Sharing the wrong Google Calendar setting can expose too much, block the person who needs access, or send you looking for options that are not in the mobile app. The fix is to choose the right sharing method first, then use the exact permission that matches what the other person should do.
Here is how to share a full calendar, one event, a public link, a family calendar, or access to someone else’s calendar without mixing up those options.
Share a calendar with one person
This fixes full-calendar access for one person or Google Group.
Open Google Calendar in a computer browser.
In My calendars, point to the calendar you want to share and open More.
Choose Settings and sharing.
Go to Shared with and select Add people and groups.
Enter the person’s email address or a Google Group email.
Choose the permission level.
Select Send.
Pick the right sharing permission
The safest choice for most personal calendars is See only free/busy (hide details). The other person sees when you are unavailable, but not the event names, locations, notes, or guests.
Use See event details when someone should read the calendar without editing it. Use Make changes (see private events as free/busy) when they should edit events. A private event set to Busy shows up as a busy block with no event details; a private event set to Free does not appear at all.
Choose Make changes and see event details for someone who helps maintain the calendar. Choose Make changes and manage sharing only when that person should also be able to share the calendar with others.
Share from iPhone iPad or Android
The Google Calendar app can share calendars with specific people or groups.
- 1.Open the Google Calendar app and tap Menu.
- 2.Tap Settings.
- 3.Select the calendar you want to share.
- 4.Tap Shared with, then Add people or groups.
- 5.Enter and choose a name or group, choose the permission, then tap Save.
Make a calendar public
Use public sharing for calendars meant for a broad audience, such as a club schedule, community events calendar, or public availability calendar. Google Calendar offers this setup from a computer browser, not the mobile app.
Open Google Calendar on a computer.
Open Settings.
Under Settings for my calendars, select the calendar.
Open Access permissions for events.
Check Make available to public.
Confirm with OK.
To hide event details on a public calendar, select See only free/busy (hide details).
Send a public calendar link
Once the calendar is public, send a link instead of adding people one by one.
On a computer, open Google Calendar, open Settings, choose the calendar under Settings for my calendars, and open Access permissions for events.
Select Get shareable link, then choose Copy link.
For a browser-viewable public address, go to Integrate calendar and copy Public URL to this calendar. For iOS Calendar or another calendar app that uses iCal, copy Public address in iCal format.
If this method fails, make the calendar public first; Google Calendar’s public iCal address works only for public calendars.
Invite someone to just one event
The most common mistake is sharing a whole calendar when you only need to share one meeting, appointment, or party.
On a computer, open Google Calendar, click the event, choose Edit event, and use Guests to add a name or email address.
Mark the guest optional if needed, then save and send the invitation.
On Android, open the event, tap Edit, choose Add people, enter the name or email address, tap Done, and tap Save.
On iPhone or iPad, create an event in the Google Calendar app, add guests in Who’s invited, and tap Save.
You can also open a future regular event on the organizer’s primary calendar and use Invite via link to copy a link. This works only when you are signed in with a personal Google Account, not a work or school account. The link expires after 90 days, and the event needs See guest list on and Modify event off.
Create a shared calendar for family or groups
Open Google Calendar on a computer.
Go to Other calendars.
Open Add other calendars and choose Create new calendar.
Add the calendar name and description.
Select Create calendar.
Share the new calendar from Settings and sharing with Add people and groups.
For a Google family group, create an event by choosing Create or Event, opening the Calendars drop-down, selecting the family calendar, adding the details, and saving it.
Use a separate shared calendar when people need one shared schedule without exposing your primary calendar.
Ask for access to someone else’s calendar
When someone has not shared their calendar with you yet, request access from Google Calendar on a computer.
Open Google Calendar, go to Other calendars, choose Add other calendars, then select Subscribe to calendar.
In Add calendar, enter the person’s email address, select a calendar, and request access.
The owner approves from the email request by choosing you, choosing the permission level, and selecting Send.
You cannot subscribe to a new calendar from the Android, iPhone, or iPad app. After the owner approves, the calendar appears in the mobile app.
If this method fails, ask the owner to share the calendar directly with your email address using Shared with and Add people and groups.
Fix sharing that is blocked
The most common cause is that you do not own the calendar or your work or school account limits sharing.
To let a non-owner share a calendar, the owner must share it with that person and set the permission to Make changes and manage sharing.
Without that permission, the person can use the calendar only at the access level they were given.
For Google Workspace work or school accounts, calendar sharing can be limited by organization settings. Contact your account administrator when public sharing, external sharing, or broader permissions are unavailable.
You can share with specific people or groups in the mobile app. Public sharing, public links, iCal addresses, embeds, new calendars, and new subscription requests still require a computer browser.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I share my primary Google Calendar?
Yes. You can share a calendar you own, including your primary calendar, with specific people from Google Calendar settings.
Can I share a Google Calendar with someone who does not use Google Calendar?
Yes for event invites. Add the person as a guest by email. For full calendar access outside Google Calendar, use a public calendar link only when the calendar is meant to be public.
Can someone else share my Google Calendar for me?
Yes, but only after you give that person the Make changes and manage sharing permission.
Can I remove someone after sharing a calendar?
Yes. Open the calendar’s sharing settings, go to Shared with, and remove the person or group.
