How to Get Google Calendar on Your Windows Desktop

This article explains how to access your Google Calendar from the Windows desktop by syncing your Google Calendar with the default Windows Desktop Calendar app or syncing with Outlook. It also explains how to add a Google Calendar widget to Google Chrome.

How to Sync Google Calendar With the Windows Calendar Desktop App

The easiest way to get your Google Calendar information is by syncing it with your Windows Calendar.

1. Select the Start menu, type calendar, and then select the Calendar app.

2. When Windows Calendar opens, select the gear icon at the lower left to open Calendar settings. In the settings menu, select Manage Accounts > Add account.

3. In the Add an account window, select Google.

4. You'll be prompted to sign in to your Google account. Enter the Name and Password for your Google account.

5. Approve access for Windows to access your Google Account.

6. Once you sync your Google Calendar account with Windows Calendar, you'll see all of the events and other items from your Google Calendar agenda displayed inside your Windows Calendar.

7. You can also add, delete, or edit existing Google Calendar events from inside Windows Calendar.

How to Sync Outlook With Google Calendar on Desktop

If the desktop calendar you use is Microsoft Outlook rather than Windows Calendar, you can easily sync your Google Calendar with your Outlook desktop app.

Doing this allows you to see all of your Google Calendar events and agenda from inside your Outlook calendar.

1. Open Outlook, then select the calendar icon in the lower-left corner to open the Outlook calendar.

2. Select Home > Open Calendar > From Internet.

3. You'll need the shared calendar link from Google Calendar in the next window, so open Google Calendar and select the three dots icon next to the calendar you want to share.

4. Select Settings and sharing, scroll down to the Customize section and copy the Secret address in iCal format link.

5. Back in the Outlook calendar window, paste the iCal link you copied into the New Internet Calendar Subscription field and select OK.

6. Once you're done, Outlook calendar will sync with your Google Calendar account and display all of your events and appointments.

   One difference between syncing with Windows Calendar and with Outlook is that the iCal with Outlook is read-only. So you can see all the events, but you won't be able to create or edit any new Google Calendar events.

How to Add Google Calendar Widget to Google Chrome

If you use the Google Chrome browser more than any other desktop app, you can access Google Calendar there.

Accessing your Google Calendar from Chrome is as simple as installing the Google Calendar Chrome extension. Adding Google Calendar to Chrome is especially convenient because you don't have to open another desktop application to see your Google Calendar information on your desktop.

1. Open Google Chrome and log into your Google account.

2. Get the Google Calendar extension from the Chrome Web Store.

3. Select the Google Calendar icon at the top of the browser to view your day's agenda from Google Calendar.

4. The Google Calendar extension isn't just read-only. Select the + to add a new event to your Google Calendar.