Classic Outlook Internet Calendar Subscription Not Refreshing Google Calendar ICS Feed

Question

I am experiencing an ongoing issue with a subscribed Google Calendar in Classic Outlook for Windows.

The Google calendar is added to Outlook using its iCal/ICS subscription URL. The subscription initially works correctly and events are imported into Outlook. However, after some time, newly created events in Google Calendar stop appearing in Outlook.

Key observations:

• The source Google Calendar is updating correctly.
• New events are visible in Google Calendar but do not appear in Outlook, even after waiting more than 24 hours.
• Running Send/Receive and restarting Outlook does not resolve the issue.
• Deleting the subscribed calendar in Outlook and re-adding the same ICS subscription immediately causes all missing events to appear.
• This suggests the ICS feed itself is valid and current, but Outlook is failing to refresh or synchronize the existing Internet Calendar subscription.

Expected behavior

Outlook should periodically refresh the subscribed ICS calendar and display new events added to the source Google Calendar without requiring the subscription to be removed and re-added.

Actual behavior

The subscription appears to stop refreshing. New events are not downloaded until the calendar subscription is deleted and recreated.

Environment

• Outlook: Classic Outlook for Windows
• Calendar source: Google Calendar (ICS/iCal subscription)
• Issue affects newly created events
• Recreating the subscription consistently resolves the issue temporarily

Could you please investigate whether there is a known issue with Internet Calendar subscription refreshes in Classic Outlook and advise on any available fixes, diagnostics, or workarounds?

Thank you.

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Moved from: Microsoft 365 and Office | Other

Answer 1

Hi Dave L,

I understand that the Google Calendar subscription initially loads correctly in Classic Outlook, but later stops retrieving newly created events until the subscription is removed and added again.

Please note that this is a user-to-user forum, so contributors cannot access Outlook diagnostic data or investigate the calendar refresh process directly.

Since recreating the subscription with the same ICS address immediately retrieves the missing events, the feed appears to remain accessible. The behavior may instead relate to how the existing Internet Calendar subscription is being refreshed.

If the Outlook profile includes an Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, or Exchange mailbox that can be opened in Outlook on the web, try creating the subscription there:

1. Remove the existing Google Internet Calendar from Classic Outlook.
2. Sign in to Outlook on the web and open Calendar.
3. Select Add calendar > Subscribe from web.
4. Paste the Google Calendar ICS address, enter a calendar name, and select Import.
5. Reopen Classic Outlook and look for the calendar under Other Calendars.

Use Subscribe from web, not Upload from file. Uploading an ICS file creates a static copy, while a subscription is intended to receive later updates. Calendar subscription updates are not immediate and can sometimes take more than 24 hours. See Import or subscribe to a calendar in Outlook.com or Outlook on the web.

If the account does not provide access to Outlook on the web, or the new web-based subscription also stops updating, contact Microsoft Support so the support agent can review the Outlook configuration and available diagnostics:

1. Visit the Microsoft Support contact page: Contact - Microsoft Support  
2. In the search bar provided on the page, type "Outlook issue" and press Enter.  
3. Click on the "Get Help" button that appears.  
4. Scroll down the page until you see and click on the "Contact Support" option.  
5. When prompted to select your product or service, choose "Other Products".  
6. For the category, choose "Outlook".  
7. Look for and click on "Chat with a support agent in your web browser".  
8. Confirm your personal email when prompted - this is the email Microsoft will use to communicate with you during and after the support session.  
9. Explain your situation clearly: Be concise but provide all the relevant details.    

When contacting support, include the Classic Outlook version and build from File > Office Account > About Outlook, the Windows version, mailbox type, approximate date or time of the last successful refresh, and whether the same behavior occurs after subscribing through Outlook on the web.

I hope the web-based subscription provides a more consistent refresh path.