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How To Sync iCal (and iCloud) With Google Cal ?

I would like to know if you could describe how to sun iCal with google cal (and iCloud as well).
I would like it to be a two way sync – that is, every entry in iCal will automatiCally sync to google cal. And also all entries in google cal will automatiCally sync to iCal.
However, at the same time I would like to keep syncing between iCal and iCloud so that all iOS devices will bed up to date.
So an entry i google cal will be synced through iCal (and my Macs) and then via iCloud to iOS devices.
At the same time an entry in my calendar in an iOS device should sync via iCloud to iCal and then eventually to google cal.
Is this possible ?
—–
Nigel Datta

Comments: 24 Responses to “How To Sync iCal (and iCloud) With Google Cal ?”

    13 years ago

    Well, you don't.
    Google Calendar is a cloud-based calendar. iCloud calendar is a cloud-based calendar. You don't sync them with each other. You don't need to.
    I think this is a point-of-view issue. You see, you don't "sync" either with iCal. iCal is an app that you can use to view Google Calendars or iCloud Calendars. In the same way you would view a web page in a browser. The calendar is on the service's server. So a Google Calendar is on the Google Calendar server. You use iCal to access it.
    So in iCal, add your Google account as an account in the preferences. Then you can view and edit those calendars in iCal. You can still view and edit them in the web-based Google calendar interface.
    Same with iOS devices. Add that Google account to your Email preferences. Then you can view and edit those Google calendars on your iOS device.
    There's no good way to have your Google calendar sync with iCloud. But there is no need to. Just use Google Calendar if that is the service you like. Use it on all of your devices through the iCal app on the Mac and Calendar app on iOS.

      Sean Tierney
      12 years ago

      "Google Calendar is a cloud-based calendar. iCloud calendar is a cloud-based calendar. You don’t sync them with each other. You don’t need to."

      This is simply not true- there are plenty of valid reasons why one would legitimately want to be able to input events on one of these cloud-based calendars and have it synchronize with the other.

      Has anyone discovered a reliable way to achieve this? There seem to be countless threads going round and round on this subject but no viable solution.

        12 years ago

        Give me some examples of a valid reason. You only need the data in one place. And if two or more people want to share data, then why not simply agree to one place for that data?

    Danbo
    13 years ago

    I would like to use iCloud is my syncing solution I have iMac iPad iPod touch and an iPhone but I also have a blackberry and I don't believe iCloud can handle a blackberry so instead I use Google sync

    I don't really like it as much as iCloud but I think I have no option is that the case?

      13 years ago

      That's a tough one. The easiest way is to simply use Google Calendar. Otherwise, you'll need to throw some time, money and effort into getting a bridge to send your updates back and forth between Google and iCloud -- and then be prepared to update that solution as both change.

        Gordon Burgess
        12 years ago

        I have a similar problem. My wife uses iCloud, I use Google cloud (on Android phone). I can see both calendars using iCal, but not hers on my Android phone. Is there anyway of getting the information from either her iCloud or from my iCal (on my Mac) to my Android?

          12 years ago

          The way to do it would be to just use Google. She'll never be able to view your iCloud calendar on her Android phone. But you can already use Google on your phone. So if you both use Google calendars then you are set.

    Nigel Datta
    13 years ago

    Thanks a lot for the answer.
    I have always had iPhone and more recently mac computers. But now I am going to have an android phone as well and I would therefore like calendars and phonebook to sync as seamlessly as possible.
    Even if google could be used I would also like to keep iCloud as my backup/disk in the sky.
    Any simple solution ?

      13 years ago

      Just because you use Google Calendar, doesn't mean you can't use iCloud as well for other things. iCloud doesn't currently have any "disk in the sky" function, though.

    Nigel Datta
    13 years ago

    Hi Gary.
    Thanks.
    Ok, I see, but won't that result in double entries for every entry (one for iCloud and one for google cal). That is at least what I am experiencing right now.

    Also, what about contacts. Can I sync between iCloud contacts and google contacts.
    Whenever I try (add google account under preferences i adressbook) I either get double of every contact or just iCloud or google. But if I make a new entry it will only sync to either iCloud or google but not both.
    Are there a way out of this ?

      13 years ago

      Right. You will see each item twice if an app is using both accounts.

    Mark
    12 years ago

    I use iCal and now with Mountain Lion, Reminders. Is there any way you can sync these between my Mac and my BlackBerry via iCloud so that if an appointment is booked for me whilst I'm out of the office it will automatically show on my BlackBerry?

      12 years ago

      No. iCloud is for Macs, Windows, and iOS. It doesn't sync with Blackberry. Unless someone has made an app or hack to do it -- and you're asking the wrong person about that :)

    Harry
    12 years ago

    I have the same question to sync calendars among devices, calendars. But my basic request is to see my wife's iCal calendar from my computer. So I think the solution is to sync iCal to iCloud on iMac, then logon to iCloud.com to view the calendar on web browser - which should support all devices.

    Helene
    12 years ago

    Gary, the problem I have is that the calendars do work together. However, when I delete an appointment on google calendar I still get the reminder on ical several days later. How do I get ical to recognize the deletions?

      12 years ago

      That shouldn't happen. Do you have the Google calendar simply set up as an account in the Calendar app?

    Julie F
    12 years ago

    There are plenty valid reasons for wanting to do this. My reason is because I use iCloud for my personal phone but my new work phone is set up to use google.
    I find it odd that you cannot foresee situations where syncing both is desirable,

      12 years ago

      So in your case, you would just use Google. Out of the two services, it is the one that will work on both. My point is that if you use a Google calendar it will work on both -- no need to use an iCloud calendar then. You DO sync to both devices when using Google. See what I mean?

    Geoff
    12 years ago

    Hi Guys
    Can anyone can help with this?
    I sync my work calendar (Outlook) with my iMac at home. So far, I've done this via a Google calendar i.e. work syncs with Google (using Google Calendar Sync) and Google then syncs with home using Spanning Sync. This has worked faultlessly for some years but they're about do take SS off the market (can't work Mountain Lion apparently). What do I do now??
    I'm currently running Snow Leopard but could upgrade Mountain Lion if that would help.
    Thanks!!

      12 years ago

      Not sure why you need to use Spanning Sync at all. Just add that Google Calendar directly to your Calendar app (called iCal in Snow Leopard).

    Geoff
    12 years ago

    Sorry if I'm being dumb here..but can you talk me through that step by step?

      12 years ago

      I'm not using Snow Leopard, so I'm not sure of the exact steps. But you run iCal, go to iCal, Preferences. Then add an account. Choose Google as the account type and continue from there.

    Aurium Gator
    12 years ago

    I have two calendars, a gmail and an iCal. Events I add to the gmail calendar from my PC show up on iCal on my Mac. However, events I add to iCal from my Mac don't show up on google calendar on my PC. The PC is my home computer and my Mac is my travel computer.

      12 years ago

      iCal is an app. It is capable of displaying calendars from various sources (iCloud, Google, Yahoo, etc). Google Calendar is a service, like iCloud. Google Calendar's web site will show you your Google calendars. iCloud's web site will show you your iCloud calendars. iCal (now called Calendar) will show you calendar at either or both services.

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