If you’ve clicked a calendar subscription link and seen two URL options — one starting with webcal:// and one starting with https:// — you might have wondered which to use. The short answer: use webcal:// for Apple Calendar and Outlook, and https:// for Google Calendar.
webcal://?webcal:// is a URL scheme designed specifically for calendar subscriptions. It works exactly like https:// under the hood — the same .ics file is transferred — but when you click or paste a webcal:// link, your operating system recognizes it as a calendar subscription and opens it in your calendar app instead of a browser.
On a Mac or iPhone, clicking a webcal:// link automatically prompts Apple Calendar to subscribe. On Windows, Outlook intercepts the link. This makes webcal:// convenient for direct subscriptions.
https:// for calendar feeds?An https:// calendar feed is a standard web URL that returns an .ics file. Any application can fetch it — calendar apps, browsers, scripts, automation tools. It’s the universal format.
Google Calendar requires https:// because it fetches calendar feeds server-side (from Google’s own servers, not your device), so the webcal:// scheme — which is a client-side signal to open a local app — doesn’t apply.
| Calendar app | Use this format |
|---|---|
| Apple Calendar (Mac) | webcal:// or https:// |
| Apple Calendar (iPhone / iPad) | webcal:// (tap to open directly) |
| Google Calendar | https:// only |
| Microsoft Outlook (Windows) | webcal:// or https:// |
| Microsoft Outlook (Mac) | webcal:// or https:// |
| Sharing a link via email or message | https:// (works everywhere) |
| Using in a script or automation | https:// |
No. Both URLs return the exact same .ics calendar data. The only difference is how the link is handled by your device. webcal:// is a signal to open a calendar app; https:// is a signal to fetch a web resource. The actual calendar events are identical.
“Unable to load calendar” in Google Calendar. You’re probably using the webcal:// URL. Switch to the https:// version — Google Calendar only accepts https://.
The link opens in my browser instead of Calendar. The URL is using https:// and your browser doesn’t know to hand it off to a calendar app. Use the webcal:// version instead, or paste the URL manually into your calendar app’s “New Calendar Subscription” dialog.
“This URL doesn’t appear to be a valid calendar” in Apple Calendar. Make sure the URL uses https:// (not plain http://) — most feeds require a secure connection.
Both. Every Calendar Combine merged feed shows a webcal:// link and an https:// link on your dashboard. Copy whichever one matches the calendar app you or your subscribers use.
→ Step-by-step subscribe instructions for every major calendar app
Calendar Combine generates both webcal:// and https:// links for your merged feed. Free for up to 3 sources.