Just Deleted a Google Calendar? Act Now to Save It

To restore a Google calendar you've just deleted, export it with WebTools straight away, then import the file into a new calendar. There's only a small chance it works, and only for up to about 20 minutes after you clicked "Permanently delete", so do this first and read on afterwards.

1. A calendar deleted with "Permanently delete"

In Google Calendar, a calendar is deleted from its settings: open its options, choose "Settings and sharing", click "Delete" under "Delete calendar", and confirm with "Permanently delete".

The options of the Important calendar, with Settings and sharing

You are about to permanently delete Important for everyone who uses it, with Permanently delete

Google has no bin for calendars and no undo: the calendar and all its events disappear.

An empty month, and My calendars without Important

2. Open WebTools and sign in with Google

Open WebTools right away and click "Sign in with Google". Allow WebTools to access your calendars with "Continue".

Google Calendar WebTools with the button Sign in with Google

GCal WebTools wants access to your Google Account, with Continue

3. Export the calendar marked "(deleted)"

Go to the tab "Export". If Google can still read the deleted calendar, it appears in the Calendar list with "(deleted)" after its name.

The Calendar list with Important (deleted)

Select it and click "Export". WebTools saves all its events in an iCal file (.ics) in your downloads.

Export complete: the events exported to a file

4. Create the calendar again

In Google Calendar's settings, open "Add calendar", choose "Create new calendar", give it the old name and click "Create calendar".

Create new calendar with the name Important, and Create calendar

5. Import the file into the new calendar

Open "Import & export", select the downloaded file, choose the new calendar under "Add to calendar", and click "Import". When it finishes, Google reports how many events it has added.

Import with the file Important.ics, added to the calendar Important

Google's message: Imported 1000 out of 1000 events.

The calendar is back, with every event in its place.

The month full of events again, with Important ticked under My calendars

Good to know

  • The chance of saving a deleted calendar is small, and lasts up to about 20 minutes, so don't wait.
  • Events you removed before deleting the calendar may reappear as well.
  • Export also works for calendars missing from your list, not only deleted ones.
  • Tick "Split into files of 1000 events" to keep a big calendar within Google Calendar's import limit (it downloads a zip).

WebTools' notes: deleted calendars are sometimes recoverable for up to 20 minutes

The option Split into files of 1000 events

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Try it

Save a deleted calendar for free with WebTools, and discover all our calendar tools at gcaltools.com.