Browse the docs
DocsIntegrationsFor everyone

Google Calendar

Show your Google Calendar meetings as read-only context by copying its private iCal link and pasting it into the desktop app.

Connecting Google Calendar lets Cadence use your day's schedule as context, so your meetings sit alongside the time you track and it is easy to see where the hours went. You connect it by copying a private link from Google and pasting it into Cadence. It is read-only: Cadence reads your calendar to show it, and never changes anything.

Step 1: copy your private link from Google

Do this part on a computer, in a web browser, signed in to your Google account.

  1. Open Google Calendar settings
    Go to calendar.google.com. Near the top right, click the gear icon, then click Settings.
  2. Pick the calendar you want
    On the left, under Settings for my calendars, click the name of the calendar you use for work (often your own name).
  3. Find the secret iCal link
    Scroll down to the section called Integrate calendar. Find the box labelled Secret address in iCal format. There is another box just above it labelled Public address in iCal format— do not use that one (see the warning below).
  4. Copy the link
    Click the copy button next to the Secret address box (or select the whole address and copy it). It is a long web address with /private- in the middle and ending in .ics. Keep it private, like a password.
Use the Secret address, not the Public one
Google offers two iCal links. The Public address in iCal format (the one with /public/ in it) only works if you have separately made the whole calendar public; otherwise Google returns a 404 and Cadence shows “Could not connect calendar — Calendar server returned 404”. The Secret address (with /private- in it) works on a normal private calendar without sharing it with anyone, so it is the one to use. If you would rather use the public link, first turn on Make available to public under Access permissions for events for that calendar, then the public link will work.

Step 2: paste the link into Cadence

  1. Open Settings in the app
    In the Cadence desktop app, click Settings at the bottom of the left sidebar.
  2. Open the Integrations tab
    Click the Integrations tab at the top.
  3. Paste your link in the Calendar box
    In the Calendarcard, click in the box that says “Paste a private iCal (ICS) URL from your calendar” and paste the link you copied.
  4. Click Connect
    Click Connect. Cadence reads your calendar and your Google meetings appear on your timeline as context. The link is read-only and is stored only on your computer.
Refreshing and removing
Cadence keeps your calendar up to date on its own. To refresh straight away, use Sync now in the same Calendar card. To stop the connection, remove the link there; your tracked time and entries are untouched.

If meetings do not appear or look out of date, see syncing problems.