Share a Calendar Between iPhone and Android

The simplest way to share an editable family calendar between iPhone and Android is to create a separate Google Calendar, invite the other adult, and let the iPhone user view it in either Google Calendar or Apple Calendar. Use an ICS subscription only when the other person needs view-only access.

Last updated: 10 August 2026.

Recommended Setup: One Shared Google Calendar

A shared Google Calendar provides two-way editing on both platforms without making the calendar public. Google lets the owner choose whether another person can see availability, see event details, edit events, or manage sharing. (Google Calendar sharing permissions (opens in a new tab))

You need:

a Google account for each person who will edit;
access to a web browser for the initial calendar sharing;
the Google Calendar app or a connected Google account on each phone.

Do not share a personal default calendar when the goal is family coordination. Create a dedicated calendar such as “Lee Family” or “Jordan — School and Activities.”

Step 1: Create the Family Calendar

On a computer:

Open Google Calendar.
Next to “Other calendars,” choose the option to create a new calendar.
Give it a clear family name and description.
Create the calendar.
Open its settings and sharing options.

Keeping the family calendar separate lets each adult turn it on or off without exposing work, medical, or personal calendars.

Step 2: Invite the Other Adult

Add the other person's Google account under sharing with specific people. Choose:

See all event details for view-only access;
Make changes to events for cooperative editing;
Make changes and manage sharing only when both adults must control membership.

The invited person must accept the invitation. Create a test event after acceptance and verify that both phones display it.

Step 3: Set Up the iPhone

The iPhone user has two valid options.

Use the Google Calendar App

Install Google Calendar, sign in with the invited Google account, and enable the shared family calendar. Google's iPhone guidance documents signing in and selecting which calendars appear. (Google Calendar on iPhone (opens in a new tab))

Use Apple Calendar

Add the Google account under the iPhone's Calendar accounts and enable Calendars for that account. Apple documents adding calendar accounts such as Google in iPhone settings. (Apple: set up calendar accounts (opens in a new tab))

Use one display app consistently to reduce duplicate notifications.

Step 4: Set Up the Android Phone

Sign in to Google Calendar with the invited Google account. Open the calendar list and enable the family calendar. If it is missing, confirm the web invitation was accepted; Google notes that adding a new calendar subscription is completed in a browser before it appears in the app. (Google calendar subscriptions (opens in a new tab))

Step 5: Agree on Event Rules

Use a lightweight convention:

include the child or family member in the title;
add a location or pickup point;
name the person responsible for the next action;
update the original event when plans change;
keep the school or organizer's source in the notes.

For example: “Noah — football training” is clearer than “Training,” especially when calendars are combined on one screen.

View-Only Alternative: Subscribe With an ICS Link

An ICS subscription is useful for a grandparent, caregiver, or display that should not edit events. It is not ideal for urgent coordination because refresh timing varies and the subscriber cannot correct the source.

Google documents adding a calendar from a URL in a browser. Apple documents subscribing to external read-only calendars on its devices. (Google calendar subscriptions (opens in a new tab); Apple calendar subscriptions (opens in a new tab))

Treat a public ICS URL like a secret link. Anyone who receives it may be able to view the calendar.

Why a Public iCloud Calendar Is Not the Best Editable Bridge

Apple lets an iCloud calendar owner invite people privately or publish a calendar. A public iCloud calendar is view-only for subscribers, while private sharing is designed around invited Apple Accounts. (Apple iCloud sharing (opens in a new tab))

Therefore:

two Apple users can use a private shared iCloud calendar;
an Android caregiver can subscribe to a public iCloud link for viewing;
a mixed-device household needing two-way editing should use Google Calendar or another genuinely cross-platform app.

Do not publish a calendar containing child locations, medical appointments, or other sensitive details merely for convenience.

How Briefly Fits

Briefly does not replace the shared Google or Apple calendar. It addresses the input side: a parent forwards selected school messages, PDFs, photos, or screenshots through WhatsApp or Telegram; reviews the proposed events and tasks; and publishes approved details to the household's subscribed Briefly feed.

That feed can be visible to caregivers on iPhone and Android. The review is important when a notice contains several dates, multiple children, a deadline, or a changed venue.

Need to fill the family calendar from school notices?

No credit card. Create your account, connect WhatsApp or Telegram, then send a source and review the proposed details.

Start Free and Set Up a Family Feed

Troubleshooting

The invitation arrived, but no calendar appears

Accept the invitation in the invited Google account, then enable the family calendar in the app's calendar list. Verify that the phone is signed into the same account.

Events appear on one phone only

Check account sync, calendar visibility, and internet access. Edit a test event at the source and refresh both apps.

Both adults created separate copies

Choose one source calendar. Move or recreate the confirmed future events there, then hide the duplicate calendar.

Notifications fire twice

The same Google calendar may be enabled in both Google Calendar and Apple Calendar. Keep it visible in one notification-producing app or disable alerts in the other.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the easiest way to share a calendar between iPhone and Android?

Create a separate Google Calendar, share it with the other adult, and give them permission to edit events. The iPhone user can use the Google Calendar app or add the Google account to Apple Calendar.

Can an Android user edit an iCloud calendar?

A public iCloud calendar link is read-only, not an editable cross-platform solution. For two-way editing between iPhone and Android, use a shared Google Calendar or another app with native support for both platforms.

Can someone view the family calendar without editing it?

Yes. Give them view-only access or a subscribed ICS link. Protect private family information because a public calendar link can be forwarded to other people.

Why is the shared calendar not appearing on the other phone?

Check that the invitation was accepted, the shared calendar is enabled in the app, calendar sync is on for the account, and the app is showing the correct account. Then create or edit a test event and refresh both phones.

Related Guides

One reviewed schedule, visible on both phones.

No credit card. Keep your preferred calendar apps, set up the Briefly feed, then send and review selected sources.