Let’s be real—Google Calendar is a lifesaver when it comes to keeping your life organized. But constantly having to open a browser tab just to check your schedule? That’s not ideal. That’s why many people look for a way to bring Google Calendar to their desktops.
In this guide, we’ll show you how to make Google Calendar work like a desktop app on both Mac and Windows. Let’s get started!
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Is there an official Google Calendar app for desktop?
The short answer is no; there isn’t an official Google Calendar app made explicitly for desktop. Google Calendar is designed to work seamlessly through your web browser. While it offers mobile apps for iOS and Android, desktop users don’t get the same treatment.
But don’t worry! Just because there’s no official app doesn’t mean you’re out of options. With a few simple tricks, you can make Google Calendar feel right at home on your desktop, whether using Mac or Windows. Keep reading, and we’ll show you how.
How to Get Google Calendar desktop app on Mac
If you’re a Mac user, there are a couple of easy ways to bring Google Calendar to your desktop. Here, we’ll walk you through two ways to make accessing your calendar quick and effortless.
Use Rambox
Rambox is a powerful workspace simplifier that lets you turn your favorite web apps into desktop-like apps, all within a single interface. Adding Google Calendar to Rambox gives you easy access to your schedule without juggling multiple browser tabs.
Adding Google Calendar to Rambox is a super simple process:
- Click on your main panel’s “+ Add an app or workspace” button.
- Type Google Calendar in the search bar and select it.
- Customize your app settings: Choose whether to enable OS notifications, app sounds, assign profiles, or any other options Rambox offers to tailor your experience.
One of Rambox’s standout features is its notification system. It keeps you updated in two ways:
- Internal alerts while using Rambox, even if you’re using a different app.
- Pop-up notifications on your PC, even when Rambox isn’t in focus.
This ensures you never miss a meeting or an important event on your calendar. Plus, Rambox gives you full control over notifications—customize them to suit your needs, whether you prefer sound alerts, silent updates, or no notifications at all. It’s a simple and effective way to stay on top of your schedule!
Rambox is available for Mac—just sign up, download the app, and set up your workspace exactly how you like it.
Sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar
Want to manage all your events in one place? Syncing Google Calendar with the Apple Calendar app on your Mac is a great solution. Remember, though, that this isn’t about having a standalone Google Calendar app on your Mac—it’s about accessing your Google events through the Apple Calendar app.
Here’s how to set it up:
- Open System Preferences: Go to “System Preferences” and select “Internet Accounts.”
- Add Your Google Account: Click “Google,” sign in with your credentials, and verify if needed.
- Enable Calendars: During setup, make sure to check “Calendars” to sync your events.
Once done, open the Calendar app, and your Google events will appear alongside your other calendars.
How to Get Google Calendar desktop app on Windows
If you’re using Windows, there are several easy ways to bring Google Calendar to your desktop. Let’s explore your options!
Use Rambox
Like on Mac, with Rambox, you can turn Google Calendar into a desktop-like app alongside all your favorite tools within one convenient interface. Plus, you can customize your workspace with different tile views. Decide whether you want Google Calendar to take up the entire screen, like in our Mac example, or you can have Google Calendar side by side with your go-to messaging app, like Slack, for example.
It’s easy to keep everything organized and accessible without switching between browser tabs or multiple apps.
Adding Google Calendar to Rambox on Windows follows the same simple process as on Mac:
- Click on your main panel’s “+ Add an app or workspace” button.
- Type Google Calendar in the search bar and select it.
- Customize your app settings: Choose whether to enable OS notifications, app sounds, assign profiles, or any other options Rambox offers to tailor your experience.
Rambox also ensures you stay on top of your schedule with built-in notifications. Whether you’re working in another app or Rambox isn’t the active window, it’ll keep you updated so you never miss a beat.
Ready to try it out? Rambox is available for Windows—sign up, download the app, and set up your workspace in minutes!
Sync Google Calendar with Outlook
Integrating your Google Calendar with Microsoft Outlook lets you view all your events in one place. However, it’s important to note that this method doesn’t provide a standalone Google Calendar app; instead, it enables you to access your Google Calendar through the Outlook interface. Here’s how to set it up:
1. Get the iCal Link from Google Calendar:
- Open Google Calendar, go to the calendar you want to sync, click the three dots next to its name, and select “Settings and sharing.”
- Scroll to “Integrate calendar” and copy the “Secret address in iCal format.”
2. Add It to Outlook:
- Open Outlook, go to the Calendar section, and click “Add calendar.”
- Select “Subscribe from web,” paste the iCal URL, name the calendar, and hit “Import.”
That’s it! Your Google Calendar events will now show up in Outlook. This sync is one-way, so changes made in Outlook won’t update in Google Calendar.
Create a Shortcut to Google Calendar in Google Chrome
Creating a desktop shortcut is a great option if you’re looking for quick access to Google Calendar. Keep in mind, though, that this isn’t a desktop app—it simply creates a shortcut on your desktop that opens Google Calendar in your browser.
Here’s how to do it using Chrome:
- Go to Google Calendar in your Chrome browser.
- Click the three-dot menu in the top-right corner of Chrome.
- Hover over “More tools” and select “Create shortcut.”
- In the pop-up window, name your shortcut (e.g., “Google Calendar”).
- Check the box labeled “Open as window” if you want the calendar to open in a separate, browser-like window.
- Click “Create.”
You’ll now see the shortcut on your desktop. Double-clicking it will open Google Calendar in Chrome as a tab or a window, depending on your chosen settings.
How to use multiple Google Calendar apps like a pro
Managing multiple Google Calendar accounts can be a headache, but Rambox makes it simple and efficient. Whether you’re handling personal, work, or shared calendars, Rambox offers powerful tools to streamline your workflow.
With Rambox, you can add up to two instances of Google Calendar on the Basic plan. If you upgrade to Pro, you’ll unlock unlimited accounts. This is perfect if you’re managing multiple calendars and need quick access to all of them in one place.
How can you easily manage all your Google Calendar profiles?
Rambox’s Session Management feature is the solution. When adding Google Calendar to your workspace, you must assign a profile to each app. Rambox allows you to choose from five types of profiles: Primary, Inherit from Workspace, Private, Incognito, and Custom.
For example, you can use the Private profile to log in independently to different accounts or create custom profiles like “Work” and “Personal” to assign them to each calendar. This setup ensures each Google Calendar account operates in its own session, preventing any mix-ups and eliminating the need to log in and out repeatedly. Rambox makes switching between multiple calendars effortless, saving time and organizing your workflow.
Now that you know Rambox is the best option for managing all your calendars—whether on Mac or Windows—give it a try! You can try Rambox Pro for free for 30 days—no credit card, no strings attached, and no hassle.
