If someone has sent you a calendar link and you're not sure what to do with it, you've found the right guide.
What is an iCal feed?
An iCal feed (sometimes called a .ics feed or calendar subscription URL) is a live link to a calendar that your calendar app can follow. When you subscribe to an iCal feed, events from that feed appear directly in your Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook — and they update automatically whenever the source calendar changes.
Think of it like subscribing to an email newsletter, except instead of emails landing in your inbox, calendar events land in your calendar app.
Why use an iCal feed instead of sharing a calendar?
Sharing your whole Google Calendar with someone means they see everything — dentist appointments, personal reminders, work meetings. An iCal feed lets you share a specific set of events (like your kid's soccer schedule) without exposing your personal calendar.
With a feed, you control exactly what subscribers see. They get the events you add to the feed — nothing else.
How to subscribe to an iCal feed
Google Calendar
- Open Google Calendar on your computer (not the mobile app)
- On the left sidebar, find "Other calendars" and click the + button
- Select From URL
- Paste the iCal link and click Add calendar
The feed will appear in your Google Calendar and sync automatically.
Apple Calendar (iPhone or Mac)
On iPhone: Open Settings → Calendar → Accounts → Add Account → Other → Add Subscribed Calendar. Paste the link and tap Next.
On Mac: Open Calendar → File → New Calendar Subscription. Paste the link and click Subscribe.
Outlook
- Open Outlook calendar
- Click Add calendar → Subscribe from web
- Paste the iCal URL and click Import
Where does CalHelper fit in?
CalHelper lets you create iCal feeds from any schedule — a PDF from school, a photo of a paper calendar, a text message with event details. You upload the schedule, AI extracts the events, and CalHelper gives you a link others can subscribe to from any calendar app.