Google Calendar invite via link

Three ways to share an event

1. An add to calendar link. A link with the event's title, time, place and notes in the address. Anyone who opens it while signed in to Google sees a new event, ready to save. Nothing needs to be public, and you can send it anywhere: a chat, an email, a website, a QR code.

2. Google's Publish event link. Google Calendar can give you a public link or HTML button for an event, but only for events on a public calendar.

3. A normal invitation. You add guests by email. They get an invitation, can reply yes or no, and see your changes. This is the only way that keeps everyone up to date.

Make an add to calendar link

Fill in the event and copy the Google Calendar link. The tool converts your time zone, so the event shows at the right local time for people elsewhere.

The same form gives links for Outlook.com, Office 365 and Yahoo, and an .ics file for Apple Calendar, so you can send one message that works for everyone.

Google doesn't document the format of these links. They have been in wide use for years, but test yours before you send it to a big list.

Use Google's Publish event

Google's steps, on a computer:

1. Open Google Calendar. The event must be on a public calendar.
2. Open the event you want to share.
3. At the top right, click More actions, then Publish event.
4. Copy the link, or the HTML code for a button on your website.

Google notes two limits: you can only get this link from a computer, not the app, and the links work best in desktop browsers. In the Google Calendar app on a phone, the event details may not load, or may show as a blank event.

Send a real invitation

When you need replies, or the time might change, invite people:

1. In Google Calendar, click Create or click an empty time.
2. Add a title and the details.
3. Add guests by name or email address.
4. Click Save.

Guests get an email, and the event updates in their calendar when you change it.

Add a Google Meet link

For an online event, add the video call before you share it. Google's steps: on the event, select Add Google Meet video conferencing and click Save. For work and school accounts, Google adds a Meet call automatically when you add invitees.

If you share the event with an add to calendar link instead, paste the Meet address into the description or location in the tool, so it travels with the event.

Which one to use

• A class, a webinar, a public event: an add to calendar link, posted wherever people see it.
• An event on a public calendar you already keep: Publish event.
• A meeting where you need answers or might move it: a proper invitation.

Adding a whole calendar from a link

If someone sends you a link to a whole calendar rather than one event, add it in Google Calendar on a computer: next to Other calendars, click Add other calendars, then From URL, paste the address and click Add calendar. Google says this only works for public calendars.

To share a whole calendar of yours, see how to share a Google Calendar link. For the details of each calendar's link format, our post on add to calendar links goes further.