Opening Your Google Calendar

Google Calendar opens in your web browser at calendar.google.com if you are signed into your Google account. If you are not signed in, you will see a sign-in screen — enter your full Gmail address and password, then click the calendar link again. The calendar loads in seconds and shows your current month with any events you have already created.

You can also reach Google Calendar through Gmail itself. Open Gmail, look for the grid icon (nine dots) in the top right corner, and click it. A menu drops down showing Google's apps — Calendar is listed there. Click it and your calendar opens in a new tab.

Key Takeaways

  • Google Calendar is free and opens at calendar.google.com in any web browser once you sign in with your Google account.
  • The mobile app for iPhone and Android lets you view and create events from your phone, and syncs instantly with the web version.
  • You can share your calendar with specific people by clicking Settings, choosing the calendar, and entering their email addresses.
  • Events you create on one device (phone, tablet, or computer) appear on all your other devices within seconds.

Using Google Calendar on Your Phone or Tablet

The Google Calendar app works on both iPhone and Android devices. Search your phone's app store — on iPhone it is the App Store, on Android it is Google Play — and type "Google Calendar". Download the official app made by Google (not a third-party calendar app). Open it and sign in with the same Google account you use on your computer.

Once you are signed in, your calendar appears with all the events you created on your computer. You can tap any date to create a new event, and it will show up on your computer calendar within moments. The app also sends you notifications before events start, which you can turn on or off in the app's settings.

Signing In When You Forget Your Password

If you cannot remember your Google password, go to accounts.google.com/signin/recovery. Enter your Gmail address and click Next. Google will ask you to verify you own the account — usually by sending a code to your recovery email or phone number. Enter that code, then create a new password.

If you do not have access to your recovery email or phone, the process takes longer. Google will ask security questions about your account history. Answer as many as you can, and Google will let you reset your password. This can take a few hours or a full day.

Sharing Your Calendar With Others

To let someone else see your calendar, open Google Calendar and click the gear icon (Settings) in the top right. On the left side, find the calendar you want to share and hover over it — three dots appear. Click those dots and select "Settings and sharing".

Scroll down to "Share with specific people" and click "Add people". Type the email address of the person you want to share with. A dropdown menu shows permission levels — you can let them view only, or let them create and edit events. Click "Send" and Google sends them an invitation. Once they accept, they can see your calendar in their own Google Calendar.

Switching Between Multiple Calendars

If you have more than one Google account, you can view calendars from both at the same time. Sign into your first account at calendar.google.com. Then click your profile picture in the top right corner and select "Add another account". Sign into your second Google account. Now you can switch between accounts by clicking your profile picture again, or you can view both calendars side by side by clicking "Add other calendars" on the left and selecting the calendar from your other account.

You can also create separate calendars within a single account — for example, one for work and one for personal events. Click the plus sign next to "Other calendars" on the left side, select "Create new calendar", and give it a name. The new calendar appears in your list, and you can toggle it on or off by clicking the checkbox next to its name.

Troubleshooting When Calendar Will Not Load

If Google Calendar is blank or will not load, first try refreshing the page by pressing Ctrl+R on Windows or Command+R on Mac. If that does not work, clear your browser's cache — this removes temporary files that sometimes cause problems. In Chrome, click the three-line menu in the top right, select "Settings", click "Privacy and security", then "Clear browsing data". Make sure "Cookies and other site data" is checked, then click "Clear data".

If the calendar still will not load, try opening it in a different browser — for example, if you normally use Chrome, try Firefox or Safari. This tells you whether the problem is with your browser or with Google's servers. You can also check Google's status page at status.google.com to see if Calendar is having outages in your area. If Google's servers are down, your calendar will come back once they are fixed.

Using Google Calendar Offline

Google Calendar does not work without an internet connection, but you can set it up to show your events even when you are offline. Open Google Calendar, click the gear icon, and select "Settings". Scroll down to "Offline" and toggle it on. Google will download your recent events to your computer so you can view them without internet.

You cannot create or edit events while offline, but you can see what you have scheduled. Once you reconnect to the internet, any changes you make will sync to Google's servers. This feature only works in Chrome and only on computers — the mobile app does not have an offline mode.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use Google Calendar without a Gmail account?

No, you need a Google account to use Google Calendar. A Google account and a Gmail account are the same thing — when you create one, you get both. If you do not have a Gmail address, you can create one free at accounts.google.com.

Why is my calendar showing events in the wrong time zone?

Google Calendar uses the time zone set on your device. On a computer, check your operating system's time zone settings. On a phone, go to Settings, find Date and Time, and make sure it is set to your location. You can also override this in Google Calendar itself by clicking Settings, scrolling to "Time zone", and selecting your zone manually.

Can I print my calendar?

Yes. Open Google Calendar, click the gear icon, and select "Print". A print preview opens showing your calendar in a format you can print. You can choose to print a single day, week, month, or custom date range. Click the printer icon or press Ctrl+P to send it to your printer.

What happens if I delete an event by mistake?

Google Calendar keeps a trash folder for 30 days. Click the gear icon, select "Settings", then scroll down and click "Trash". Find the event you deleted, click it, and select "Restore". The event goes back to your calendar. After 30 days, deleted events are gone permanently.

Can I color-code my events?

Yes. Click any event on your calendar, then click the colored circle next to the event title. A palette appears with color options. Choose a color and it applies to that event. You can also color-code entire calendars by hovering over a calendar name on the left, clicking the three dots, and selecting a color.