Around 60% of people use Google Calendar to manage their schedules, and many organizations rely on Canvas as their learning management system. Bringing these two platforms together can significantly boost productivity for students and instructors. So how exactly do you integrate a Canvas calendar with Google Calendar?

The process is straightforward. First, navigate to your Canvas course calendar. Then, you'll find an "export calendar feed" link located on the right-hand side of the page. Clicking this link will generate a unique URL. Copy this URL.

Next, open your Google Calendar. On the left-hand side, beneath "Other calendars," find the "+" icon. Click on it and select "From URL." Paste the Canvas calendar feed URL you copied earlier into the designated field. Finally, click "Add calendar." Your Canvas events should now appear alongside your existing Google Calendar entries. Keep in mind that any updates made in Canvas might take some time to synchronize with your Google Calendar, so allow for a brief delay.

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Canvas Calendar Sync with Google Calendar: A -by- Guide by Dr. Emily Carter

Hi everyone, I'm Dr. Emily Carter, and I'm going to walk you through how to integrate your Canvas calendar with your Google Calendar. This is a fantastic way to stay on top of your deadlines, assignments, and class meetings, all in one convenient place. It saves you the hassle of constantly switching between platforms and helps you avoid missing important dates!

While Canvas doesn't directly push events into Google Calendar automatically, we can leverage the power of iCal feeds to achieve a near-seamless synchronization. Here’s the process:

1. Obtaining Your Canvas Calendar Feed URL:

• Log in to Canvas: Open your web browser and log into your Canvas account.
• Navigate to the Calendar: Click on the "Calendar" icon in the global navigation menu on the left side of the screen.
• Find the "Calendar Feed" Link: On the right-hand side of the calendar view, look for a section labelled "Calendar Feed." You should see a link that says either "Calendar Feed" or "Subscribe." Click on this link. This action will usually either reveal the URL directly or open up a menu.
• Copy the URL: The link you get (it’ll look like a long string of characters and numbers) is your unique iCal feed URL. Copy this URL to your clipboard. Be careful not to share this with anyone else, as it gives access to your Canvas calendar information.

2. Adding the Calendar to Your Google Calendar:

• Open Google Calendar: Go to your Google Calendar (calendar.google.com) in a new tab or window.
• Find "Other calendars": In the left-hand sidebar, locate the "Other calendars" section. If you don’t see it, click the "+" button next to it.
• Choose "From URL": Click on the "+" button and then select "From URL" from the menu that appears.
• Paste the URL: In the "URL of calendar" field, paste the Canvas iCal feed URL that you copied earlier.
• Add the Calendar: Click the "Add calendar" button. Google Calendar will now attempt to import your Canvas calendar events. This might take a few minutes, or even up to a few hours, depending on how many events you have.
• Naming and Configuration (Optional): After the import, you can customize the calendar's name, color, and notification settings in your Google Calendar. To do this, hover over the calendar name in the "Other calendars" section, click the three dots (…) that appear, and select "Settings and sharing."

3. Understanding the Synchronization:

• One-Way Synchronization: It’s critical to understand that the synchronization is primarily one-way. Changes you make in your Canvas calendar will be reflected in your Google calendar, typically within a few hours (the frequency of the updates depends on Google Calendar's update schedule). However, changes you make in your Google Calendar will not be reflected in your Canvas calendar. You still need to manage your events and assignments within Canvas.
• Troubleshooting: If your Google Calendar doesn't seem to be updating with the latest information from Canvas, try the following:
  • Refresh Google Calendar: Sometimes a simple page refresh fixes the issue.
  • Double-Check the URL: Make sure you've copied and pasted the correct iCal feed URL from Canvas.
  • Give it Time: Be patient! The synchronization isn't instantaneous.
  • Re-add the Calendar: If all else fails, remove the calendar from Google Calendar and re-add it using the Canvas iCal URL.
• Event Information: The events imported will generally include the assignment name or event title, due dates/times, and possibly some location information if specified in Canvas. Detailed assignment instructions usually are not transferred.

4. Updating the Canvas Calendar Feed:

• Periodic Refreshing (Typically Unnecessary): Google Calendar usually handles refreshing the feed automatically. However, if you make significant changes to your assignments in Canvas and don’t see them reflected in Google Calendar, you might need to force a refresh. Google Calendar doesn't provide a direct way to force a refresh of an iCal feed. The easiest approach is to give it time to automatically update. If it still hasn't updated after 24 hours you may have to remove the calendar from your Google Calendar and add it again (repeating steps 2).

In summary: Using this method, you can seamlessly view your Canvas calendar alongside your personal and professional appointments in Google Calendar. It significantly improves organization and reduces the risk of missing deadlines. Follow these steps, be patient, and you'll be well on your way to a more organized and productive academic experience! Good luck!

Canvas Calendar on Google Calendar: FAQ

Q: Can I directly sync my Canvas calendar to Google Calendar?
A: No, Canvas doesn't offer a direct sync feature. You'll need to subscribe to your Canvas calendar using its iCal feed.

Q: How do I find the iCal feed URL for my Canvas calendar?
A: Log in to Canvas, navigate to your Calendar, and click "Calendar Feed" at the bottom right. Copy the provided URL.

Q: Where do I paste the Canvas iCal feed URL in Google Calendar?
A: In Google Calendar on the web, go to "Other calendars" on the left side, click the "+" icon, and choose "From URL." Paste the copied iCal feed URL there.

Q: How often does the Canvas calendar update in Google Calendar?
A: Updates usually happen within a few hours, but it can sometimes take up to 24 hours. You might need to manually refresh the Google Calendar to see changes immediately.

Q: Will changes made in Google Calendar reflect back in Canvas?
A: No. This is a one-way sync. Changes you make in Google Calendar will not be reflected in your Canvas calendar.

Q: Can I add multiple Canvas calendars to my Google Calendar?
A: Yes, you can subscribe to the iCal feeds of multiple Canvas courses or groups within your account and view them together in your Google Calendar.

Q: How do I delete or unsubscribe from my Canvas calendar in Google Calendar?
A: In Google Calendar's left sidebar, under "Other calendars," find the name of your Canvas calendar. Click the three dots next to it and select "Unsubscribe" or "Remove from list."