Sync Windows Phone 8 with Multiple Google Calendars

Having problems trying to Sync Windows Phone 8 with Multiple Google Calendars? You are not alone.

At the end of 2012 Google and Microsoft started a spat and Google decided it’s time to upset any of it’s users who had dared to use Microsoft products by blocking access to the page that allows mobile subscription to their calendars. It was common knowledge that Google was planning to cease support for Microsoft Exchange Active Sync later in 2013 but this was a sudden and unannounced change.

But that is not all. Not only have they sought to ostracise Windows Mobile Users by blocking them from sync’ing multiple Google calendars with their devices but early in Jan 2013 they also blocked us from using Google Maps online. To me this all seems very childish and will only end in damaging Google’s already wavering public image.

The future

So where does this leave us. Well, at present, the future with Google seems bleak and I for one have decided that I am not going to suffer at the hands of their unpredictable and very unprofessional tantrums. The Windows Phone 8 platform is great, so I decided to migrate from Google Calendar to Hotmail / Windows Live Calendar. It was painless and it only took a few minutes.

Making the move

To migrate your Google Calendar to your Hotmail / Windows Live Calendar you need to simply export your Google Calendar and import it into Hotmail / Windows Live Calendar. This process is very quick and very straightforward.

1. Log in to your Google Calendar account

2. Your Google calendar(s) are listed on the left hand side of the screen. To the right of the calendar name is a dropdown arrow.

3. Click the dropdown to the right of the calendar you wish to migrate and select ‘Calendar Settings’.

4. At the bottom of the page is a section called ‘Private Address’. Right-click on the ICAL icon and select ‘Save Link As’.

5. A Save dialogue will appear. Save the basics.ics file to your desktop.

6. Log into your Hotmail / Windows Live account.

7. Go to your Hotmail / Windows Live Calendar.

8. Just above the Calendar select the Subscribe option.

9. Choose the Import from an ICS file option.

10. Choose the file: basics.ics that we saved to the desktop.

11. Name your Calendar, Choose a Colour and Select a Charm if you wish.

12. Click – Import Calendar and you’re done.

Now when you go to your Windows Phone 8 device you will see the new calendar appear. If you have numerous Calendars you can import these one at a time. Each one only takes five minutes to complete. If you are sharing a calendar with other family members you could import that into your Family Room Calendar in just the same way, just choose the ‘Import into an existing calendar‘ option and select the appropriate calendar.

Source:windowsphone8tips