With more than 15 percent of the digital calendar market, Google Calendar is a go-to resource for many professionals. If you have a Google account, you have a calendar and you can access it through your email account or by installing a separate app.
As convenient as that automated account may be, it only has one problem. If you’re like many professionals, you have more than one Google account. you can even have multiple accounts, between your various work affiliations and your personal messaging. moving between calendars, on the surface, may seem like more trouble than it’s worth.
the problem with multiple google calendars
being able to have multiple google calendars is fantastic. you can separate different areas of your life. your medical appointments and your children’s activities can be on one calendar, while your work meetings slide comfortably into another.
The problem arises when you need multiple accounts beyond personal and professional. you can have an email account with your own company and another with a client or supplier. all of that works fine until someone starts adding events to the calendar that isn’t a major one. then suddenly you find yourself up to date with multiple calendars.
With so much clutter, it’s easy to miss something. Even if you’re diligent about checking every calendar every day, someone else may add an appointment late in the morning for the same day, hoping you’ll see it. missed appointments can cost your business money and make you nervous.
When you sync your calendars, you’ll have one convenient location to see everything. But before you do, it’s important to understand how Google Calendars work. There are several ways to access your Google Calendar, whether you’re on a mobile device or a computer.
One way is to click on the calendar icon when you are logged into your gmail account. You can do this in the gmail mobile app or web browser. There is also a dedicated Google Calendar app that you can download. if you frequently access your calendars on your mobile device, the calendar app may be the best option.
but while the google calendar app makes it easy to check things, it gives you an additional app to check. You’ll also see only one calendar at a time, so you’ll need to sign out and sign in to each account to check the associated calendar. if you can consolidate your calendars, it will be easier for you to keep track of everything. There are a couple of ways to do this, with the best option depending on whether you primarily access your calendar on a desktop or mobile device.
related article: how to manage multiple google accounts
use shift to manage multiple google calendars
If you’re like many professionals, you work on the go. this probably means a mix of mobile and desktop use. You may have a laptop or desktop computer that you use in the office or at home, accompanied by the use of a mobile device when you are on the go. you can even check your email or calendar while sitting at your desk.
but when you’re at your computer, checking google calendars can be tricky. you can click the icon when you’re checking your email, but you may want a separate place to check it. creating a shortcut on your desktop can be an alternative, but you’ll need to create shortcuts for each calendar account you own.
One of the best ways to put everything in one place is to download shift. you can add multiple accounts to your dashboard and have them all line up in a row. The best thing about this is that you can switch between accounts without having to log out and log back in, like you would have to do without a turn.
but when you use shift to consolidate your google calendar accounts, you get another benefit. you can also add the other apps you use most often, including your word processing apps and social media platforms. having it all in front of you will reduce the risk of forgetting to check something during the day.
best of all, when you add your google calendars to your shift panel, you’re actually adding your email accounts. that means you can check your email first and then click on your calendar icon. Not only will you see your meetings and appointments, but you’ll also make sure there aren’t any new messages that need your attention.
how to consolidate google calendars in shifts
shift creates a single point of reference for all your applications. you’ll get a visually appealing and easy-to-use interface that helps you see, at a glance, all the apps you use most.
To get started with shift, simply go to the home page and click download now. the download is fast and free. You can add up to two Gmail accounts and one app with the free plan. for more accounts, simply upgrade to the advanced plan for $99.99 per year.
Once you’ve downloaded shift, open the app and click the plus sign on the left taskbar. select add account. you will then enter your email address and provide your password. repeat this step for all your gmail accounts.
After you sign in to an account, you’ll see it on the left taskbar, along with the photo associated with your account. at any time, you can click on that icon to check your email. You’ll also see a notification next to the icon letting you know how many new messages you have.
just like with the web version of gmail, you can access your google calendar in the top right corner. the calendar will be represented by an icon that has the current day of the month. click it and you will see your calendar, no login required. switch to your other gmail accounts to see associated calendars.
However, if you want to add your google calendar separately, you can easily do so. click the plus sign on the left taskbar and choose add app. type google calendar in the search bar and scroll down to google calendar. name that instance of your calendar and choose a color, then enter your email address and password when prompted. you will need to repeat this process for each google calendar account.
how to switch between google calendars
Once you’ve added the app to your taskbar, you can scroll down to find it in your apps. when you click on it, you will have one-click access to your calendar. you can do everything you could in the app or in your gmail account, including view appointments, make new appointments, and share your meetings with others.
If you’ve added multiple calendar accounts to switch, you’ll see them all mixed up with your apps. your email account icons will be at the top of the screen, while your app accounts will be below. If you want your calendar to appear without scrolling, you can click each calendar’s icon and move it to the top of the list.
related post: how to manage multiple calendars
how to sync two google calendars
For those who are tired of switching between calendars, sync may be the best option. To get started, go to one of your secondary calendars and sign in to your email account. then:
- click settings and choose the calendar tab
- click the share link and enter your primary calendar email address
- choose modify to allow your main account to add and delete appointments
- select save
- sign in to your main calendar
- you should see the calendar you have been invited to share on the other calendars section
- if you don’t see the calendar there, click add link and enter the email address for the calendar you shared
- repeat the process for each account email you want to sync with the main
You may find it confusing to have all your appointments listed on one calendar. they should have colors that correspond to the color you have chosen for your calendar. if not, you’ll find it in the calendar list options in the sidebar.
how to sync multiple google mobile calendars
The good news is that you don’t have to do anything else to see all your shared calendars in your mobile app. once you’ve shared calendars with your primary account, you’ll also see them on your phone. you’ll need the google calendar app, which you can get for both android and ios.
If you have an iPhone or iPad, you can also view your calendar in Apple Calendar. open your apple calendar on your phone and choose calendar and preferences. From there you can choose accounts, google and continue, then follow the steps to grant access to your account. once linked, you will be able to see the calendars you find in my calendars in google calendar on your computer.
put it all together
Whether you sync your calendars or not, shift is a great way to put everything in one place on your desktop. you can try the free version and then upgrade once you’re ready to add more apps and accounts. check shift functions or download the app here.