In Outlook, you can import events from an .ics file to your existing calendar or subscribe to an iCal calendar online and receive automatic updates. 

Tips: 

  • You can import calendars from websites or calendar programs that support the .ics file format, such as Apple iCal, Google Calendar, and Mozilla Lightning.

  • You can search the internet for lists of iCals. Websites for theaters, sports teams, and schools often have an "Add to calendar" link that you can use to download an iCal. Bing also has suggestions for calendars.

Subscribe to a calendar

Note: When you subscribe to a calendar, your calendar will automatically refresh if the other calendar is updated. This can sometimes take more than 24 hours.

  1. Sign in to Outlook.com.

    Sign in

  2. At the bottom of the page, select Calendar.

  3. In the navigation pane, select Add calendar.

  4. Select Subscribe from web.

    Subscribe to a calendar

  5. Enter the URL for the calendar.

  6. Select Import.

    Note: If you are unable to subscribe, try to import the calendar instead, by following the Upload steps below.

Upload a calendar from a file

Note: When you import an .ics file, your calendar doesn't refresh the imported events, even if the calendar's owner makes an update.

  1. Locate the calendar you want to add and save it to your computer as an .ics file.

  2. Sign in to Outlook.com

    Sign in

  3. At the bottom of the page, select Calendar.

  4. In the navigation pane, select Add calendar.

  5. Select Upload from file.

    Upload from file

  6. Select Browse, choose the .ics file you want to upload, and then select Open.

  7. Select the calendar that you want the file imported to, and then select Import.

What to do if you don't see Add calendar

If you've collapsed the navigation pane next to the calendar, you'll have to expand it to reach the Add calendar feature.

To expand the navigation pane, select the icon Icon to expand or collapse the left pane at the top of the calendar.

Screenshot showing icon to expand or collapse left pane.

The difference between importing and subscribing to a calendar

When you import an .ics file, you get a snapshot of the events in the calendar at the time of import. Your calendar doesn't refresh the imported events automatically -- even if the calendar's owner makes an update. This is a good way to add events to your existing calendar that aren't going to change, like tide tables or phases of the moon.

Subscribing to an online calendar connects it to your calendar. Whenever the owner of a calendar you've subscribed to makes changes to the events, Outlook.com updates your calendar. This is a good way to track events that change frequently, like movie times or a school calendar.

Note: This update can take more than 24 hours, although updates should happen approximately every 3 hours.

See also

Add a holiday or birthday calendar in Outlook.com 

Create, modify, or delete a meeting request or appointment in Outlook.com

Search your Calendar in Outlook.com

Share your calendar in Outlook.com

Print email and calendars in Outlook.com

Add a calendar in Outlook.com or Outlook on the web

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Import a calendar

  1. Locate the calendar you want to add and save it to a folder on your computer as an .ics file.

  2. Sign into Outlook on the web.

    Sign in

  3. At the bottom of the navigation pane, click the Calendar icon.

  4. On the toolbar, click Add calendar.

  5. Click From file, click Browse, choose an .ics file, and click Open.

  6. Click the down arrow next to Calendar and choose a calendar from the list.

  7. Click Save.

Subscribe to a calendar

  1. Sign into Outlook on the web.

    Sign in

  2. At the bottom of the navigation pane, click the Calendar icon.

  3. On the toolbar, click Add calendar.

  4. Click From Internet, and in the Link to the calendar box, type or copy and paste the web address of the calendar.

  5. In the Calendar name box, enter a name for the linked calendar.

  6. Click Save.

Note: Whenever events change on an iCal, it can take more than 24 hours for Outlook on the web to update your calendar.

Add a calendar from your organization's directory

  1. In the calendar, go to the toolbar and select Add calendar > From directory.

  2. In the From directory box, type the name of the calendar you want to add. Outlook on the web will automatically find matching entries from the organization's directory.

  3. Choose the calendar you want to add, then select Open.

The difference between importing and subscribing

davda When you import an .ics file, you get a snapshot of the events in the calendar at the time of import. Your calendar doesn't refresh the imported events automatically -- even if the calendar's owner makes an update. This is a good way to add events that aren't going to change to your existing calendar, like tide tables, or phases of the moon.

Subscribing to an iCal online calendar connects it to your calendar. Whenever the owner of an iCal you've subscribed to makes changes to the events, Outlook on the web updates your calendar. This is a good way to track events that change frequently, like movie times or a school calendar.

Note: This update can take more than 24 hours, although updates should happen approximately every 6 hours.

See also

Add a holiday or birthday calendar in Outlook.com  

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