In this blog, I share some tricks which can help you import a calendar into Office 365 Group calendar. So let’s start.
Keeping your team on the same page requires a centralized schedule. While Office 365 Groups offers a fantastic shared calendar solution, importing existing calendars can seem tricky. Here’s the deal: directly importing .ics, .csv, or .pst files into Group Calendars isn’t currently supported. But don’t worry, there’s a workaround using the magic of Outlook desktop!
Issues While Import a Calendar into Office 365 Group Calendar
Exporting Your Source Calendar
The first step is to export the calendar you want to import. Most calendar applications allow exporting to an .ics file format, which is universally recognized. Consult your specific calendar app’s documentation for exporting instructions.
Importing the .ics into Outlook Desktop
- Open Outlook Desktop and navigate to the Calendar section.
- Click on “File” then “Open & Export” followed by “Import/Export.”
- Select “Import from another program or file” and click “Next.”
- Choose “Comma Separated Values” (even though we’re using an .ics file). Click “Next” again.
- Browse to your downloaded .ics file and select it.
Here’s the twist: Instead of directly importing into the Group Calendar, we’ll import it as a separate calendar within your Outlook. This temporary calendar will serve as a staging ground for our events.
- Click “Import” to finalize the process. A new calendar containing your imported events will appear in the left-hand pane of your Outlook Calendar view.
Moving Events to the Group Calendar
Now comes the transfer!
- With both your imported calendar and the Office 365 Group Calendar visible, switch to “List” view for easier handling.
- Drag and drop the desired events from the imported calendar to the Group Calendar.
Alternatively:
- Select the events you want to transfer in the imported calendar.
- Right-click and choose “Move to Calendar” from the menu.
- Select the Office 365 Group Calendar from the list and click “OK” to complete the transfer.
Remember: You must be a member of the Office 365 group to see and edit its calendar.
Once you’ve transferred all the necessary events, you can delete the temporary imported calendar from your Outlook.
Conclusion
While a direct import might seem simpler, this method effectively achieves the same result. With a little planning and these steps, you can consolidate your team’s schedule into a single, centralized Office 365 Group Calendar, promoting better collaboration and keeping everyone informed.
