Sync Thunderbird with Google Calendar - Here's how

With Thunderbird you can synchronize and manage your Google calendar. In this practical tip you will learn how to do this and what advantages you will get from it.

Step 1: prepare Thunderbird for Google Calendar

To use your Google calendar in Thunderbird, you first have to install two addons.

1. The required addons are Lightning Calendar and Provider for Google Calendar. To install the addons, click on "Tools" in the navigation bar in Thunderbird and then on "Add-ons".
2. With a click on the gear symbol at the top right you can now select and install the downloaded addons via "Install add-on from file ...". Important: Restart Thunderbird after the installation.
3. In Thunderbird, click on the new entry "Appointments and Tasks" in the navigation bar and open the "Calendar".
4. A simple calendar for offline use is already available in the calendar tab. If you would like to integrate a Google calendar, right-click in the list of calendars on the left and select "New Calendar ...".

Step 2: Copy Google Calendar Link

For the next steps you need the * .ics link of your Google calendar.

1. You can get the link by opening your Google Calendar in the browser on your PC.
2. Your calendars are also on the left. Hover your mouse over the calendar you want to sync in Thunderbird.
3. Now click on the arrow button that appears next to the calendar name.
4. Clicking on "Calendar Settings" will take you to the "Calendar details" page.
5. Below you will find the "Home address" item. Now right click on the green field labeled "ICAL".
6. With "Save address of link" you copy the link to the clipboard of your computer.

Step 3: sync Google Calendar in Thunderbird

Now you only have to insert the calendar in Thunderbird.

1. In Thunderbird, click the "New Calendar ..." button. A new window will appear here. In the selection, select "In the network" and confirm with "Continue".
2. Next, select "Google Calendar" and paste the link you just copied into the "Address" field by right-clicking and "Paste". Check the "Offline support" box and confirm with "Continue".
3. The final step to successfully sync your Google Calendar is to enter your Google username and password. Check the box below the input fields so that your password is saved by Thunderbird.
4. Confirm again with "Continue". You now have the option of giving your calendar a name. This is useful if you want to manage multiple calendars.

Google Calendar in Thunderbird - the advantages

• Copy appointments: Instead of creating complicated series of appointments and repetitions in Google Calendar, you can simply copy Google Calendar appointments in Thunderbird. This is very practical for work plans, for example.
• Offline calendar: The Thunderbird calendar is also available when you are offline. The next synchronization takes place as soon as you connect to the Internet again.
• Overview: You can synchronize an unlimited number of calendars in Thunderbird. Other people's calendars can also be synchronized. All you need is the links to the calendars. Different colors provide a better overview.
• Tasks: Thunderbird addon Google Tasks Sync allows you to synchronize and manage the tasks of your Google calendar.

As a supplement to the Google calendar in Thunderbird, you can find out here how you can synchronize your Google calendar with iCloud.