Calendar Problems

How to Share an IMAP Calendar Between New Outlook and Android

Khadija Khan Oct 12, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user is trying to synchronize and share a calendar associated with a third-party IMAP account across New Outlook on desktop and an Android device.

How to Share an IMAP Calendar Between New Outlook and Android

Product: Microsoft Outlook
Device & OS: Windows, Android
Scenario: Setting up email, calendar, and contacts on both a computer and a mobile device to ensure schedule updates are reflected everywhere.
Observed behavior: Calendars and contacts associated with certain non-Microsoft IMAP accounts (such as BT Internet) fail to sync or share between New Outlook and the Android application.

Before you start

Verify the exact email provider and protocol (IMAP, POP, or Exchange) you are currently using, as New Outlook handles synchronization differently depending on the account type.

Solution 1Recommended

Switch to a Supported Cloud Account for Calendar Sync

Since New Outlook currently restricts calendar sync for many third-party IMAP accounts, migrating your calendar to a natively supported Microsoft Cloud account is the most reliable workaround.

New Outlook is designed to sync calendars and contacts seamlessly when an account is added through the Microsoft cloud. Supported services include Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, Gmail, Yahoo, and iCloud. For other standard IMAP accounts, the application typically only synchronizes email data.

Set up a supported account

Create a new free account (or use an existing one) with Outlook.com, Google, Yahoo, or iCloud specifically for managing your calendar and contacts.

Add the account to New Outlook

Open New Outlook, navigate to Settings > Accounts > Add account, and enter the credentials for your newly selected cloud account.

Add the account to your Android device

Install the Outlook app on your Android device (or use the native Android calendar), go to Settings, and add the exact same cloud account.

Migrate your calendar events

Export your existing IMAP calendar as an .ics file from your webmail or previous email client, and import it into your new cloud account.

Switch to a Supported Cloud Account for Calendar Sync

Data Loss Warning: If you create a calendar that is stored locally or temporarily in the Microsoft cloud without being linked to a fully supported sync account, that calendar data may be permanently lost if the account is removed from Outlook.

Solution 2

Submit Feature Feedback to Microsoft

Because the lack of IMAP calendar sharing is an acknowledged limitation of New Outlook, providing direct feedback can help prioritize this feature in future updates.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why does New Outlook only sync my IMAP emails and not my calendar?

New Outlook uses different synchronization protocols compared to the classic Outlook. Currently, it fully supports calendar and contact sync only for accounts integrated with the Microsoft Cloud (like Outlook.com, Microsoft 365, Gmail, and iCloud). For most other IMAP providers, it restricts synchronization to email data only.

Will classic Outlook continue to support IMAP calendar sync?

Classic Outlook handles data differently by using local PST/OST files, which can sometimes be synced using third-party add-ins or specific provider tools. However, as Microsoft transitions users to New Outlook, relying on a supported cloud account is the most robust long-term solution.

Can I use a third-party app to force sync my IMAP calendar to Android?

Yes, there are third-party synchronization applications (such as Sync2 or various CalDAV sync adapters for Android) that can bridge the gap between your IMAP provider's calendar server and your mobile device, though they will not integrate directly into the New Outlook desktop interface.

Outlook & Email Problems