Chapter 13 · 13.5
Moving your calendar and contacts from Google, iCloud or Outlook (ics and vCard)
You move calendars and contacts using two types of files that almost every service supports: an ics file for a calendar and a vCard file (vcf) for contacts. You export them from your old service and import them into your WebOké Nextcloud.
Tip: coming from Google or OneDrive? Then it's easier to use the built-in tools in Nextcloud. See Transferring Google Drive, Photos, Calendar and Contacts with the WebOké Import Tool and Transferring OneDrive with Data Migration.
Step 1: exporting from your old service
| Service | Calendar | Contacts |
|---|---|---|
| In Google Calendar's settings, under Import and export. You'll get a zip file with an ics file per calendar. | In Google Contacts with Export, then choose the vCard format. | |
| iCloud | Via the Calendar app on a Mac: export the calendar as an ics file. | On icloud.com under Contacts: select your contacts and export them as vCard. |
| Outlook and other services | Search your service's help for export calendar or save calendar as ics. | Search your service's help for export contacts as vCard. |
The exact menu names differ per service and sometimes change. If you're unsure, check your old service's help.
Step 2: importing into your Nextcloud
- You import a calendar in the Calendar app, at the bottom left under Calendar settings, with Import calendar. You choose the ics file and the calendar the appointments should go into. Read how this works in Subscribing to an external calendar and importing a calendar.
- You import contacts in the Contacts app. You choose the vCard file and the address book. See Contacts: creating, groups, importing and exporting.
How to avoid duplicates
- Import each file only once. If you import it twice, your appointments or contacts will appear twice.
- It's best to import contacts into a new, empty address book. If something goes wrong, you can simply delete that address book and start again.
- Nextcloud supports vCard files in version 3.0 and 4.0. If importing doesn't work, try exporting again in one of these versions.
- Still have duplicate contacts? Read Cleaning up duplicate contacts after transferring.
Subscribing instead of moving
Do you just want to keep seeing a calendar rather than moving it, such as a school or sports club calendar? Then subscribe to that calendar's link. Read how in Subscribing to an external calendar and importing a calendar.
After that, set up your calendar and contacts on your phone and computer. See Calendar and contacts on the iPhone and iPad and Calendar and contacts on Android with DAVx5.