Export Outlook.com Calendar for Backup & Sync

Most people expect an “Export” button when they want to back up their Outlook.com calendar. But when you actually look for it, it isn’t available. I figured it out, and through this guide, I’ll educate you on how to export Outlook.com calendar without confusion or time waste.

Why Save Outlook.com Calendar Locally?

Here are the most common scenarios in which having an offline backup of your Outlook.com calendar saves you from hassles or data loss:

• If something goes wrong with your Outlook.com account, a local copy ensures data continuity.
• Exporting your calendar ensures a smooth transition if you’re moving to Gmail, Apple Calendar, or even another Outlook.com account.
• A local copy makes checking your calendar during travel or when the internet is down possible.
• Let’s be honest, Microsoft doesn’t make it easy to get your data out of its ecosystem. Saving a local copy puts you in control, not the platform.
• Offline data is accessible when your Outlook.com account is hacked or data is lost. 

So, these are the main reasons which push users to make an offline copy of the Outlook.com data. Next, I’ll guide how to do so.

Also read: How to Download Emails from Outlook.com?

How to Export Outlook.com Calendar?

When I needed to download my entire team’s Outlook.com account, I found 5 practical solutions, which we’ll discuss further step by step:

#1. Export a Static Copy as .ics

This is the quickest and simplest solution, which is why I’m recommending and explaining this first:

1. Log in to Outlook.com and open Calendar.
2. Go to Settings > View all Outlook settings > Calendar > Shared calendars.
3. Under Publish a calendar, choose the calendar and set permissions.
4. Click Publish, copy the ICS link, paste it in a browser, and download the .ics file.
   

You can then import this .ics into Google Calendar or Apple Calendar in future if needed. 

#2. Save as .ics from Outlook Desktop

For more control, use the Outlook desktop app:

1. Open Outlook desktop > switch to Calendar.
2. Select the calendar, then go to File > Save Calendar.
3. Click More Options to pick a date range and detail level.
4. Save the file as .ics.

This way, you can export only specific data or events, instead of the entire Outlook.com account.

#3. Export Outlook.com Calendar as .pst

If you are required to access your data in another Office 365 tenant Outlook, then exporting the calendar in .pst format helps you to do so. Before moving to the main procedure, first confirm that your Outlook and Outlook.com are configured. If not, then sync them first by following:

• Open Outlook Desktop.
• Go to File > Add Account.
• In the window that appears, enter your Outlook.com email address.
• Click Connect.
• Enter your password and complete the login process.
• If prompted, allow two-factor authentication (if enabled).
• Once added, Outlook will automatically sync your emails, contacts, and calendar from Outlook.com.
  

Now, export Outlook.com calendar to PST format:

1. In Outlook desktop, go to File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
2. Select Export to a file > Outlook Data File (.pst).
3. Choose the calendar folder and complete the export.

PST file preserves attachments, recurring events, and metadata better than .ics. Opt for this when having large data.

#4. Publish and Subscribe

If you want your calendar to auto-update in another app (read-only):

1. From Outlook.com, publish the calendar and copy the ICS link.
2. In another app like Google Calendar or Apple Calendar, add the calendar using the ICS URL.

This way, the calendar keeps syncing, but:

• It’s read-only in the other app.
• Updates aren’t instant; Google and Apple check periodically, not in real-time.

Till now, we have learned all the manual solutions, but all of them come with limitations and require enough time if stuck. That’s why I’m suggesting opting for an automated utility. One of the most reliable, I’ll cover next. 

#5. Export Outlook.com Calendar Via Enterprise-grade Automated Utility

For busy professionals or IT admins, these manual steps can be time-consuming and error-prone. Therefore, I started using the SysTools Outlook.com Backup Tool. It helps users like me who need to export the entire organisation’s Outlook.com accounts data simultaneously. So, try this now for free, and have a backup in a few minutes (depends on your data volume)!

What do I like the most?

• Preserve attachments, metadata, and calendar entries that manual .ics exports miss.
• Have calendars in PST, ICS, or MSG, depending on your needs.
• The incremental backup option exports only new or changed entries, instead of the entire data.
• With its easy-to-use UI, one can easily back up the Outlook.com account without needing any technical skills.
• Allows for backup only of relevant or desired data, with the Date Filter option. 
• Supports bulk export option, which saves time and effort.

Software Steps to Export Outlook.com Calendar

When you purchased its fully-fetured version, then open it, and follow the instructions to back up data:

• Step 1. Select the file format in which you want the backup, i.e. PST, MBOX, PDF, MSG, and EML. 

• Step 2. Now, mark the Calendar option. Leverage the Date Filter for the relevant data export.

• Step 3. Afterwards, enter the admin credentials of your Outlook.com account.

• Step 4. Now, click on the Backup Folder Path to browse the destination location to save the resultant data.

• Step 5. Press the Fetch Workload Folders button to upload data.

• Step 6. After validation of permissions, hit the Start Backup button. 

Author’s Verdict

Now, you have the precise information on how to export Outlook.com calendar in minimal time and effort. By following the step-by-step instructions discussed above to export the Outlook.com calendar, you’ll get the expected results. Still, I recommended that you opt for an automated solution to gain the desired results in the desired time, hassle-free. 

People Also Ask

Q: Will exporting delete my Outlook.com calendar?
No, exporting just creates a copy. Your calendar stays safe in your Outlook.com account.

Q: Can I export multiple calendars at once?
Not directly. You’ll need to export each one separately if doing it manually. However, the SysTools Backup solution helps you to back up data simultaneously. 

Q: Can I import the .ics file into Google Calendar?
Yes, but it’s a one-time import. For live updates, use the ICS subscription method.

Q: What’s the safest format for archiving?
I recommend .pst, it keeps attachments, responses, and Outlook-specific details.