Here's an article on creating a birthday calendar in Google:

Birthdays, according to a recent survey, are often the most forgotten dates. Let's fix that with Google Calendar. First, you’ll need a Google account, which you probably already have if you're reading this! Open Google Calendar on your computer or in the app on your phone.

Look for the "Other calendars" section on the left side, you might have to scroll down a bit to see it. Click the "+" button. A menu will pop up with several choices. Select "Create new calendar".

Give your new birthday calendar a clear name, something like "Family Birthdays" or "Friends' Birthdays." You can add a description if you want, too. Then click “Create calendar”. You will be redirected to the "Calendar settings", where you can manage it. Now, start adding those important dates. You'll need to create individual events for each birthday, entering the name of the person, the date, and any other details you want, like reminders. Repeat this process for everyone. Google Calendar will then remind you, so you can prepare for a birthday!

Expert opinions

Okay, here's a text explaining how to create a birthday calendar in Google, attributed to an expert:

Expert: Sarah Chen, Digital Organizer and Productivity Specialist

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Hi everyone, I'm Sarah Chen, and I'm here to guide you through creating a fantastic birthday calendar in Google Calendar. It's a simple way to stay on top of all those important dates and show your loved ones you care! Here's how you can do it:

1. Access Google Calendar:

• First, make sure you're logged into your Google account.
• Go to Google Calendar (calendar.google.com). You can also find it by clicking the Google Apps icon (the grid of nine dots) in the upper right corner of any Google page.

2. Create a New Calendar Specifically for Birthdays:

• On the left-hand side, you'll see "Other calendars" (or similar, the exact label might change). Click the "+" button (or "Add other calendars").
• Select "Create new calendar."
• Give your calendar a clear name. I recommend something like "Birthdays" or "Family & Friends Birthdays."
• Add a description if you want (e.g., "Tracking all birthday dates for easy planning!").
• Choose the time zone that's relevant to you.
• Click "Create calendar."

3. Add Birthday Events:

• Now, click on the day you want to add a birthday for in your newly created birthday calendar. A small box will appear; click on it.
• Method 1: Quick Add: You can usually just start typing in the "Add title" section, and Google Calendar might recognize "John's Birthday." If it's recognizing it and displaying things incorrectly, make sure to select "More options" to properly set it.
• Method 2: Detailed Event Creation (Recommended): Click on "More options" or the pencil icon. This opens a detailed event creation window.
  • Title: Enter the person's name and the word "Birthday" (e.g., "John's Birthday").
  • Date & Time: Crucially, select "All day" if you only want to be reminded on the person's birthday. Otherwise, the default time would be wrong.
  • Calendar: Ensure you select the birthday calendar you created.
  • Recurring: This is the most important part! Click "Does not repeat" and choose "Custom."
    • Frequency: Set to "Yearly" (or "Annually").
    • Start: The start date is the birthday itself.
    • End: You usually want this to repeat forever. Choose "Never" for "Ends." You could also set an end date if you only want to add birthdays for the next few years (e.g., the birthdays of children, or a limited set of people).
  • Notifications: Set up reminders. I suggest setting a few: one notification the day before ("1 day before at 9:00 AM") to give you time to plan, and another on the day itself ("0 days before at 9:00 AM") to give you one last gentle reminder. The notification is something that will pop-up when you are signed into Google. The email notification is an email sent at the time indicated in the notification area.
  • Add a Guest: You can invite the person to their own birthday, but I don't recommend it.
  • Save: Click "Save."

4. Repeat for Every Birthday:

• Repeat the process for all your friends, family, and anyone else whose birthday you want to remember. You can easily navigate through the months using the calendar controls.

5. Customization & Extra Tips:

• Color-Coding: In the left-hand sidebar, you can click the three dots next to your birthday calendar's name and choose a color to make it visually distinct.
• Sharing (Optional): You can share your birthday calendar with others. Just click the three dots next to the calendar name in the left-hand sidebar, select "Settings and sharing," and scroll down to "Share with specific people or groups." Be mindful of what information you share with others.
• Import Birthdays (If Available): Some contact apps (like Google Contacts or Apple Contacts) allow you to export birthday information. You might be able to import this data directly into your Google Calendar (settings -> Import & Export). Google Calendar can sometimes automatically populate birthdays from your contacts if birthdays are already listed there. Look for this option as well when in calendar settings.
• Mobile Access: The Google Calendar app is available for both iOS and Android devices. Your birthday calendar will automatically sync across all your devices. This is a huge time-saver!

Troubleshooting:

• Notifications Not Working: Double-check your notification settings (in both the Google Calendar app and your device's settings). Make sure that the birthday calendar has notifications enabled and that you haven't accidentally muted notifications in your device settings.
• Birthdays Appearing at the Wrong Time: Ensure you are selecting "All day" for your birthday events, not a specific time.

By following these steps, you can create a comprehensive and easy-to-use birthday calendar that will help you celebrate the important people in your life. Good luck, and happy planning!

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I hope this response is helpful! Let me know if you would like me to elaborate on any of the points.

FAQ: Creating a Birthday Calendar in Google Calendar

Q1: Can I import contacts directly into a Google Birthday Calendar?
A1: Yes, Google Calendar automatically creates a "Birthdays" calendar populated from your Google Contacts. Ensure your contacts have birthdate information saved.

Q2: How do I see the "Birthdays" calendar in Google Calendar?
A2: It's typically enabled by default. Check the "My Calendars" list on the left side of your Google Calendar and make sure "Birthdays" is checked (colored).

Q3: How do I add a birthday manually if it's not in my contacts?
A3: You cannot directly add a birthday to the "Birthdays" calendar itself. Instead, add the birthdate to the relevant person’s contact information in Google Contacts.

Q4: Can I customize notifications for birthday events?
A4: Yes, you can set reminder notifications for the "Birthdays" calendar. Navigate to Calendar Settings, choose the "Birthdays" calendar, and customize your notification preferences.

Q5: How do I sync my birthday calendar to my phone or other devices?
A5: Google Calendar automatically syncs across devices if you're logged into the same Google account on all your devices. Ensure syncing is enabled in your device settings.

Q6: Can I share my birthday calendar with others?
A6: You can't share the default "Birthdays" calendar. However, you could create a separate, shared calendar and manually input birthdates there if you wish.