How to fix Google Calendar not syncing with Microsoft Outlook

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Google Calendar not syncing with Microsoft Outlook. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When Google Calendar stops syncing with Microsoft Outlook, events created on one platform may not appear on the other, or updates can fail to push through. This is usually caused by authentication issues, outdated sync settings, or temporary service disruptions. The steps below will walk you through restoring the connection between Google Calendar and Outlook.

Quick Fix Steps

If you're short on time, try these common fixes first:

1. Confirm you are signed into the correct Google account in Outlook.
2. Remove the Google account from Outlook and re-add it.
3. Sign out of your Google account on all devices, then sign back in.
4. Check Google's status dashboard for any known outages.
5. Restart Outlook and your computer.

Detailed Instructions

Verify Your Google Account Connection

Before making any changes, confirm Outlook is still authorised to access your Google account.

1. Open Outlook and click File in the top-left corner.
2. Select Account Settings > Account Settings from the dropdown.
3. Select your Google account from the list.
4. If the account shows a 'Needs Attention' or 'Re-authenticate' status, click Remove and re-add the account using your Google credentials.
5. Restart Outlook once the account has been re-added.

Remove and Re-add the Google Calendar

If re-authenticating the account does not resolve the issue, removing and re-adding the calendar often clears up stubborn sync problems.

1. In Outlook, switch to Calendar view from the bottom-left navigation pane.
2. In the left sidebar, right-click the Google Calendar you want to remove.
3. Select Remove Calendar > Yes to confirm.
4. Click Home on the ribbon, then select Add Calendar > From Internet.
5. In Google Calendar on the web, go to Settings > the calendar you want to sync, and copy the Secret address in iCal format.
6. Paste this URL into the Outlook dialog and click OK.
7. Confirm the calendar appears in your Outlook calendar list.

Check Google Calendar Sync Settings

Sometimes the sync settings within Google itself can prevent updates from flowing through to Outlook.

1. Open a web browser and go to Google Calendar.
2. Click the gear icon in the top-right corner and select Settings.
3. Choose the calendar you are trying to sync from the left-hand menu.
4. Scroll down to Event settings and confirm your availability, visibility, and notification settings are configured as expected.
5. For shared calendars, scroll to Share with specific people and confirm the Outlook user has appropriate access.

Clear Outlook Cache (Windows)

A corrupted cache can prevent Outlook from properly communicating with Google Calendar.

1. Close Outlook completely.
2. Press Windows Key + R to open the Run dialog.
3. Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook\RoamCache and press Enter.
4. Select all files in the folder and delete them.
5. Restart Outlook and allow it to rebuild the cache.

Troubleshooting

Check Google Service Status

Occasionally, Google experiences outages that affect calendar syncing. Visit the Google Workspace Status Dashboard and confirm there are no active incidents affecting Calendar.

Review Third-Party Sync Tools

If you use a third-party tool such as SyncGene, CalendarBridge, or similar software to bridge Google Calendar and Outlook, confirm:

• The tool's licence is still active.
• Both Google and Microsoft accounts are still authorised within the tool.
• The sync interval is set appropriately (some tools default to 60 minutes).

Confirm Internet Connectivity

Outlook requires a stable internet connection to sync with Google Calendar. If you are on a corporate network, confirm that the following domains are not blocked by your firewall:

• googleapis.com
• accounts.google.com
• www.googleapis.com

Test on a Different Device

To isolate whether the issue is account-related or device-specific, try signing into Outlook on another computer or mobile device using the same Google account. If sync works elsewhere, the problem is likely with your original Outlook installation.

Reinstall Outlook

As a last resort, a clean reinstall of Outlook can resolve issues caused by corrupted installation files. Ensure you back up your local data first, then uninstall and reinstall Outlook via Microsoft 365 or your Office installer.

Still Having Issues?