Calendar Problems

How to Import an Outlook Holiday File into an Alternative Calendar

Phi Hung Vo Oct 9, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user needs to import an Outlook holiday file (.hol) into a specific alternative or secondary calendar rather than the default one.

How to Import an Outlook Holiday File into an Alternative Calendar

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Attempting to import a holiday calendar file into a newly created secondary calendar within the Outlook desktop application.
Observed behavior: During the import process, the newly created alternative calendar does not appear as an available destination, limiting the user to importing only into the default calendar.

Before you start

Ensure that your Outlook application is updated to the latest version and verify whether you are using the Outlook desktop application or Outlook on the web, as import features can vary.

Solution 1Recommended

Clear the Outlook Local Cache

Clearing the local cache forces Outlook to refresh its data, which can help a newly created alternative calendar appear in the import destination list.

Sometimes, recent changes like creating a new secondary calendar do not immediately reflect in Outlook's menus due to caching delays.

Close the application

Completely exit the Microsoft Outlook desktop application to ensure no files are currently in use.

Open the Run dialog

Press the Windows Key + R on your keyboard to open the Run command window.

Navigate to the cache folder

Type %localappdata%\Microsoft\Outlook into the text box and press Enter to open the directory.

Clear the cache files

Locate the RoamCache folder, open it, and delete the temporary cache files inside. Do not delete your actual data files (.pst or .ost).

Restart and retry

Reopen Outlook, initiate the holiday file import process again, and check if the alternative calendar is now available.

Data Safety: Clearing the RoamCache folder only removes temporary preferences and autocomplete data; it does not delete your emails, contacts, or calendar events.

Solution 2

Run Outlook in Safe Mode

Starting Outlook in Safe Mode bypasses third-party add-ins that might be interfering with the calendar import functionality.

Solution 3

Workaround: Import and Move Holidays Manually

Because Outlook holiday files are generally designed to import into the default calendar, manually moving them after import bypasses destination limitations.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why doesn't my newly created calendar show up during the import process?

This is often caused by a temporary caching delay within the Outlook desktop app. Restarting the application, clearing the local Outlook cache, or running the program in Safe Mode typically forces the software to refresh and display the new calendar.

Can I force a .hol file to import directly into any calendar I want?

Not always. Standard Outlook holiday files (.hol) are typically programmed to import into the default calendar. While some versions of Outlook prompt you to choose a destination, others do not support importing directly into an arbitrary alternative calendar.

How do I move imported holidays to my secondary calendar?

If you are forced to import holidays into your main calendar, you can move them by opening the main calendar, switching to the 'List' view from the View tab, grouping the events by the 'Holiday' category, and dragging or moving those specific events into your alternative calendar folder.

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