How to Create a Shared Family Calendar with Google (2026 Guide)

Google Calendar is one of the most popular ways to manage schedules—but did you know you can use it as a shared family calendar?

If your family has a mix of iPhones and Android phones (or you just prefer Google's ecosystem), setting up a shared Google Calendar is free and works on any device.

Here's exactly how to do it, plus some tips to make it work better for family coordination.

Why Use Google Calendar for Your Family?

Google Calendar has some real advantages for families:

Cross-platform: Works on iPhone, Android, and any web browser. No device restrictions.

Free: No subscription fees, no 30-day limits, no premium tiers.

Integration: Works with Gmail, Google Meet, and other Google services your family might already use.

Reliability: Google Calendar rarely goes down and syncs quickly across devices.

The main downside? Google Calendar wasn't designed specifically for families, so it lacks features like color-coded family members, shopping lists, or the ability to turn a photo of a schedule into calendar events. For those features, you'll need a dedicated family app.

Step-by-Step: Create a Shared Family Calendar

Step 1: Create a New Calendar

You'll want a dedicated calendar just for family events, separate from your work calendar.

On Computer (Recommended for Setup):

1. Go to calendar.google.com
2. On the left sidebar, find "Other calendars"
3. Click the + button
4. Select Create new calendar
5. Name it something clear like "Family Calendar" or "Smith Family"
6. Add a description if you want
7. Click Create calendar

On Phone: Creating calendars on mobile is more limited. We recommend doing initial setup on a computer, then accessing from your phone.

Step 2: Share the Calendar with Family Members

Now invite everyone in your family to access the calendar.

1. In Google Calendar (web), find your new family calendar in the left sidebar
2. Click the three dots next to the calendar name
3. Select Settings and sharing
4. Scroll to Share with specific people
5. Click Add people
6. Enter each family member's email address
7. Set their permission level:
   • See only free/busy: They can see when events exist, but not details
   • See all event details: They can view everything but not edit
   • Make changes to events: They can add and edit events (recommended for family)
   • Make changes and manage sharing: Full control
8. Click Send

Each family member will receive an email invitation. They need to click "Add this calendar" to see it in their Google Calendar.

Step 3: Add the Calendar to Everyone's Devices

On iPhone:

1. Open Settings > Calendar > Accounts
2. Tap Add Account > Google
3. Sign in with the Google account that received the calendar invitation
4. Make sure Calendars is toggled on
5. Open the Calendar app and look for the family calendar in the list

On Android:

1. Open the Google Calendar app
2. Tap the hamburger menu (three lines)
3. Scroll down to see all calendars
4. Make sure the family calendar is checked/visible

On Web: The calendar should appear automatically in the left sidebar after accepting the invitation.

Step 4: Add Events to the Shared Calendar

When adding events, make sure you're adding them to the family calendar, not your personal one.

1. Create a new event
2. Look for a "Calendar" dropdown or field
3. Select your family calendar
4. Fill in the event details
5. Save

Everyone with access will see the event immediately.

Tips for Managing a Family Google Calendar

Tip 1: Color-Code Family Members (Workaround)

Google Calendar doesn't have built-in family member colors like Cozi or Calendara. But you can work around this:

Option A: Create separate calendars for each person

• "Mom's Events"
• "Dad's Events"
• "Kids' Activities"

Each calendar can have its own color. Share all of them with everyone.

Option B: Use emoji in event titles

• 👩 Mom's dentist appointment
• 👨 Dad's work dinner
• 👧 Emma's soccer practice

Not as elegant, but it works.

Tip 2: Set Up Notifications for Everyone

By default, only the person who creates an event gets reminders. To make sure everyone knows about events:

1. In calendar settings, set default notifications
2. When creating events, add the family members as guests (in addition to using the shared calendar)
3. Guests will receive their own notifications

Tip 3: Create Recurring Events for Regular Activities

For weekly activities (soccer practice every Tuesday, piano lessons on Thursdays), use recurring events:

1. Create the event once
2. Click Does not repeat and change it to your schedule
3. Save

No need to add 52 separate events for a year of soccer.

Tip 4: Use Google Tasks for To-Do Items

Google Calendar doesn't have shopping lists, but Google Tasks integrates with it:

1. In Google Calendar (web), look for "Tasks" in the left sidebar
2. Create a task list for family to-dos
3. Tasks can have due dates that appear on your calendar

It's not as seamless as a dedicated family app, but it works.

Limitations of Google Calendar for Families

Google Calendar is powerful, but it wasn't built for families. Here's what's missing:

No AI photo extraction: You can't snap a photo of a school flyer and have events appear automatically. Every event must be typed manually.

No true family member concept: There's no built-in way to assign events to specific people or see "whose schedule is whose" at a glance.

No shopping lists: You'll need a separate app for shared grocery lists.

Complex sharing setup: Adding family members requires email invitations and manual acceptance. Not as simple as family-focused apps.

No family-specific features: No meal planning, no activity suggestions, no family-oriented interface.

When to Use Google Calendar vs. a Family App

Google Calendar works best if:

• Your family is already in the Google ecosystem
• You only need basic schedule sharing
• You don't mind manual event entry
• Budget is a concern (it's free)
• You have a mix of iPhone and Android devices

Consider a dedicated family app if:

• You're drowning in school flyers and paper schedules
• You want color-coded family members
• You need shopping lists or other family features
• You want the fastest way to add events (photo extraction)

Apps like Calendara offer AI-powered photo extraction—snap a picture of any schedule and events appear automatically. Plus two-way Google Calendar sync, so you get the best of both worlds.

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Common Issues and Fixes

"My family member can't see the shared calendar"

• Make sure they accepted the email invitation
• Check that they're signed into the correct Google account
• Verify the calendar is toggled "on" in their calendar list

"Events I add don't appear for others"

• Confirm you're adding events to the shared family calendar, not your personal calendar
• Check the "Calendar" field when creating events

"Notifications aren't working for family members"

• Each person needs to set up their own notification preferences
• Add family members as "guests" to events if you want them to receive invitations

"It's too hard to see whose events are whose"

• Create separate calendars for each family member with different colors
• Or switch to a family-focused app with built-in color-coding

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The Bottom Line

Google Calendar is a solid, free option for family schedule sharing—especially if you're already using Google services.

But if you find yourself spending hours typing in events from school flyers, or struggling to keep track of whose schedule is whose, a dedicated family calendar app might save you time.

Calendara syncs with Google Calendar (two-way sync), so you can keep using Google while adding features like AI photo extraction and color-coded family members.

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Related Guides

• Shared Family Calendar on iPhone
• Cozi vs Google Calendar for Families
• How to Share a Family Calendar

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Last updated: January 2026