Google Calendar: make a Roster calendar first

Takes about 2 minutes, and you only do it once.

Why a separate calendar?
  • Your roster stays apart from your own appointments, so nothing of yours is changed.
  • You can share just your roster with your partner or family.
  • You can hide it, colour it, or delete it in one go.

Make the calendar

New calendars are made on the Google Calendar website. It works in your phone's browser.

  1. Open calendar.google.com in Safari or Chrome and sign in with the Google account you use for your calendar.
  2. Switch to the full website, because the phone version doesn't have this option.
    Safari: tap aA in the address bar, then Request Desktop Website.
    Chrome: tap ⋮, then tick Desktop site.
  3. Tap the gear icon at the top right, then Settings.
  4. In the menu on the left, tap Add calendar, then Create new calendar.
  5. Name it Roster (or anything you like), set the time zone to your home base, and tap Create calendar.
  6. Open the converter, choose Google Calendar, sign in, and pick Roster from the list.

The new calendar shows up in the Google Calendar app on your phone within a minute or two. If you don't see it, open the app's menu and make sure Roster is ticked.

Optional extras

Not needed to get your roster in. Tap one if you want it.

Share your roster with your partner or family

Full sharing guide, including what the other person needs to do to see it.

  1. On calendar.google.com (full website), open Settings.
  2. Under Settings for my calendars on the left, tap Roster.
  3. Tap Share with specific people or groups, then Add people and groups.
  4. Enter their email, choose See all event details, and tap Send.

Whenever you sync a new or changed roster, they see the update automatically.

See it in your phone's own calendar app (iPhone, Samsung, Outlook)

You don't need the Google Calendar app. Your Roster calendar can show up in the calendar app that came with your phone, next to your other events. This works for you and for anyone you've shared it with.

iPhone (Apple Calendar)

Add your Google account in Settings, then tick Roster in the Calendar app. Step‑by‑step guide for iPhone, including calendars shared with you and what to do if nothing shows up.

Android (Samsung Calendar and others)

  1. Your Google account is usually already on the phone. If not, add it in Settings › Accounts.
  2. Open your calendar app's menu (☰) and tick Roster under your Google account.

Outlook app

  1. In the Outlook app, tap your profile picture › Add account (the + icon) › Add email account, and sign in with the Google account. Roster then appears in Outlook's calendar.

I've made my Roster calendar, open the converter