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Google Calendar

How to Import an ICS File into Google Calendar

Google Calendar accepts both <code>.ics</code> (iCalendar) and <code>.csv</code> files. The import is one-shot — events become part of your chosen calendar and don't stay linked to the source file.

Step-by-step

  1. Open calendar.google.com in a browser. Import isn't available in the mobile apps.
  2. Click the gear icon → Settings, then Import & export in the left sidebar.
  3. Click Select file from your computer and pick your .ics or .csv.
  4. Choose the destination calendar from the dropdown.
  5. Click Import. A confirmation tells you how many events were added.

CSV format requirements

Required columns: Subject, Start Date (MM/DD/YYYY), Start Time (HH:MM AM/PM). Optional: End Date, End Time, All Day Event, Description, Location, Private. Save as UTF-8 to keep accents intact.

Avoiding duplicates

Google de-duplicates by event UID, not by title. If you re-import the same .ics, no duplicates are created. CSV imports always create new events — there's no UID, so don't re-import.

Subscribe instead of importing

If the .ics is published online (as a URL), subscribe to it instead — Other calendars → + → From URL. That keeps it auto-updating.

Related guides

Frequently asked questions

What's the maximum file size?
Practical limit is around 1MB or ~10,000 events per import. Larger files often time out — split them.
Can I undo an import?
Not in one click. Imports go into the chosen calendar; you'd have to delete that calendar (or the events) manually.