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How Do I Export My Calendar to Google or Apple?

Keep all your homeschool events in sync with your favorite calendar app. Homeschool Hive provides a calendar subscription link that automatically updates your Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, Outlook, or any other calendar app whenever you RSVP to new events or your schedule changes.

Quick Answer​

Go to My Events > Calendar, then click the Subscribe button to get your personal calendar subscription URL. Copy this URL and add it to Google Calendar, Apple Calendar, or Outlook as a "subscription" or "from URL" calendar. Your events will automatically sync and stay updated.

Understanding Calendar Sync​

How Calendar Subscriptions Work​

Unlike a one-time export, a calendar subscription creates a live connection:

  1. You subscribe once - Add the URL to your calendar app
  2. Events sync automatically - New RSVPs appear, cancellations disappear
  3. Updates happen regularly - Most apps check for updates every 15-60 minutes
  4. It's read-only - Changes must be made in Homeschool Hive, not your calendar app

What Gets Synced​

Your calendar subscription includes:

  • All events you've RSVP'd "Going" to
  • Event series sessions you're registered for
  • Event name, date, time, and duration
  • Location information
  • Event description and group name
  • Link back to the event on Homeschool Hive

Step-by-Step Guide​

Step 1: Get Your Calendar Subscription URL​

  1. Log in to Homeschool Hive
  2. Navigate to My Events in the main navigation
  3. Click Calendar to view your calendar
  4. Look for the Subscribe or Sync Calendar button
  5. Click to reveal your personal subscription URL
  6. Click Copy to copy the URL to your clipboard
Keep Your URL Private

Your calendar URL is personal and unique to your account. Anyone with this URL can see your event schedule. Don't share it publicly.

Step 2: Add to Google Calendar​

On Desktop:

  1. Open Google Calendar
  2. In the left sidebar, find Other calendars
  3. Click the + button next to it
  4. Select From URL
  5. Paste your Homeschool Hive calendar URL
  6. Click Add calendar
  7. Your events will appear within a few minutes

On Mobile (Google Calendar App):

  1. Open the Google Calendar app
  2. Tap the hamburger menu (three lines)
  3. Tap Settings (gear icon)
  4. Tap Add calendar
  5. Select From URL or Subscribe to calendar
  6. Paste your subscription URL
  7. Tap Add or Subscribe
Google Calendar Sync Frequency

Google Calendar typically syncs subscribed calendars every 12-24 hours. You can't manually force a refresh, but events will eventually appear.

Step 3: Add to Apple Calendar (iPhone/iPad/Mac)​

On iPhone or iPad:

  1. Open the Settings app
  2. Scroll down and tap Calendar
  3. Tap Accounts
  4. Tap Add Account
  5. Select Other
  6. Tap Add Subscribed Calendar
  7. Paste your Homeschool Hive calendar URL
  8. Tap Next, then Save

On Mac:

  1. Open the Calendar app
  2. Click File in the menu bar
  3. Select New Calendar Subscription...
  4. Paste your subscription URL
  5. Click Subscribe
  6. Choose your sync preferences:
    • Location: iCloud (syncs to all devices) or On My Mac
    • Auto-refresh: Every 15 minutes, hour, day, or week
  7. Click OK

Step 4: Add to Microsoft Outlook​

Outlook Desktop:

  1. Open Outlook
  2. Go to Calendar view
  3. Right-click My Calendars in the sidebar
  4. Select Add Calendar > From Internet...
  5. Paste your subscription URL
  6. Click OK
  7. Name the calendar "Homeschool Hive"
  8. Click Yes to subscribe

Outlook Web (outlook.com):

  1. Go to Outlook Calendar
  2. Click Add calendar in the left sidebar
  3. Select Subscribe from web
  4. Paste your subscription URL
  5. Name the calendar and choose a color
  6. Click Import

Step 5: Add to Other Calendar Apps​

Most calendar apps support iCal/ICS subscriptions. Look for options like:

  • "Add calendar from URL"
  • "Subscribe to calendar"
  • "Add internet calendar"
  • "Import ICS/iCal"

The general process:

  1. Find the calendar subscription feature
  2. Paste your Homeschool Hive URL
  3. Save or subscribe
  4. Wait for initial sync to complete

Managing Your Calendar Subscription​

Refreshing Your Calendar​

If events aren't showing up:

  • Google Calendar: Wait up to 24 hours for automatic refresh
  • Apple Calendar: Open Calendar preferences, select your subscription, change Auto-refresh to a shorter interval
  • Outlook: Right-click the calendar and select "Sync" or wait for automatic refresh

Changing Calendar Color​

Most calendar apps let you customize the color of subscribed calendars:

  1. Find your Homeschool Hive calendar in the sidebar
  2. Right-click (or tap and hold on mobile)
  3. Select "Color" or "Edit"
  4. Choose your preferred color

Removing the Calendar​

If you no longer want to sync:

  1. Find the Homeschool Hive calendar in your app
  2. Right-click and select "Unsubscribe" or "Delete"
  3. Confirm the removal
  4. The calendar and all its events will be removed from your app

Regenerating Your URL​

If you accidentally share your URL or want a fresh start:

  1. Go to Account Settings > Privacy & Security
  2. Find Calendar Subscription
  3. Click Regenerate URL
  4. Your old URL will stop working immediately
  5. Add the new URL to your calendar apps
URL Change Impact

When you regenerate your URL, all existing calendar subscriptions will stop updating. You'll need to re-add the new URL to each calendar app.

Tips​

Event Series Display

Events from a series show the session number in the title (e.g., "Art Class (3/12)") so you always know which session it is.

Multiple Calendar Apps

You can add your subscription URL to multiple calendar apps simultaneously. They'll all receive the same updates.

Sync Timing

Changes in Homeschool Hive may take 15 minutes to several hours to appear in your calendar app, depending on the app's refresh settings.

Calendar is Read-Only

You cannot add, edit, or delete Homeschool Hive events from your calendar app. All changes must be made on Homeschool Hive directly.

Troubleshooting​

Events not appearing?

  • Wait 15-60 minutes for initial sync
  • Verify the URL was copied completely
  • Check that the calendar is enabled/visible in your app
  • Try removing and re-adding the subscription

Wrong times showing?

  • Verify your calendar app's timezone settings
  • Ensure your Homeschool Hive account timezone is correct
  • Check if daylight saving time might be affecting display

Duplicate events?

  • You may have multiple subscriptions to the same URL
  • Remove duplicate calendar subscriptions
  • Check if you've also manually added events

Events missing after cancellation?

  • Canceled RSVPs are automatically removed
  • Wait for your calendar app to refresh
  • This is expected behavior - only confirmed events appear