Syncing Apple Calendar, Outlook, and Other Calendars

Written By Lucas Stefanski

Last updated 2 months ago

Want to see your Scritches bookings in Apple Calendar, Outlook, or another calendar app? Since most calendar apps can sync with Google Calendar, you can get your bookings everywhere automatically.

How It Works

Your bookings flow through Google Calendar to reach other apps:

Scritches → Google Calendar → Apple/Outlook/Other Apps

Once set up, your bookings appear on all your devices and calendar apps automatically.

Before You Start

You must have Google Calendar sync enabled in Scritches first. This creates the "Scritches" calendar that other apps will pull from.

→ Syncing Your Calendar with Google Calendar

Once Google Calendar sync is working, continue with the instructions below for your preferred calendar app.

Two Ways to Sync

There are two methods to get your Scritches calendar into other apps:

Method 1: Add Your Google Account (Recommended)

  • Connect your Google account directly to your calendar app

  • Syncs all your Google calendars including Scritches

  • Best for: Apple Calendar, Outlook, most modern calendar apps

Method 2: Subscribe via iCal URL

  • Subscribe to the Scritches calendar using a URL

  • Works with any app that supports calendar subscriptions

  • Best for: Apps that don't support Google account sync, or when you only want the Scritches calendar

Method 1: Syncing via Google Account

Apple Calendar

iPhone and iPad:

  1. Open Settings

  2. Scroll down and tap Calendar

  3. Tap Accounts

  4. Tap Add Account

  5. Select Google

  6. Sign in with the same Google account connected to Scritches

  7. Make sure Calendars is toggled on

  8. Tap Save

Open the Calendar app - your Scritches bookings will appear automatically.

Tip: If you don't see them, tap Calendars at the bottom and make sure the Scritches calendar is checked.

Mac:

  1. Open the Calendar app

  2. Go to Calendar → Add Account (in the menu bar)

  3. Select Google

  4. Sign in with the same Google account connected to Scritches

  5. Make sure Calendars is checked

  6. Click Done

Once you add your Google account on one Apple device, the calendar syncs across all your devices signed into the same Apple ID.

Microsoft Outlook

Outlook on Windows or Mac:

  1. Open Outlook

  2. Go to File → Add Account

  3. Enter your Google email

  4. Follow the prompts to sign in

  5. Your Google calendars will sync to Outlook

Outlook on the Web (outlook.com):

  1. Go to outlook.com and sign in

  2. Click the Calendar icon

  3. Click Add calendar (left sidebar)

  4. Select Add personal calendars

  5. Choose Google

  6. Sign in and authorize

Outlook Mobile (iPhone/Android):

  1. Open the Outlook app

  2. Tap your profile icon (top left)

  3. Tap the gear icon (Settings)

  4. Tap Add Account

  5. Select Add Email Account

  6. Choose Google and sign in

Other Calendar Apps

Most calendar apps can sync with Google Calendar:

  1. Open your calendar app's settings

  2. Look for Add Account, Connect Account, or Subscribe

  3. Select Google as the account type

  4. Sign in with the same Google account connected to Scritches

  5. Enable calendar sync

Common apps that support this: Samsung Calendar, Fantastical, Calendars by Readdle, Any.do, Todoist, and many more.

Method 2: Subscribing via iCal URL

If your calendar app doesn't support Google account sync, you can subscribe to your Scritches calendar using an iCal URL. This works with virtually any calendar application.

Finding Your iCal URL

  1. Go to Google Calendar

  2. Find Scritches in your calendar list (left sidebar)

  3. Click the three dots next to it

  4. Select Settings and sharing

  5. Scroll down to Integrate calendar

  6. Find Secret address in iCal format

  7. Click the eye icon to reveal the URL

  8. Copy the URL

Important: Use the Secret address, not the Public address. The secret address includes all your booking details. The public address only works if you've made the calendar public.

Warning: Don't share your secret iCal URL with others - it gives full access to view your calendar.

Subscribing in Apple Calendar

iPhone/iPad:

  1. Open Settings → Calendar → Accounts

  2. Tap Add Account → Other

  3. Tap Add Subscribed Calendar

  4. Paste your iCal URL

  5. Tap Next, then Save

Mac:

  1. Open Calendar

  2. Go to File → New Calendar Subscription

  3. Paste your iCal URL

  4. Click Subscribe

  5. Adjust settings (name, color, refresh frequency)

  6. Click OK

Subscribing in Outlook

Outlook Desktop:

  1. Go to File → Account Settings → Account Settings

  2. Click the Internet Calendars tab

  3. Click New

  4. Paste your iCal URL

  5. Click Add

  6. Name it "Scritches" and click OK

Outlook Web:

  1. Click the Calendar icon

  2. Click Add calendar (left sidebar)

  3. Select Subscribe from web

  4. Paste your iCal URL

  5. Name it "Scritches"

  6. Click Import

Subscribing in Other Apps

Look for options like:

  • "Subscribe to calendar"

  • "Add calendar from URL"

  • "Import from iCal"

  • "Add internet calendar"

Then paste your secret iCal URL from Google Calendar.

What You'll See

Once synced, your calendar app will show:

  • All your Scritches bookings as events

  • Client name and service in the event title

  • Full details when you tap/click the event (address, pets, notes, etc.)

  • Automatic updates when bookings change in Scritches

The exact amount of detail shown varies by app. For the most complete information, check Google Calendar or Scritches directly.

Sync Timing

Be aware of sync delays between services:

Sync

Speed

Scritches → Google Calendar

Near instant

Google → Apple/Outlook (via account)

15-30 minutes

Google → Apps (via iCal URL)

Depends on app refresh settings

If you just created a booking and don't see it yet, wait a few minutes or force a refresh in your calendar app.

To force refresh:

  • Apple Calendar (iOS): Pull down on the calendar view

  • Apple Calendar (Mac): View → Refresh Calendars

  • Outlook: Send/Receive → Update Folder

Tip: When subscribing via iCal URL, set your calendar app to refresh frequently (every 15-30 minutes) for the most up-to-date information.

Troubleshooting

Calendar not appearing in my app

  • Make sure you're using the same Google account connected to Scritches

  • Check that you enabled calendar sync when adding the account

  • Look for the Scritches calendar in your app's calendar list and make sure it's visible

Events not syncing

  • Wait 15-30 minutes for Google to sync with other apps

  • Force refresh your calendar app

  • Check Google Calendar first - if events are there, the issue is between Google and your other app

Seeing duplicate events

  • You may have added the same Google account multiple times

  • Or you added via both Google account AND iCal URL - use only one method

  • Remove duplicate accounts/subscriptions in your calendar app's settings

Missing event details

  • Some apps show less information than others

  • iCal subscriptions may show less detail than direct Google account sync

  • For full details (address, pets, access instructions), check Google Calendar or Scritches

Wrong times showing

  • Check timezone settings in your calendar app

  • Times are updated according to the time zone you are in. If you schedule a booking in one time zone and then move to another, the time will reflect your new location’s time zone.

iCal URL not working

  • Make sure you copied the Secret address, not the Public address

  • Check that the URL is complete (ends in .ics)

  • Try resetting the secret address in Google Calendar if it was previously shared

Best Practices

  • Set up on all your devices - phone, tablet, and computer

  • Use Google account sync when possible - it's more reliable than iCal URLs

  • Enable notifications on your preferred calendar app for appointment reminders

  • Use one app as your main view - whichever you check most often

  • Remember: Scritches is the source of truth - always make changes there, not in other calendar apps

  • Color-code the Scritches calendar in each app for easy identification

  • Keep your secret iCal URL private - don't share it with others

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