SOURCE: Vacation Tracker TITLE: How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar URL: https://vacationtracker.io/blog/how-to-import-ical-into-google-calendar/ LANG: en PUBLISHED: 2022-01-27 UPDATED: 2025-11-14 AUTHOR: Khushi READING: 2 min TAGS: how-to-guides SUMMARY: Looking for a way to transfer data from your iCal file into Google Calendar? Let us give you the full rundown on how to do it effortlessly. # How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar Got an iCal file but you’re a Google Calendar (https://calendar.google.com/) user? Stressed thinking of a way to import your iCal information into Google Calendar so that you have access to it anywhere, anytime? We’ve got exactly what you’re looking for. ## How to import iCal into Google Calendar While most people think of iCalendar as an Apple exclusive format, it’s actually an open standard that is supported by Google Workspace. (https://vacationtracker.io/integration/google-workspace/) Google’s free calendar works with both iCalendar downloads and iCalendar URLs, although adding them is quite difficult. Here are a few different ways you can import your iCal data in order to effortlessly sync it with your Google Calendar. ### Adding iCal files to Google Calendar This method can be used if you want to export your data in a .csv or iCal format directly from your Mac. First, open the Calendar app on your Mac. ![How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102800/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.46.14-AM-1536x1010.jpg) Once the application is open, go to the top left section of the taskbar and click on File. ![How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102807/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.19.17-AM.jpg) Then, choose the Export option. ![How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102807/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.19.25-AM.jpg) Name your file, save it in your desired location and click on Export. We named this file “iCal file” as an example. ![How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102806/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.21.24-AM-1536x988.jpg) After that’s successfully done, open your browser and go to Google Calendar. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102805/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.22.49-AM-1536x785.jpg) When your calendar is open, click on the + sign in the Other Calendars section of the screen. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102805/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.26.40-AM.png) Next, click on Import. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102804/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.27.58-AM.png) Select the previously downloaded file from your computer and click on Open. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102804/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.29.15-AM-1536x774.jpg) Finally, click on Import and you’re all done! All your data will be imported into Google Calendar and the changes will be visible immediately. ![How To Import iCal Into Google Calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102803/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.30.39-AM.jpg) ### Adding an iCal URL to Google Calendar The iCalendar format isn’t just for storing offline files on your Apple device. Generally, this is also used to share web-based calendars, using URLs that begin with webcal://. Although these calendars automatically update, if you find an iCalendar URL, you might not know how to work with it. Let us show you how to import these URLs into Google Calendar. Here is an example of the URL we’re trying to import: webcal://images.icalshare.com/production/webcal/allical.ics.vcs. Open Google Calendar and click on the same + sign in the Other Calendars section of the screen. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102805/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.26.40-AM.png) Then, click on the From URL option. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102803/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.32.34-AM.png) Paste the URL of the iCal file you’d like to subscribe to. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102802/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.33.21-AM.png) Next, all you need to do is click the “Add Calendar” button. The new calendar will appear under “Other Calendars,” and events will start appearing immediately. #### An alternative to iCal in Google Calendar If you don’t want to go through the hassle of manually adding your iCal into Google Calendar, there are plenty of calendars available within the platform itself. Just open Google Calendar and click on — you guessed it — the same + sign in the Other Calendars section of the screen. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102805/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.26.40-AM.png) Then, click on Browse holidays of interest. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102802/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.34.52-AM.png) You can then scroll through a bunch of calendars with events ranging from sports to national holidays and pick whichever you like. ![ical google calendar](https://cdn.vacationtracker.io/wp-content/uploads/2022/01/14102801/Screen-Shot-2022-01-27-at-1.35.52-AM-1536x825.png) Take control of your leave balance tracking (https://vacationtracker.io/blog/pick-the-right-online-leave-management-system/) with Vacation Tracker. Start for free, or try all features with a 14-day free trial to see how easy managing time off can be. Take the guesswork out of time off tracking. Know exactly who's off and when—no spreadsheets, no surprises. Get started (https://app.vacationtracker.io/signup) ![check](/static/img/icons/check.svg) No credit card required. ## Frequently asked questions Q: Can I import an iCal file directly into Google Calendar? Yes, you can. Google Calendar supports the iCal (.ics) file format. Once you export the file from your Apple Calendar or another calendar app, you can upload it into Google Calendar using the Import feature under the “Other Calendars” section. The process takes less than a minute once you have your iCal file ready. Q: What’s the difference between importing a file and adding an iCal URL? Importing a file is a one-time sync, your events are added to Google Calendar at that moment but will not update if changes are made later in the source calendar. On the other hand, adding an iCal URL creates a subscription to a live feed. The events will automatically update as changes occur in the source calendar. Q: How do I export an iCal file from my Mac? Open your Mac’s Calendar app, click on “File” in the top menu, then select “Export.” Choose where you want to save the file, name it, and click “Export” again. This file can then be imported into your Google Calendar manually. Q: Will my iCal events update in Google Calendar automatically? If you imported a file, no – it’s static and won’t refresh with changes. If you subscribed via URL, yes – your calendar will update periodically as new events are added or changed. Q: What if I don’t have an iCal file or URL but want additional calendars in Google Calendar? Google Calendar allows you to browse and subscribe to various calendars, such as public holidays, sports schedules, or religious events. Simply click “Browse calendars of interest” under the same “Other Calendars” section and select from the list. Q: Can I use Vacation Tracker with Google Calendar? Yes. Vacation Tracker integrates with Google Workspace, allowing you to sync approved leaves, automate PTO visibility, and ensure all time-off data appears directly within your team calendar – no manual import needed.