Sync your Outlook calendar with your iPhone

It's a busy Thursday afternoon at work. You're juggling three meetings and a few scheduled calls. Plus, your teen has a big game after school that you don't want to miss. Rather than trying to keep all your appointments straight in your head, you'd rather have them stored digitally. But you're not sure how to sync a PC Outlook® calendar with iPhone®.

Asurion Experts keep your devices running smoothly. Whether you want to extend your phone’s battery life or schedule Outlook emails on your phone, count on us for tech help. Here's how to sync an Outlook calendar with iPhone in just a few minutes.

Why sync your Outlook calendar with your iPhone

Outlook's ability to manage emails and appointments is well-known. It's the go-to office app for many businesses, but many people also like it for personal use. Having all your upcoming meetings and events stored in one Outlook calendar means you won't need to switch between multiple apps, making life more efficient.

Apple® knows many people rely on Outlook, so it makes it easy to sync both personal and work calendars to your iPhone. The feature is free and lets you access your email and schedule even when you’re away from your computer. With a synced calendar, you can create and manage Outlook meetings right from your iPhone, plus set reminders and alerts to stay on top of upcoming events.

Add your Outlook calendar to the iOS Calendar app

The iOS calendar app syncs directly to your Outlook account. You can view all your upcoming events, meetings, and daily checklists within the iOS app. Here's how to sync Outlook calendar with iPhone calendar.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps > Calendar.
3. Tap Calendar Accounts > Add Account > Outlook.com.
4. Follow the prompts to log into your Outlook account.
5. Return to the Accounts list. Tap the account and switch Calendar on.
6. Open the Calendar app on your iPhone. Tap Calendars to view the new calendar.

Verify that events saved to your Outlook calendar appear in the iPhone calendar app. If you don't see them, recheck the Settings app to confirm you've added your Outlook account.

Use the Outlook app to view and manage your calendar

Installing the Outlook app on your iPhone gives you instant access to your calendar without the need for the iOS calendar app. You also get the other features Outlook offers, including email and contact management.

1. Open the Apple App Store®. Search for Microsoft Outlook and tap Get to install.
2. Tap Add Account.
3. Log in using the email account associated with Outlook.
4. Follow the prompts to authenticate your account.
5. Tap Continue to add your account and complete the process.

Once signed in, you can navigate to your Outlook calendar within the app. It syncs all your Outlook data from your PC, so you can view upcoming events and meetings.

If you're comfortable with Microsoft® products, you might prefer the Outlook app. However, the iOS calendar app gets top marks for its sleek, user-friendly interface. It's a personal choice, so you can decide which one best fits your needs.

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Troubleshooting sync issues

If you don't see your Outlook data in the iOS calendar app, verify you turned on Calendar for your account.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps > Calendar.
3. Tap Calendar Accounts.
4. Tap the account and switch Calendar on.

An outdated app can also cause sync problems. You can check for updates through the Apple App Store.

1. Tap your profile icon and locate iOS Calendar or Microsoft Outlook under the Available Updates header.
2. Tap Update to install.

An unstable data or Wi-Fi connection may prevent calendar syncing. This often resolves itself when the connection improves.

Check account permissions in Outlook

If you're certain you've followed the steps to add your Outlook calendar but still experience syncing issues, there may be an issue with the Outlook web settings. This is common for organizations that enable strict controls over business Outlook accounts. Check with your company's IT team to find out whether it supports Outlook sync with outside devices. They can advise you of your options.

FAQ

Can I set Outlook as the default calendar on my iPhone?

To set your Outlook calendar as the default, take these steps.

1. Open Settings.
2. Tap Apps > Calendar > Default Calendar.
3. Tap the name of the calendar you want as the default.

How do I check sync permissions for my Outlook account?

Open Outlook on the device you normally use. Click Settings and type "sync" to view your account's relevant permissions.

Does calendar syncing work over both Wi-Fi and mobile data?

The Outlook calendar will sync as long as you have an internet connection, whether it's through Wi-Fi or mobile data.