If you want to add your cycle to Google Calendar, you're probably tired of switching between apps. Your period tracker knows what's coming. Your calendar is where you actually say yes to things. The two rarely talk to each other.
Putting your cycle in your calendar fixes that. You see what may be coming right next to your meetings, workouts and weekends, at the moment you're making plans. Here's how to set it up in Google Calendar, Apple Calendar and Outlook, in about five minutes.
Three ways to get your cycle into your calendar
| Option | How it works | The catch |
|---|---|---|
| Add events by hand | Create a recurring "period" event every 28 days or so | Cycles shift, so the dates drift and you end up fixing them |
| Export from your tracker | Some tracking apps can export dates to a calendar | Few do, and it's usually a one-time copy that doesn't update |
| Subscribe to a cycle calendar | Add a calendar link once, and it keeps itself up to date | You need a service that makes the link, like Simone |
A subscribed calendar is the only option that keeps updating without you touching it, so that's what the steps below cover. You'll need your calendar link first. In Simone, you'll find it on your account screen after you sign up.
How to add your cycle to Google Calendar
Google only lets you add a calendar link from a computer, not from the phone app. Once it's added, it shows up on your phone too.
- On a computer, go to calendar.google.com.
- In the left sidebar, next to Other calendars, click the +.
- Choose From URL.
- Paste your calendar link and click Add calendar.
- On your phone, open the Google Calendar app and make sure the new calendar is switched on under Settings.
Google checks for updates every few hours, so it can take up to a day for your cycle to appear the first time.
How to add your cycle to Apple Calendar
On iPhone or iPad:
- Open Settings, then Apps, then Calendar.
- Tap Calendar Accounts, then Add Account, then Other.
- Tap Add Subscribed Calendar, paste your link and tap Next, then Save.
On a Mac:
- Open the Calendar app and choose File, then New Calendar Subscription.
- Paste your link and click Subscribe.
- Set Location to iCloud so it shows up on your other Apple devices, and set Auto-refresh to every hour.
On older versions of iOS, the Calendar settings sit directly in Settings rather than under Apps.
How to add your cycle to Outlook
- Open Outlook on the web (or the new Outlook app) and go to Calendar.
- Click Add calendar, then Subscribe from web.
- Paste your link, give it a name like "My cycle," and click Import.
Like Google, Outlook can take a few hours to show the calendar the first time.
If it doesn't show up
- Nothing appears yet. Give it a few hours. Google and Outlook don't refresh subscribed calendars right away.
- It's on your computer but not your phone. Check that the calendar is switched on in your phone's calendar app settings.
- The link didn't work. Copy it again and paste the whole thing, with nothing extra on either end.
Will other people see my cycle?
No. Simone shows up as its own separate calendar, so it doesn't mix with your work calendar or anything you've shared. If you share your Google or Outlook calendar with coworkers, check that the Simone calendar itself isn't shared. It won't be unless you share it on purpose.
If you want a partner or coach to see your dots, Simone gives them their own link that shows only the colored dots. You can revoke it whenever you want. Our privacy policy has the full details.
Your cycle, where you make plans
Simone adds your cycle to your calendar with a green, yellow or red dot on each day, so you can see what may be coming before you say yes. Not sure what to do with those dots once they're there? Read how to plan your week around your cycle.
Get your Simone calendar link at simonesays.co
FAQ
Can I add my period to Google Calendar on my phone? Not directly. Google only lets you add a calendar link on a computer. After that, it shows up in the Google Calendar app on your phone.
Does Google Calendar have a period tracker? No. Google Calendar doesn't track cycles, but you can subscribe to a cycle calendar like Simone so it appears alongside your other events.
How often does my cycle calendar update? Apple Calendar can refresh as often as every hour. Google and Outlook update on their own schedule, usually every few hours.
Can I remove it later? Yes. Unsubscribe or delete the calendar in your calendar app, and it disappears. You can also delete your cycle data from your Simone account at any time.
April Smith is a co-founder of Simone, the app that turns your menstrual cycle into a simple green, yellow or red signal on the calendar you already use. A marketer by trade, April has spent her career studying how people make decisions, from behavioral science to choice architecture. Based in Charlotte, she brings an “adapt and iterate” mindset to everything she builds. Ask her about her dog-eared copy of Nancy Harhut’s book.