Getting Started

Installing the plugin

To install the free ICS Calendar plugin, log into your WordPress site’s admin and go to Plugins → Add New. Search for “ICS Calendar” and look for the distinctive red “ics” icon. Click the Install button and after installation, click Activate.

You can also download the plugin zip file from the WordPress Plugin Directory and install it by going to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin and uploading the zip file you downloaded.

Important note for manual installation (Safari users)
If you are using Safari, it may be configured to automatically extract zip files upon download. If your download results in a folder rather than a zip file, look in your Trash for a file called ics-calendar.zip. Move it out of the trash and then proceed as directed above.

Downloading and installing the Pro version

As of version 5.0, ICS Calendar Pro no longer requires ICS Calendar (free) to be installed separately. Once you have installed ICS Calendar Pro 5.0 or later, you can safely deactivate and delete ICS Calendar (free).

After purchasing the Pro version, you will receive an email receipt containing a “Download Your Files” link. Click that link to download the ICS Calendar Pro files. You’ll receive a zip file called ics-calendar-pro.zip. (There may be additional characters preceding .zip in the filename.) If you did not receive or have deleted the email, you can also download the plugin here. (Login required.)

Log into your WordPress admin and go to Plugins → Add New → Upload Plugin. Upload and activate the ics-calendar-pro.zip file, then navigate to ICS Calendar → Settings and Utilities → License to enter the license API key and product ID contained in your receipt email. ICS Calendar Pro is now ready to use!

If you are using Safari, see Important note for manual installation (Safari users) above.

Did you get this error when uploading?

The link you followed has expired. Please try again.

If so, please see this FAQ.

Setting timezone and date/time formats

Wherever possible, ICS Calendar does things “the WordPress way,” including relying on your general site settings for timezone and date/time formats. Before working with ICS Calendar, be sure to navigate to Settings → General in your WordPress admin and check these settings.

Finding your ICS feed URL

Different calendar systems have different ways to obtain the feed URL. You may need to consult your calendar software’s documentation for assistance. You will also need to make sure that your calendar is public. Calendars that require login cannot be accessed by this plugin. (Exception: ICS Calendar does support Basic Auth, but it is no longer used by most modern calendar software.)

Documentation quick links:

• Google Calendar
  (Use the Public address in iCal format option.)
• Microsoft Outlook/Office 365
  (Use the ICS link option under Publish your calendar.)
• iCloud (Mac/iOS)
  (Use the Public Calendar option described in step 4.)
• Airbnb
• Facebook

Adding your calendar to a WordPress page

You’ll be using a WordPress shortcode to insert your calendar. Both the classic editor and the new block editor (Gutenberg) support shortcodes. Please continue to Shortcode Overview for details of creating your shortcode.