creating duplicates. Go to Settings > Accounts in the Google Calendar app and disable Apple Calendar sync.

• Remove Account and Re-add: Sometimes, deleting and re-adding your Google account can resolve sync issues.

3. Time Zone Issues

• Adjust Time Zone Settings: Ensure both Apple Calendar and Google Calendar are set to the correct time zone. In Apple Calendar, go to Calendar > Preferences > Advanced and enable Turn on time zone support.

• Check Google Calendar Settings: In Google Calendar (on the web), go to Settings > Time Zone to ensure it matches Apple Calendar’s time zone.

How to Unsync Google Calendar from Apple Calendar

If you ever decide to unsync Google Calendar from Apple Calendar, it’s easy to do so:

1. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Internet Accounts, select your Google account, and uncheck Calendar.

2. On iPhone/iPad, go to Settings > Calendar > Accounts, select your Google account, and toggle Calendars off.

Your Google Calendar events will be removed from Apple Calendar without affecting any other data linked to your Google account.

Tips for Staying Organized with a Synced Calendar Setup

1. Use Color Coding: Assign specific colors to your Google Calendar categories (like work, personal, etc.) to easily distinguish events.

2. Set Default Alerts: Go to Calendar > Preferences > Alerts on Mac to set default notifications for events.

3. Organize with Custom Views: In Apple Calendar, use day, week, month, and year views to see different event perspectives.

4. Regularly Refresh: Apple Calendar syncs periodically, but if you notice lag, manually refresh to stay updated.

Conclusion

Syncing Google Calendar with Apple Calendar brings the best of both worlds: you get Google’s versatile calendar on Apple’s user-friendly platform, accessible across all your devices. 

Whether you’re on a Mac, iPhone, or iPad, syncing these two tools allows you to view and manage events in a unified way, simplifying your schedule and improving your productivity.

With this setup, managing personal, work, and shared calendars becomes easy and efficient, ensuring you never miss an important event or meeting. Enjoy the simplicity of a synced calendar, and take advantage of features across both Google and Apple’s platforms.