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How to Subscribe to an iCal or ICS Feed in Apple Calendar, Google Calendar, and Outlook

4 min read · iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Android

If you have a calendar subscription URL — from Calendar Combine, TeamSnap, LeagueApps, a school portal, or anywhere else — here’s how to add it to every major calendar app. Once subscribed, events update automatically as the source calendar changes. No manual imports needed.

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Apple Calendar on Mac

1. Open Calendar on your Mac
2. Choose File → New Calendar Subscription…
3. Paste the calendar URL (either webcal:// or https://)
4. Click Subscribe
5. Set a name, color, and how often to refresh, then click OK

The calendar appears in your sidebar and syncs on the interval you chose.

Shortcut: If the URL starts with webcal://, paste it directly into Safari’s address bar. Safari will ask if you want to open it in Calendar.

Apple Calendar on iPhone or iPad

1. Open Settings → Calendar → Accounts
2. Tap Add Account → Other
3. Tap Add Subscribed Calendar
4. Paste the calendar URL and tap Next, then Save

Shortcut: Tap a webcal:// link directly in Safari or Mail — iOS will prompt you to subscribe in Calendar automatically.

Google Calendar

Google Calendar only accepts https:// URLs, not webcal://. Use the https:// version of your feed URL.

1. Open Google Calendar on the web
2. Click + next to Other calendars in the left sidebar
3. Select From URL
4. Paste the https:// calendar URL
5. Click Add calendar

Note: Google Calendar checks for updates roughly every 12–24 hours regardless of how often the source updates. This is a Google limitation — not something the feed provider controls.

Microsoft Outlook (Windows)

1. Open Outlook and click the Calendar icon in the bottom-left
2. Click Add Calendar in the ribbon (or go to File → Account Settings → Internet Calendars)
3. Select From Internet
4. Paste the calendar URL (webcal:// or https://)
5. Click Add, then Yes to confirm

Microsoft Outlook (Mac)

1. Open Outlook and switch to the Calendar view
2. Go to File → New → Calendar Subscription (or click Add Calendar in the toolbar)
3. Paste the calendar URL and click Subscribe

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Which URL should I use — webcal:// or https://?

Calendar app	Recommended URL format
Apple Calendar (Mac, iPhone, iPad)	webcal://
Google Calendar	https:// only
Microsoft Outlook (Mac or Windows)	webcal:// or https://

Calendar Combine shows you both URLs on your dashboard. → Full explanation: webcal:// vs https://

Troubleshooting

The calendar isn’t updating. Most apps check for updates every few hours. For faster updates, Calendar Combine’s Pro plan refreshes source feeds every 15 minutes, so your merged feed is always current.

“This URL doesn’t seem to be a valid calendar” in Google Calendar. You’re probably using the webcal:// URL. Switch to the https:// version.

“Unable to load the calendar.” The feed URL may have changed or expired. Check your Calendar Combine dashboard for any feed errors.

The link opens in my browser instead of Calendar. Right-click the link and copy the URL, then paste it manually into your calendar app’s subscription dialog.