Digital Sharing for Apple Users: A Take Control Crash Course (2014)

Sync Calendars and Reminders across Devices

Just as you probably want the same contacts and email messages on each of your devices (see Sync Contacts across Devices and Sync Email across Devices, respectively), you probably want to see the same calendars and reminders no matter which device you’re using.

Once again, services such as iCloud, Google Contacts, and Exchange can accomplish this readily with updates delivered via push or scheduled updates, and generally require only that each device be set up correctly.

Sync Calendars on a Mac

1. Go to System Preferences > Internet Accounts.

2. If the account you want to use for syncing calendars (iCloud, Exchange, Google, or CalDAV) is not already listed, click the account type on the right and follow the prompts to add it.

3. Select the account in the list on the left.

4. Make sure that Calendars is selected ①.

① Make sure Calendars is selected to sync calendars from a cloud service such as iCloud with Calendar on your Mac.

Your calendars from the selected cloud service should now begin syncing with your Mac. However, not all calendar services support push syncing, and even when they do, you may prefer scheduled syncing. To check or change the sync interval:

5. Open Calendar and go to Calendar > Preferences > Accounts > Account Name > Account Information. Choose Push (if available) or a time interval from the Refresh Calendars pop-up menu.

Note: Calendars sync only when your device has an Internet connection. If you make a change when your device is offline, it syncs the next time a connection becomes available.

Sync Reminders

The process for syncing reminders on a Mac or iOS device is almost identical to that for syncing calendars, except:

· Only iCloud and Exchange support syncing reminders.

· The sync interval for reminders is not adjustable.

Sync Calendars in iOS

1. Tap Settings > Mail, Contacts, Calendars.

2. If the account you want to use for syncing calendars (iCloud, Exchange, Google, or CalDAV) is not already listed at the top, tap Add Account and follow the prompts to add it.

3. Tap the account name and make sure Calendars is turned on for that account.

Your calendars from the selected cloud service should now be syncing with your iOS device.

No Cloud Accounts?

If you don’t have an account with a cloud service that supports calendar syncing (and can’t or don’t want to get one), it’s possible to sync calendars (though not reminders) directly between a Mac and an iOS device using Wi-Fi.

First make sure your iOS device is configured for Wi-Fi syncing as described on this Apple support page. Then, in iTunes, select your iOS device, click Info, and make sure Sync Calendars is selected. Select either All Calendars or Selected Calendars (in which case, make sure the calendars you want to sync are checked). Then click Sync.

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