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
- Go to Integrations → Google Calendar
- Click Connect Google Calendar
- Sign in with your Google account
- Grant FamilyCast permissions:
- ✅ View and edit calendar events
- ✅ Create new events
- ✅ Access calendar settings
- Click Allow
Privacy: FamilyCast only accesses calendars, not email or other Google services.
Step 2: Select Calendars
After Connecting:
-
Choose which Google calendars to sync:
- ✅ Primary calendar
- ✅ Family calendar (if you have one)
- ✅ Kids' calendars
- ⬜ Work calendar (optional)
- ⬜ Other calendars
-
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
-
Click Save
Result: Selected calendars now appear in FamilyCast calendar view and on displays.
Step 3: Configure Sync Settings
Per Calendar Settings:
- Go to Integrations → Google Calendar → Select calendar
- 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:
- In FamilyCast dashboard, go to Calendar
- Click + New Event
- 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)
- 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:
- Click event in calendar view
- Click Edit
- Change any details
- Click Save
Sync Behavior:
- Update appears in FamilyCast immediately
- Syncs to Google Calendar within 30 seconds
- All devices update automatically
Edit in Google Calendar:
- Open Google Calendar app or web
- Edit event
- 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:
-
Connect primary Google account (main setup)
-
Add additional account:
- Integrations → Google Calendar → Add Another Account
- Sign in with second Google account
- Grant permissions
- Select calendars from that account
-
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:
-
In Google Calendar: Share calendar with family member
- Open calendar settings
- Share with [email protected]
- Grant "Make changes to events" permission
-
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:
-
Show All Details (default)
- All event information displayed
- Including private events
- Best for fully shared family account
-
Hide Private Events Completely
- Events marked "Private" in Google Calendar hidden
- Not shown on displays
- Still synced, just not visible
-
Show Time Block Only
- Display "Busy" instead of event title
- Time slot marked, details hidden
- Good for parent work meetings on family displays
Setup:
- Integrations → Google Calendar → Select calendar
- Private Event Handling dropdown
- Choose option
- 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:
- Go to Displays → Select display
- Layout Settings → Calendar
- Configure filters
- 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:
- Displays → Select display → Layout Settings
- Calendar Detail Level: Minimal, Standard, Detailed
- 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:
- Account → Notifications
- Enable Event Reminders
- Choose notification methods
- Save
Custom Reminders
Set in FamilyCast:
When creating/editing event:
- Click Add Reminder
- Choose time: 5 min, 10 min, 30 min, 1 hour, 1 day before
- Choose notification type: Email, Push, Display alert
- 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:
- Create event in FamilyCast
- Check Repeats
- Choose pattern
- Set end condition
- 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:
- Click Add Attendees
- Select family members
- 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:
-
Connection Status:
- Integrations → Google Calendar
- Should say "Connected" with green dot
- If red "Disconnected", reconnect
-
Last Sync Time:
- Should be within 2-5 minutes
- If older, click Sync Now
-
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:
- Wait 2-3 minutes for sync
- Force sync: Integrations → Google Calendar → Sync Now
- Refresh display browser if needed
If edited in FamilyCast:
- Should appear in FamilyCast immediately
- Syncs to Google within 30 seconds
- Check Google Calendar app to confirm
Duplicate Events
Cause: Same calendar connected multiple times
Check:
- Integrations → Google 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:
- Go to Integrations → Google Calendar
- Click Reconnect
- Sign in to Google
- Grant all requested permissions
- 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:
-
FamilyCast time zone:
- Account → Settings → Time Zone
- Should match your location
-
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
Feature | Google Calendar | Cozi | iCal/Webcal |
---|---|---|---|
Sync Speed | 1-2 minutes | 15-20 minutes | 15-20 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 Difficulty | Easy | Very Easy | Easy |
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:
- Cozi Integration - Migrate from Cozi
- Google Photos - Add family photos to displays
Calendar Features:
- Family Calendar - Manage all calendars
- Kids Schedules - Visual schedules for children
Setup:
- Display Setup - Optimize calendar displays
- Quick Start - Initial setup guide
Questions? Contact [email protected] or check Common Issues