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Connect Google Calendar

Google Calendar syncs into Prisma through Google's "Secret address in iCal format" — a private .ics URL you add as an ICS URL subscription. The sync is one-way and read-only: Google events show up in Obsidian, and changes you make in Obsidian are never written back to Google.

Pro Feature

ICS URL subscriptions require Prisma Calendar Pro.

Step 1 — Copy the secret iCal address​

The secret address is only shown in Google Calendar on the web, not the mobile app.

  1. Open Google Calendar in a browser.

  2. Under My calendars, hover the calendar to sync, then click ⋮ → Settings and sharing.

  3. Scroll to the Integrate calendar section.

  4. Copy the Secret address in iCal format. It ends in .ics:

    https://calendar.google.com/calendar/ical/you%40gmail.com/private-1a2b3c.../basic.ics

Use the Secret address, not the Public one — the public address only returns events for calendars set to public.

Treat the secret address like a password

Anyone with this URL can read every event on the calendar. Don't put it in shared notes. To revoke it, click Reset next to the secret address in Google.

Step 2 — Store it as a secret in Obsidian​

Subscription URLs live in Obsidian's SecretStorage, not data.json, so the token never sits in plain text in the vault.

  1. Open Obsidian Settings → General → Manage secrets.
  2. Create a secret (e.g. google-calendar-ics) and paste the address as its value.

Step 3 — Add the subscription​

  1. Open Prisma Calendar Settings → Integrations → ICS URL subscriptions.
  2. Click Add subscription.
  3. Set the fields:
    • Subscription name — e.g. Google Calendar
    • ICS URL — the secret from Step 2
    • Sync interval — minutes between refreshes (default: 60)
    • Timezone — the local timezone for event times
    • Calendar icon (optional) — an emoji shown on synced events
  4. Click Test URL to confirm the calendar is reachable and preview its event count.
  5. Click Add subscription.

Prisma pulls in the events, creates a note per event, and re-syncs on the interval. Events deleted in Google are removed locally on the next sync, and title changes rename the matching note. See ICS URL Subscriptions for the full sync behaviour.

Keeping it in sync​

  • Sync now refreshes a subscription immediately.
  • Auto-sync and Sync on startup control automatic refreshing.
  • Sync is read-only — edits, moves, and deletions in Obsidian never reach Google.

Troubleshooting​

SymptomFix
Test URL errorsRe-copy the secret address and update the Obsidian secret. Confirm it ends in .ics and is the Secret, not Public, address.
No events appearCheck the secret points to the right calendar, and that the calendar has events in the synced window.
Wrong event timesSet the subscription's Timezone to the local zone and sync again.
Revoking accessReset the secret address in Google, then update the Obsidian secret with the new URL.

CalDAV (advanced)​

Google also supports CalDAV, but it needs OAuth 2.0 credentials and is far more involved. The secret iCal address above is the simpler path. For CalDAV, see CalDAV Integration.

Still not syncing?​

If Google Calendar still isn't showing up after following these steps, send me your feedback — happy to help.