How to sync Google Calendar with Thunderbird

As promised, i’ll teach you how to sync Google Calendar with Thunderbird today. Now you can sync your Thunderbird with Google Calendar by using Provider for Google Calender add-on. So to sync Google Calendar with Thunderbird you need to install one more plugin for your Thunderbird.
Below is the steps to sync Google Calendar with Thunderbird:-
- Download and Install Thunderbird plugin – Provider for Google Calendar
- If you have no Calendar running, you can skip step 2, 3 and 4. If you already have your current Calendar running, you need to export your Calendar. Go to your Thunderbird Calendar view, click on File -> Export Calendar -> Select your Calendar -> enter a name for the export file and select iCalendar (.ics) at “Save as type:”
- Now, login to your Google Calendar and go to the Left Side bar -> My Calendar -> Click on “Add” and Select “Import Calendar”

- Click on Browse -> select the .ics file you just export out from your Thunderbird -> Choose your calendar and click “Import”

- Go to “Settings” at the top left corner -> Click on “Calendar” Tab -> Click on your calendar name -> Look for Private Adress and copy the url for XML (Right Click -> Copy Link Location).

Google Calendar Settings
Select your calendar
Google Calendar Private Address for XML - Go to Thunderbird -> File -> New -> Calendar
- Create New Calendar window popup -> Choose “On the Network” -> Choose “Google Calendar” -> Paste your private xml link to the “Location” text box and click Next
- Now enter a name for your Calendar and choose your calendar Color and mark if you need the alarm for all your imported event and click “Next” -> “Finish”
- Now, You will be prompt to enter your Google Calendar login, enter your login.
- Done, your Thunderbird should be sync with Google Calendar by now.
** You must have Thunderbird version 2.0 and above to run Calendar add-ons. If you have not install Calendar add-on, you can learn it from from my previous post – How to add calendar in Thunderbird
Tags: calendar system, email client, google calendar, thunderbird, thunderbird calendar, thunderbird email client
Posted at July 19th, 2008 by
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August 11th, 2008 at 12:51 am
Very nice and helpfull tutorial. THX A lot
August 31st, 2008 at 11:31 pm
Hi!
Any ideas on how to sync google calendars that have been shared with me to my Thunderbird/Lightning calendar? My main google calendar synched fine using the XML link provided in google calendar, but I’m unable to link a public calendar that is shared with only busy/avail access. I have set a master password. I have tried both the ical and xml addresses. When I use New Calendar in Thunderbird and input the shared calendar’s ics address, calendar is shown as created on the left side list but no data is transferred to my calendar. If I use the xml address and the google radio button, I get a recurring login box where I’ve input the shared calendar’s google login and password. Still no luck. I am running xp with latest TB, Lightning and Provider.
The public calendar I’m trying to sync is the following: ….google.com/calendar/ical/mckewdevitt%40gmail.com/public/basic.ics or …google.com/calendar/feeds/mckewdevitt%40gmail.com/public/basic Any ideas? Please help I’m 4 hours into this and I’m ready to break something.
Thanks, Billy
PS. I deleted my “home” calendar in Thunderbird, could that have anything to do with it? Thanks again
September 16th, 2008 at 12:28 pm
First off, thanks for the helpful info. Second, this process duplicated all the events already on my “home” calendar in thunderbird. Should I delete the “home” calendar in thunderbird? Will this have any harmful effects?
Thanks again!
-Ian
September 25th, 2008 at 3:12 am
I have the same problem as Ian. But I think it’s a google issue, as I’ve also had the problem using Schedule World.
September 27th, 2008 at 2:38 pm
if you ensure all your calendar got sync to Google Calendar then u can delete your “Home” Calendar. I’ve deleted my “Home” Calendar and so far no problem
November 7th, 2008 at 10:58 am
The setup directions were easy, and I must say the idea of syncing all calendar info on a server is very neat.
However, I’ve been having trouble with syncing repeated events. When I create them in either Thunderbird or Google, they end up displaced to an hour later than I originally set them. When I view my calendar on Google, it’s accurate but it isn’t on Thunderbird. This only happens with my repeating events, and when I correct everything it resets itself to the wrong times after a week or so. Can you help?
November 14th, 2008 at 9:07 am
nemesis8601, can u remove your gcal from thunderbird n re-create again. and Make sure your time zone setting on your computer is same as gcal time zone.
August 21st, 2009 at 2:50 am
Thanks, this worked, but I’ve ended up with duplicate events on my Sunbird calendar same as other people. How do I delete my Home calendar? And do I have to go through this complicated process every time I want to sync Google with Sunbird? Thank you!
December 29th, 2009 at 4:03 am
Now that Tbird 3 iss out, Provider has stopped working. Is there a workaround, or do I have to wait?
December 29th, 2009 at 8:44 am
Mark, there is a nightly version Google Provider for Thunderbird 3 but it’s not stable yet.
I’m currently using it, so far no problem for me.
http://ftp.mozilla.org/pub/mozilla.org/calendar/lightning/nightly/latest-comm-1.9.1/win32-xpi/
You can give a try.