Creating a new calendar takes three steps: open Google Calendar, click the plus sign next to "Other calendars," and name your calendar
A new calendar in Google Calendar is a separate space where you can organize events by category, project, or person. You might create one for work, another for personal appointments, and a third for a shared team project. Each calendar has its own color, visibility settings, and sharing options. You can view multiple calendars at once, hide any of them, or delete them later.
The process works the same whether you're on a computer or phone. You do not need any special permissions or settings to create a calendar — any Google account can make as many as you need.
Key Takeaways
- Open Google Calendar in your web browser or app, then look for the plus sign next to "Other calendars" on the left side of the screen.
- Click the plus sign, select "Create new calendar," type a name, and click "Create calendar" to finish.
- After creating a calendar, you can change its color, add a description, adjust who can see it, and decide whether to share it with others.
- You can create calendars for different purposes and view them all at once by checking the box next to each calendar name.
Step-by-step: Creating a calendar on your computer
Start by going to calendar.google.com in your web browser and signing in with your Google account. On the left side of the screen, you will see a section labeled "Other calendars" with a plus sign next to it. Click that plus sign.
A small menu will appear with two options: "Create new calendar" and "Subscribe to calendar." Click "Create new calendar." A form will open asking for a calendar name, description, and time zone. Type a name in the first field — something like "Work Projects," "Home Repairs," or "Soccer Schedule." The description and time zone are optional; you can leave them blank or fill them in later. Click the blue "Create calendar" button at the bottom.
Your new calendar now appears in the "Other calendars" list on the left. It is empty and ready for events. You can start adding events to it right away by clicking on any date or time slot and choosing which calendar to save the event to.
Step-by-step: Creating a calendar on your phone
Open the Google Calendar app on your iPhone or Android phone. At the bottom of the screen, tap the plus sign icon. A menu will appear with options including "Create new calendar." Tap that option.
Type a name for your calendar in the text field that appears. You can add a description if you want, though it is not required. Tap "Create" or "Save" (the button name varies by phone). Your new calendar is now ready to use. You can add events to it by tapping any date on the calendar and selecting which calendar to save the event to.
Changing the color and visibility of your new calendar
After creating a calendar, you can customize how it looks and who can see it. On a computer, right-click the calendar name in the "Other calendars" list. A menu will appear with options including "Settings," "Hide," "Delete," and "Change color." Click "Change color" to pick a new color from the palette that appears. This helps you spot events at a glance when you have multiple calendars open.
To adjust who can see your calendar, right-click the name and select "Settings." Scroll down to the "Share with others" section. By default, your calendar is private — only you can see it. You can change this to "Make available to public" if you want anyone with the link to view it, or you can add specific people by typing their email addresses and choosing whether they can view only, make changes, or manage the calendar.
On a phone, tap and hold the calendar name, then tap the gear icon or "Settings." The options are similar: you can change the color and adjust sharing settings from this menu.
Moving events between calendars
If you have an event in one calendar and want to move it to another, open the event by clicking or tapping it. Click or tap "Edit event." Near the top, you will see a field showing which calendar the event belongs to. Click or tap that field and select a different calendar from the dropdown menu. Save the event, and it will now appear in the new calendar instead.
You can also create an event directly in a specific calendar by clicking a date, then choosing which calendar to save it to before you finish creating the event.
Deleting or hiding a calendar you no longer need
If you want to temporarily hide a calendar without deleting it, uncheck the box next to its name in the "Other calendars" list. The calendar and all its events will disappear from view, but they are still there. Check the box again to show the calendar.
To permanently delete a calendar, right-click its name on a computer and select "Delete calendar," or tap and hold the name on a phone and select "Delete." A confirmation message will appear asking if you are sure. Once you confirm, the calendar and all events in it are gone and cannot be recovered. Make sure you do not need the events before you delete.
Sharing a calendar with others
To let someone else see or edit your calendar, open the calendar's settings by right-clicking its name and selecting "Settings" on a computer, or tapping the gear icon on a phone. Scroll to "Share with others" and type the email address of the person you want to share with. Choose their permission level: "See all event details" lets them view only, "Make changes to events" lets them add and edit events, and "Manage calendar" gives them full control including the ability to delete the calendar.
The person you share with will receive an email notification and can then view the calendar in their own Google Calendar account. They can choose to hide it or remove it from their view at any time, but they cannot delete it unless you gave them manage permissions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I create a calendar that other people can edit?
Yes. After creating the calendar, open its settings, go to "Share with others," and type the email address of each person you want to give access to. Choose "Make changes to events" to let them add and edit events, or "Manage calendar" to give them full control. They will receive an email and can start using the calendar right away.
What happens to events if I delete a calendar?
All events in that calendar are permanently deleted and cannot be recovered. Before you delete, make sure you do not need any of the events. If you just want to hide the calendar temporarily, uncheck the box next to its name instead.
Can I rename a calendar after I create it?
Yes. Right-click the calendar name on a computer and select "Settings," then change the name in the first field. On a phone, tap and hold the calendar name, select "Settings," and edit the name. Click or tap "Save" when you are done.
How many calendars can I create?
Google does not publish a limit on the number of calendars you can create in a single account. Most people find that five to ten calendars organized by category or project is enough, but you can create more if you need them.
Can I see all my calendars at the same time?
Yes. Check the box next to each calendar name in the "Other calendars" list to display them all together. Events from each calendar will appear in their assigned color, making it easy to see your full schedule at a glance.