The Problem with Google Calendar's Sync Settings

The Confusion: What Google Calendar Actually Does

Many people think Google Calendar can automatically sync events between calendars. Unfortunately, Google Calendar's native features don't actually sync or copy events—they only make calendars visible to each other.

This fundamental misunderstanding leads to frustration when people expect automatic synchronization but get something completely different.

Problem #1: Calendar Sharing Doesn't Sync Events

What people think it does: Share a calendar and events automatically sync to the other calendar.

What it actually does: Makes one calendar visible within another account. Events are not copied—they're just displayed from the source calendar.

GCalSync solution: Actually creates real events in target calendars. You can edit, delete, and interact with them just like native events. They persist even if the source calendar connection changes.

Problem #2: No Bidirectional Sync

Google Calendar sharing is one-directional. You can share Calendar A with Account B, but Account B can't share Calendar B with Account A in a way that creates true bidirectional synchronization.

This means:

• Work calendar can be visible on personal account, but personal events don't appear on work calendar
• You still need to manually switch between accounts
• Double-booking is still possible
• No automatic synchronization of changes

GCalSync solution: True bidirectional sync. Create an event in either calendar and it automatically appears in the other. Changes sync both ways automatically.

Problem #3: Multiple Account Management is Cumbersome

If you have work and personal Google accounts, Google Calendar requires you to:

• Constantly switch between accounts
• Manually check both calendars when scheduling
• Remember which account you're logged into
• Deal with OAuth popups and permission requests repeatedly

There's no way to see both calendars side-by-side in a unified view without sharing, and sharing doesn't create real events.

GCalSync solution: Connect calendars from multiple accounts in one dashboard. Sync them automatically so you only need to check one calendar to see everything.

Problem #4: No Automatic Updates

Even if you use calendar sharing, changes don't sync automatically. You need to:

• Manually refresh calendars
• Check both calendars when scheduling
• Remember to update events in multiple places
• Risk missing updates if you forget to check

GCalSync solution: Automatic syncing every 30 minutes. Changes propagate automatically without any manual intervention. You can also trigger manual syncs instantly.

Problem #5: Privacy Controls Are Limited

When you share a calendar, you share everything:

• All event titles and descriptions
• All locations
• All attendees
• Full event details

There's no way to share availability without sharing details. You can't show "Busy" without revealing what you're busy with.

GCalSync solution: Privacy mode lets you sync events while replacing details with placeholder text like "Busy" or "Personal". Show availability without revealing private information.

Problem #6: No Duplicate Prevention

If you try to manually sync events or use workarounds, you'll end up with:

• Duplicate events everywhere
• No way to track what's been synced
• Manual cleanup required
• Confusion about which events are "real"

GCalSync solution: Intelligent duplicate detection. GCalSync tracks which events have been synced and prevents duplicates automatically. Each event syncs exactly once.

Problem #7: No Event Customization

With Google Calendar sharing, you can't:

• Add prefixes to identify source calendar
• Change colors for synced events
• Customize how events appear
• Modify event details before syncing

GCalSync solution: Full customization options. Add prefixes, set colors, enable privacy mode, and customize how synced events appear in target calendars.

Why Google Calendar Doesn't Fix This

Google Calendar is designed as a personal calendar application, not a calendar synchronization service. Its features focus on:

• Individual calendar management
• Sharing calendars with others
• Event creation and management

It's not designed to automatically sync events between multiple calendars or accounts. That's why GCalSync exists—to fill this gap.

The GCalSync Solution

GCalSync solves all these problems by:

Common Questions

Can't I just use Google Calendar's "Add calendar" feature?

"Add calendar" only makes calendars visible—it doesn't sync events. Events aren't copied to your calendar, they're just displayed from the source. GCalSync creates real events that you can edit and manage.

What about Google Workspace calendar sharing?

Workspace sharing has the same limitations. It's designed for team collaboration, not automatic event synchronization between personal calendars. GCalSync works with any Google Calendar, including Workspace calendars.

Is GCalSync safe to use?

Yes. GCalSync uses OAuth 2.0 (the same secure authentication Google uses), encrypts all data in transit, and only accesses calendar data to perform sync operations you configure. We never read, analyze, or share your events.

Related Guides

• → The easiest way to automatically mirror calendars
• → How to sync work & personal calendars
• → How to sync multiple calendars automatically