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Google Calendar Integration

Connect Google Calendar to FamilyCast for two-way sync of family schedules, instant updates, and powerful calendar management.

Overview

Google Calendar is FamilyCast's most advanced calendar integration, offering two-way sync, real-time updates, and the ability to create and edit events directly in FamilyCast.

Key Features:

  • Two-way sync: Edit events in FamilyCast or Google Calendar
  • Real-time updates: Changes appear within 1-2 minutes
  • Multiple calendars: Connect multiple Google accounts
  • Event creation: Create events directly in FamilyCast
  • Rich event details: Location, attachments, attendees
  • Reminders: Google Calendar reminders sync to FamilyCast

Best For: Families who want full calendar management with the fastest sync


Setup Instructions

Step 1: Connect Google Account

  1. Go to IntegrationsGoogle Calendar
  2. Click Connect Google Calendar
  3. Sign in with your Google account
  4. Grant FamilyCast permissions:
    • ✅ View and edit calendar events
    • ✅ Create new events
    • ✅ Access calendar settings
  5. Click Allow

Privacy: FamilyCast only accesses calendars, not email or other Google services.

Step 2: Select Calendars

After Connecting:

  1. Choose which Google calendars to sync:

    • ✅ Primary calendar
    • ✅ Family calendar (if you have one)
    • ✅ Kids' calendars
    • ⬜ Work calendar (optional)
    • ⬜ Other calendars
  2. Configure each calendar:

    • Display Name: How it appears in FamilyCast
    • Color: Event color on displays
    • Sync Direction: Two-way, Google → FamilyCast, or FamilyCast → Google
    • Show on Displays: Which displays show this calendar
  3. Click Save

Result: Selected calendars now appear in FamilyCast calendar view and on displays.

Step 3: Configure Sync Settings

Per Calendar Settings:

  1. Go to IntegrationsGoogle Calendar → Select calendar
  2. Configure:
    • Sync Frequency: Real-time (recommended) or Every 5/15/30 minutes
    • Event Range: How far back and forward to sync (default: 3 months back, 12 months forward)
    • Private Events: How to handle private events (see below)
    • Reminders: Sync Google reminders to FamilyCast notifications

Two-Way Sync

What is Two-Way Sync?

Bidirectional Updates:

  • Create events in FamilyCast → Appear in Google Calendar
  • Edit events in Google Calendar → Update in FamilyCast
  • Delete events either place → Removed from both
  • Changes sync within 1-2 minutes

Versus Cozi/iCal:

  • Cozi/iCal: One-way only (Google/Cozi → FamilyCast)
  • Cannot edit in FamilyCast
  • Google Calendar: Full two-way sync

Creating Events in FamilyCast

Add Event:

  1. In FamilyCast dashboard, go to Calendar
  2. Click + New Event
  3. Fill in details:
    • Title: Event name
    • Calendar: Choose which Google calendar
    • Date & Time: When event occurs
    • Location: Where (optional)
    • Description: Additional details (optional)
    • Attendees: Family members (optional)
    • Reminders: Set notifications (optional)
  4. Click Create Event

Result:

  • Event appears in FamilyCast immediately
  • Syncs to Google Calendar within 30 seconds
  • Appears on displays within 1-2 minutes
  • Visible in Google Calendar app

Editing Events

Edit in FamilyCast:

  1. Click event in calendar view
  2. Click Edit
  3. Change any details
  4. Click Save

Sync Behavior:

  • Update appears in FamilyCast immediately
  • Syncs to Google Calendar within 30 seconds
  • All devices update automatically

Edit in Google Calendar:

  1. Open Google Calendar app or web
  2. Edit event
  3. Save changes

Sync Behavior:

  • FamilyCast receives update within 1-2 minutes
  • Displays update automatically
  • No manual refresh needed

Deleting Events

Delete in Either Place:

  • FamilyCast: Click event → Delete → Confirm
  • Google Calendar: Delete event as normal

Sync:

  • Deleted from both systems
  • Removed from displays
  • Cannot undo (unless Google Calendar restore available)

Managing Multiple Google Calendars

Why Multiple Calendars?

Use Cases:

  • Mom's Calendar: Mom's personal schedule
  • Dad's Calendar: Dad's personal schedule
  • Family Calendar: Shared family events
  • Kids' School Calendar: School events, homework
  • Sports Calendar: Games, practices, tournaments

Benefits:

  • Separate work from family
  • Individual privacy control
  • Color-coding by person or category
  • Selective display on different screens

Connecting Multiple Accounts

Multiple Google Accounts:

  1. Connect primary Google account (main setup)

  2. Add additional account:

    • IntegrationsGoogle CalendarAdd Another Account
    • Sign in with second Google account
    • Grant permissions
    • Select calendars from that account
  3. Repeat for each family member's account

Result: All family members' Google calendars available in FamilyCast

Sharing Calendars Between Accounts

Alternative: Google Calendar Sharing

Instead of connecting multiple accounts:

  1. In Google Calendar: Share calendar with family member

    • Open calendar settings
    • Share with [email protected]
    • Grant "Make changes to events" permission
  2. In FamilyCast: Connect single account

    • All shared calendars appear automatically
    • No need for multiple account connections

Advantage: Simpler setup, single FamilyCast connection


Privacy and Filtering

Private Events

Google Calendar Private Events:

Options in FamilyCast:

  1. Show All Details (default)

    • All event information displayed
    • Including private events
    • Best for fully shared family account
  2. Hide Private Events Completely

    • Events marked "Private" in Google Calendar hidden
    • Not shown on displays
    • Still synced, just not visible
  3. Show Time Block Only

    • Display "Busy" instead of event title
    • Time slot marked, details hidden
    • Good for parent work meetings on family displays

Setup:

  1. IntegrationsGoogle Calendar → Select calendar
  2. Private Event Handling dropdown
  3. Choose option
  4. Save

Marking Events Private in Google:

  • Edit event in Google Calendar
  • Click Visibility
  • Select Private
  • FamilyCast respects this setting

Event Filtering

Show Only Certain Events:

By Keyword:

  • Include events with specific words in title
  • Example: "Soccer" → Only soccer events shown
  • Useful for themed displays

By Calendar:

  • Select which calendars to show on each display
  • Kitchen display: All calendars
  • Kids' room: Only their calendars
  • Parents' office: Only work calendar

By Time:

  • Show only upcoming events (hide past)
  • Show only today's events
  • Show next 7 days, etc.

Setup:

  1. Go to Displays → Select display
  2. Layout SettingsCalendar
  3. Configure filters
  4. Save

Display Options

Calendar Views

Day View:

  • Today's schedule
  • Detailed event list
  • Time slots
  • Best for: Kitchen, entryway

Week View:

  • Next 7 days
  • Overview of week
  • Less detail per event
  • Best for: Planning displays

Month View:

  • Entire month
  • Dots indicate events
  • Minimal detail
  • Best for: Long-term planning

Agenda View:

  • Chronological list
  • Next 10-20 events
  • No calendar grid
  • Best for: Simple displays

Event Information Display

What Displays Show:

  • ✅ Event title
  • ✅ Start and end time
  • ✅ Location (if set)
  • ✅ Calendar color
  • ✅ Family member (if tagged)
  • ✅ Recurring indicator
  • ⬜ Description (optional, can enable)
  • ⬜ Attendees (optional, can enable)

Customization:

  1. Displays → Select display → Layout Settings
  2. Calendar Detail Level: Minimal, Standard, Detailed
  3. Save

Reminders and Notifications

Google Calendar Reminders

Sync Reminders:

  • Google Calendar reminders sync to FamilyCast
  • Default: 10 minutes before event
  • Can customize per event

FamilyCast Notifications:

Where Notifications Appear:

  • Email notifications (optional)
  • FamilyCast mobile app push (if installed)
  • Display alerts (optional, shows on screen)

Setup:

  1. AccountNotifications
  2. Enable Event Reminders
  3. Choose notification methods
  4. Save

Custom Reminders

Set in FamilyCast:

When creating/editing event:

  1. Click Add Reminder
  2. Choose time: 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 1 day before
  3. Choose notification type: Email, Push, Display alert
  4. Save event

Syncs to Google:

  • Custom reminders sync back to Google Calendar
  • Appear in Google Calendar app
  • Two-way reminder sync

Advanced Features

Recurring Events

Full Support:

  • Daily, weekly, monthly, yearly recurrence
  • Custom patterns (every 2 weeks, etc.)
  • End date or number of occurrences
  • Edit single instance or all occurrences

Create Recurring Event:

  1. Create event in FamilyCast
  2. Check Repeats
  3. Choose pattern
  4. Set end condition
  5. Save

Syncs to Google:

  • Full recurrence pattern synced
  • Edit in either place
  • Changes propagate to all instances (if "all occurrences" chosen)

Event Attendees

Invite Family Members:

When creating event in FamilyCast:

  1. Click Add Attendees
  2. Select family members
  3. Attendees receive:
    • Email invitation (if emails configured)
    • Event appears on their calendars
    • Can accept/decline

Syncs to Google:

  • Attendees sync to Google Calendar
  • RSVP status syncs back to FamilyCast
  • Full attendee management

Event Attachments

Google Calendar Attachments:

  • Attachments added in Google Calendar
  • Sync to FamilyCast
  • View in FamilyCast dashboard
  • Not displayed on displays (space limits)

Use Cases:

  • Directions to location
  • Tickets for event
  • Permission slips
  • Event flyers

Access:

  • Click event in FamilyCast dashboard
  • Click attachment link
  • Opens in new tab

All-Day Events

Full Support:

  • Birthdays
  • Holidays
  • Vacation days
  • School breaks

Display:

  • Appear at top of day
  • No time shown
  • Different visual style
  • Labeled "All Day"

Troubleshooting

Events Not Syncing

Check:

  1. Connection Status:

    • IntegrationsGoogle Calendar
    • Should say "Connected" with green dot
    • If red "Disconnected", reconnect
  2. Last Sync Time:

    • Should be within 2-5 minutes
    • If older, click Sync Now
  3. Calendar Selected:

    • Verify calendar is enabled in FamilyCast
    • Check which calendars are syncing

Solutions:

  • Click Sync Now to force sync
  • Disconnect and reconnect Google account
  • Check Google Calendar permissions (Settings → Connected Apps)

Changes Not Appearing

If edited in Google Calendar:

  1. Wait 2-3 minutes for sync
  2. Force sync: IntegrationsGoogle CalendarSync Now
  3. Refresh display browser if needed

If edited in FamilyCast:

  1. Should appear in FamilyCast immediately
  2. Syncs to Google within 30 seconds
  3. Check Google Calendar app to confirm

Duplicate Events

Cause: Same calendar connected multiple times

Check:

  • IntegrationsGoogle Calendar
  • Look for duplicate calendar names
  • Remove duplicates

Prevention:

  • Connect each Google account only once
  • Don't sync same calendar via multiple methods (iCal + OAuth)

Permission Errors

"FamilyCast needs permission" message:

  1. Go to IntegrationsGoogle Calendar
  2. Click Reconnect
  3. Sign in to Google
  4. Grant all requested permissions
  5. Try again

If persists:

  • Check Google account security settings
  • May need to enable "Less secure app access" (not recommended)
  • Or: Create app-specific password for FamilyCast

Time Zone Issues

Events show wrong time:

Check:

  1. FamilyCast time zone:

    • AccountSettingsTime Zone
    • Should match your location
  2. Google Calendar time zone:

    • Google Calendar settings
    • Verify time zone correct

Fix:

  • Update time zone in both places
  • Force sync
  • Events should correct automatically

Google Calendar vs. Other Integrations

Comparison

FeatureGoogle CalendarCoziiCal/Webcal
Sync Speed1-2 minutes15-20 minutes15-20 minutes
Two-Way Sync✅ Yes❌ No (read-only)❌ No (read-only)
Create Events✅ In FamilyCast❌ Cozi app only❌ Source app only
Edit Events✅ Both places❌ Cozi app only❌ Source app only
Reminders✅ Full sync⬜ Limited⬜ Limited
Attendees✅ Full support⬜ Basic⬜ Basic
Attachments✅ Sync❌ No❌ No
Setup DifficultyEasyVery EasyEasy

Recommendation: Use Google Calendar if you want the most features and fastest sync.


Best Practices

Use Google as Primary:

  • If switching from Cozi, migrate events to Google
  • Better integration with FamilyCast
  • More features and flexibility

Organize with Multiple Calendars:

  • Create separate calendars for different purposes
  • Color-code effectively
  • Easier filtering on displays

Leverage Two-Way Sync:

  • Edit events wherever convenient
  • FamilyCast dashboard for quick edits
  • Google Calendar app for detailed planning

Set Appropriate Reminders:

  • Important events: Multiple reminders
  • Daily routines: No reminders needed
  • Don't over-notify family

Use Shared Calendars:

  • Share family calendar with all family members
  • Everyone can add/edit
  • Single source of truth
  • No duplicate account connections needed

Regular Cleanup:

  • Delete old events periodically
  • Remove outdated calendars
  • Keep sync fast and efficient

Next Steps

Other Integrations:

Calendar Features:

Setup:


Questions? Contact [email protected] or check Common Issues