What are iCalendar feeds?

Last updated Sep 20, 2022

The iCalendar format is a standardized data format. It makes it possible to exchange calendar data between different calendars and different calendar services. It is supported by many calendar services, including Teamup Calendar, Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, and more.


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Using the iCalendar format, you can set up a feed from one calendar service to another. A feed is an ongoing, one-way synchronization of data.

From the perspective of a Teamup Calendar user, there are two types of feeds possible: outbound feeds and inbound feeds.

Outbound iCalendar feeds

An outbound iCal feed sends data from a Teamup Calendar to another calendar service (or to another Teamup Calendar).

With outbound iCalendar feeds, you can see a regularly updated calendar feed from a Teamup Calendar in your Google Cal or Apple Cal or Outlook or another Teamup Calendar. If someone has shared a Teamup Calendar with you, but you wish to view it in another calendar service, you can do that with an outbound iCal feed from that Teamup Calendar (the source calendar).

Here are some examples:

  • If you want to use your Google Calendar to manage your personal schedule, you can add an outbound iCal feed from your Teamup Calendar for work so you can see your work schedule within your Google Calendar.
  • If you need to use Outlook at work, you can add an outbound iCal feed from your personal Teamup Calendar so you can see your family schedule while working in Outlook.
  • If you want to use Apple Calendar on all your iOS devices, you can add an outbound iCal feed from the Teamup Calendar for your volunteer organization and see the organization’s calendar while using Apple Calendar.
  • If you want to use your own Teamup Calendar, but see the agenda for a conference being planned in another Teamup Calendar, you can add an outbound iCal feed from the conference organizer’s Teamup Calendar to your personal Teamup Calendar.

Inbound iCalendar feeds

An inbound iCal feed sends data from another calendar service (or from another Teamup Calendar) to your Teamup Calendar (the destination calendar).

With inbound iCalendar feeds, you can have a regularly updated calendar feed from other calendar services (such as Google Cal, Apple Calendar, Outlook, etc.) in your Teamup Calendar. If you need to know what’s happening on another calendar, but wish to work within your Teamup Calendar, you can do that with an inbound iCal feed to your Teamup Calendar.

Here are some examples:

  •  If your workplace does scheduling in Outlook, you can add an inbound iCal feed from the Outlook Calendar for work to your own Teamup Calendar, and see your Outlook Calendar work schedule within your Teamup Calendar.
  • If your spouse uses Apple Calendar for their schedule and you want to stay updated, you can add an inbound iCal feed from their Apple Calendar to your Teamup Calendar, and see your spouse’s schedule within your Teamup Calendar.
  • If your client uses Google Calendar for marketing and editorial planning, you can add an inbound iCal feed from their Google Calendar to your Teamup Calendar, and see their editorial Google Calendar within your Teamup Calendar.
  • If your family is planning a reunion using Teamup Calendar, you can add an inbound iCal feed from the family reunion Teamup Calendar to your own Teamup Calendar, and view all the events in one place.

All iCalendar feeds, both inbound and outbound, are read-only in the destination calendar; you cannot modify, add, or delete events on an iCal feed. You can only view them.

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