How to Export Outlook Calendar to ICS Format in 5 Minutes

But before you proceed to export calendar from Outlook to ICS, understand a bit more about them and the reasons for migration.

Overview of Outlook Calendar and ICS File

Outlook Calendar:

• The scheduling component within Outlook, integrated by Microsoft to manage meetings, tasks, appointments, events, and reminders.
• Syncs well across Microsoft Exchange, Office 365, and Outlook.
• Store data primarily within PST and OST formats, not directly compatible outside the Outlook space.

ICS Format:

• Open standard Internet Calendar Scheduling format defined under RFC 5545.
• Supports universal calendar data exchange between several email platforms.
• Contains structured information like title, timeframe, descriptions, recurrence patterns, attachments, participant, reminder, and location details.

Why Save Outlook Calendar as ICS File?

• Cross-platform compatibility
• Effortless backup schedule
• Team coordination in mixed spaces (Outlook in Windows and iCal on Mac)
• Safekeeping offline data copies
• Import PST to Apple Mail and others

Quick Solutions to Export Outlook Calendar to ICS

In this section of the blog, we will figure out how to convert the calendar format manually. But this may have some shortfalls, so we will also go through professional software to overcome them.

Manual Process to Export Outlook Calendar to iCalendar

Microsoft Outlook has a built-in export feature that allows you to save your calendar as an ICS file. The process varies slightly depending on whether you are using the desktop program or Outlook Web. The steps are:

For Outlook Desktop (2016, 2019, 2021, or Microsoft 365)

1. Open Outlook, then click the Calendar icon to open it.
2. Next, select the calendar you want to export.
3. Then, click File from the ribbon options→ Save Calendar.
4. The Save As dialog box opens. Further, move to the location you want to save the file to.
5. From the Save as type drop-down list, select iCalendar format (*.ics).
6. After that, if you want to set a range or include details, click More Options.
7. Lastly, press OK → Save. An .ics file is created that you can import into any iCalendar-supported application.

Note: You can use this method to export Outlook calendar to ICS format one at a time.

For Outlook Web (Outlook.com or OWA)

1. Go to Outlook.com on the browser and sign in.
2. Further, click the Calendar icon on the left sidebar.
3. Afterward, choose the calendar you want to export.
4. Click Share → Publish Calendar.
5. Later, choose Can view all details and copy the ICS link.
6. Paste that link into a browser (or somewhere) or import it into another calendar application.
7. Finally, you can view your Outlook calendar files elsewhere.

Cons:

• Outlook Web only allows partial export for mainly shared or published calendars.
• Customization options are limited in both methods.
• Not suitable for very large-sized Outlook calendars with big attachments.
• A slight mistake can result in the loss of calendar data.

Note: If you want to make an offline copy, go with the desktop export or a professional converter that can manage the details.

Automated Process to Export Outlook Calendar to ICS

When dealing with multiple Outlook calendars or orphaned PST files, using the SysInfo PST Converter is a reliable choice. It directly extracts calendars from PST without Outlook installation and saves instantly in ICS files. The processing speed of the smart software is fast, and it ensures that no data loss or downtime occurs. Thus, preserves all the formatting, structure, attachments, and content. Moreover, it allows bulk exports, is time-efficient with zero manual efforts.

For those who are concerned about data fidelity or the security of the software, you can first download the Demo Version. Using it, save a few calendars for free and evaluate the functionalities and performance before going all-in.

Working to Export Outlook Calendar to iCal

1. Start the Outlook Converter as an administrator and tap Next.
2. Then, choose the PST files and folder containing calendars and upload them.
3. Click Next and preview, and select Calendar from the tree view. Hit Next.
4. Further, opt for ICS from the list and apply the relevant filter options.
5. In the end, choose a Path to Save your resultant iCal file and tap Convert.

So, this is how simple and fast it gets by using an expert converter.

Conclusion

Exporting your Outlook Calendar to ICS is the easiest option for keeping your scheduling data flexible, portable, and compatible to re-use across platforms. For smaller individual calendars, you can manually export Outlook calendar to ICS. However, if you have multiple mailboxes or orphaned PSTs, it is often much quicker and more reliable to use a professional PST to ICS Converter Tool.

FAQs

About The Author:

Suman Rawat

Suman Rawat is a technical content writer and expert in the fields of email migration, data recovery, and email backup. Her passion for helping people has led her to resolve many user queries related to data conversion and cloud backup.