How to fix Google Calendar not syncing with Apple iCloud Calendar on Mac, iPhone and iPad

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Google Calendar not syncing with Apple iCloud Calendar on Mac, iPhone and iPad. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

If your Google Calendar events aren't appearing in the Apple Calendar app on your Mac, iPhone or iPad — or vice versa — the issue is almost always related to how the Google account is configured within the Apple Calendar app's account settings. This guide walks you through the most common causes and the exact steps to restore sync across all your Apple devices.

Quick Fix Steps

Before diving into detailed troubleshooting, try these fast fixes first. Most sync issues are resolved here:

1. Confirm you have a stable internet connection on all affected devices.
2. Open the Apple Calendar app and pull down to refresh (on iPhone and iPad) or press Cmd + R on Mac.
3. Check that the Google account is still signed in under Settings > Calendar > Accounts (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings > Internet Accounts (Mac).
4. Toggle the Google account off, wait 10 seconds, then toggle it back on.
5. Restart the affected device.

Detailed Instructions

Step 1: Verify Your Google Account Is Added Correctly

The Google account must be added through Apple's Internet Accounts system, not just signed in to Google Chrome or the Gmail app.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Calendar.
3. Tap Accounts.
4. Confirm your Google account appears in the list. If not, tap Add Account > Google and follow the prompts.
5. Tap the Google account and ensure Calendars is toggled on (green).

On Mac:

1. Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older macOS versions).
2. Click Internet Accounts.
3. Select your Google account from the list.
4. Tick the box next to Calendars.
5. If no Google account is listed, click Add Account and select Google.

Step 2: Confirm Calendar Sync Is Enabled in Google

Sometimes Google's own settings can prevent events from appearing in Apple Calendar.

1. Open a web browser and go to calendar.google.com.
2. Click the gear icon (top right) > Settings.
3. In the left sidebar, click Settings for my calendars and select each calendar you want to sync.
4. Confirm the calendar is listed and enabled. If a calendar is not listed here, it will not sync to your Apple devices.

Step 3: Check Apple's Fetch and Push Settings

Apple Calendar uses a push system when available, but falls back to fetch intervals that may delay sync.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Open Settings > Calendar > Accounts.
2. Tap Fetch New Data.
3. Ensure Push is toggled on at the top of the screen.
4. Scroll down and confirm your Google account is set to Push rather than a manual fetch interval.

On Mac:

1. Open the Calendar app.
2. From the menu bar, click Calendar > Settings (or Preferences on older versions).
3. Click the Accounts tab.
4. Select your Google account and confirm the refresh setting is appropriate. Google accounts on Mac typically use push automatically when available.

Step 4: Remove and Re-add the Google Account

If sync is still failing, removing and re-adding the account often clears corrupted authentication tokens.

On iPhone or iPad:

1. Go to Settings > Calendar > Accounts.
2. Tap the Google account.
3. Tap Delete Account.
4. Restart the device.
5. Return to Accounts and tap Add Account > Google.
6. Sign in with your Google credentials and enable Calendars.

On Mac:

1. Open System Settings > Internet Accounts.
2. Select the Google account.
3. Click the minus (−) button to remove it.
4. Restart your Mac.
5. Click Add Account > Google and sign back in.

Step 5: Check Date, Time and Region Settings

Incorrect date or time settings can prevent calendar events from syncing or displaying in the right slots.

1. Open Settings > General > Date & Time (iPhone/iPad) or System Settings > General > Date & Time (Mac).
2. Enable Set Automatically.
3. Confirm your time zone is correct (e.g., Australia/Brisbane, Australia/Sydney, Australia/Perth).

Troubleshooting

Only Some Calendars Are Syncing

If personal events sync but a shared or secondary Google Calendar doesn't appear, you may need to enable it manually:

1. Open the Calendar app on your device.
2. Tap or click Calendars at the bottom of the screen (iPhone/iPad) or in the menu bar (Mac).
3. Tick the boxes next to each Google Calendar you want to display.
4. If a calendar is missing entirely, return to System Settings > Internet Accounts and confirm the calendar is enabled under your Google account.

Events Appear at the Wrong Time

This is typically a time zone issue. Verify both your device and your Google Calendar are set to the correct time zone:

• In Google Calendar web, go to Settings > Time zone and confirm your primary time zone.
• On your Apple device, confirm the time zone in Settings > General > Date & Time.
• If you travel frequently, ensure Set Automatically is enabled so your device adjusts as you move.

Sync Works on Mac but Not iPhone (or Vice Versa)

Each Apple device maintains its own connection to Google. If one works and another doesn't:

1. Toggle the Google account off and back on under Settings > Calendar > Accounts on the affected device.
2. Restart the affected device.
3. Update the device to the latest version of iOS, iPadOS or macOS.

Two-Factor Authentication or Sign-In Issues

Google no longer supports standard password sign-ins for third-party apps. If you see authentication errors:

• Ensure you are signing in using the browser-based Sign in with Google flow when adding the account to your Apple device.
• If you have two-factor authentication enabled on your Google account, complete the verification prompt that appears during sign-in.
• If you continue to see errors, visit myaccount.google.com > Security and review any recent suspicious activity or security alerts.

Still Having Issues?