Calendar Problems

How to Create a SharePoint Calendar Overlay and Classic View

Guest Writer Oct 9, 2026 868 views

Question details

The user needs to understand how to set up calendar overlays to combine events from multiple SharePoint or Exchange calendars into a single view while preventing duplicate event entries.

How to Create a Classic Calendar View and Calendar Overlay in SharePoint

Product: SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Setting up a unified calendar view that pulls in data from multiple distinct calendar lists without causing duplicate appointments during creation or deletion.
Observed behavior: Users need to display events from multiple calendars (such as Calendar and Calendar1) in one view using different colors, keeping the underlying event data separate.

Before you start

Ensure you have the necessary permissions (usually Edit or Design permissions) on your SharePoint site to create lists and modify calendar views. Verify that the additional calendars you plan to overlay are already created.

Solution 1Recommended

Configure a Calendar Overlay in SharePoint

Create separate calendar lists and use the Calendars Overlay feature to display them together in a single, color-coded classic view.

The Calendar Overlay feature allows you to display events from multiple calendars in a single view, utilizing different colors for easy identification. This prevents the need to duplicate events across different lists.

Create separate calendar lists

Navigate to your SharePoint site contents and create your separate calendar lists, such as 'Calendar' (your primary calendar) and 'Calendar1'.

Access the Calendars Overlay settings

Open your primary calendar (e.g., 'Calendar'). From the top ribbon, click on the 'Calendar' tab, then select 'Calendars Overlay' from the menu.

Add a new calendar to the overlay

Click on 'New Calendar'. Enter a name for the overlay, select the calendar type (SharePoint or Exchange), pick a display color, and enter the web URL where 'Calendar1' is located. Click 'Resolve' to find the list, select it, and click 'OK'.

Manage events in the correct calendar

To prevent duplicate events, always select the intended calendar from the left-hand navigation panel before clicking 'Add Event'. An event created in 'Calendar' remains completely separate from an event in 'Calendar1'.

Configure a Calendar Overlay in SharePoint

Preventing Duplicate Entries: Remember that overlaying simply displays data from another list. Always ensure the correct calendar is active before you add or delete an appointment to avoid creating duplicate entries in the wrong list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Can I overlay an Exchange calendar onto a SharePoint calendar?

Yes, SharePoint allows you to overlay calendars from Microsoft Exchange. When configuring the Calendars Overlay settings, simply select 'Exchange' as the type of calendar and provide the Outlook Web Access (OWA) URL.

Why am I seeing duplicate events in my SharePoint calendar overlay?

Duplicate events usually appear if an event was manually added to both the primary calendar and the overlaid calendar list. The overlay feature automatically displays events from both lists, so you only need to enter an event into its specific respective calendar.

How many calendars can I overlay in a single SharePoint view?

In SharePoint classic calendar views, you can overlay up to 10 separate calendars (including the primary one) into a single view, allowing you to color-code and organize various schedules efficiently.

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