How to fix Outlook calendar events showing all-day instead of timed when received from Google Calendar

Summary

This guide helps you troubleshoot and resolve: How to fix Outlook calendar events showing all-day instead of timed when received from Google Calendar. Follow the steps below to fix the issue.

Common Causes

When a calendar invitation is sent from Google Calendar and received in Outlook or Microsoft 365, it can sometimes appear as an all-day event rather than a timed meeting. This typically happens because Google Calendar sends invitations using a different format that Outlook occasionally misinterprets. The good news is that this can usually be resolved with a few targeted changes on either the sender's or recipient's side.

Quick Fix Steps

1. Ask the sender to resend the invitation from Google Calendar.
2. Confirm the event in Google Calendar is set as a timed event, not an all-day event.
3. Have the recipient remove and re-add the event from their Outlook calendar.
4. If the issue persists, adjust Outlook's calendar settings to ensure timed events are displayed correctly.

Detailed Instructions

Option 1: Fix It on the Sender's Side (Google Calendar)

If you control the Google Calendar event, this is often the most reliable fix.

1. Open Google Calendar in your browser.
2. Click on the affected event and select Edit event (the pencil icon).
3. Confirm the event is set with a specific start and end time, not as an all-day event.
4. Click Save.
5. Open the event again and click Email guests, then send an updated invitation.

Option 2: Fix It on the Recipient's Side (Outlook)

If you cannot ask the sender to resend the invite, you can correct the event directly in Outlook.

1. Open Outlook and switch to the Calendar view.
2. Double-click the affected all-day event to open it.
3. If the All day checkbox is ticked, untick it to convert the event to a timed format.
4. Manually set the correct Start time and End time.
5. Click Save & Close.

Option 3: Check the Time Zone

A mismatched time zone between Google Calendar and Outlook can also cause events to appear as all-day.

1. In Google Calendar, open the event and click Edit event.
2. Confirm the Time zone field matches your local time zone (for example, Australia/Brisbane or AEST).
3. Save and resend the invitation.
4. In Outlook, go to File then Options then Calendar and verify the Time zone under Work hours matches.

Troubleshooting

The Event Still Shows as All-Day After Resending

• Delete the event from your Outlook calendar entirely and wait for the sender to send a brand-new invitation.
• Check whether the event was created in Google Calendar as an all-day event and only later edited. If so, ask the sender to delete and recreate the event as a timed event from scratch.
• Verify that your Outlook is not in Work Offline mode, which can prevent updates from syncing.

Only Some Events Are Affected

If only certain invitations are showing as all-day events, the issue is almost always with how those specific events were created in Google Calendar. Recurring events created as all-day and then converted are the most common culprits. Ask the sender to recreate these events as timed events from the beginning.

Using Microsoft 365 in a Browser

If you are using Outlook on the web (Microsoft 365), the same fix applies:

1. Open the affected event in Outlook on the web.
2. Click Edit.
3. Toggle off the All day switch.
4. Set the correct start and end times.
5. Click Save.

Connected Calendars via Third-Party Sync Tools

If your Google Calendar is synced to Outlook using a third-party tool (such as SyncGene, CalendarBridge, or similar), the sync layer may be flattening timed events into all-day events. Check the sync tool's settings to ensure timed events are being passed through correctly, and update the tool to the latest version.

If you have tried the steps above and the issue continues, our support team can help investigate further. Please Open a Ticket with details of the event, the sender's email address, and a screenshot of how the event appears in your Outlook calendar.

Still Having Issues?