iPhone calendar not syncing? Try these fixes

Work through these in order. Most sync problems are fixed by the first four.

1. Check your connection. Calendars sync over Wi-Fi or cellular. Open a web page to make sure you are online.
2. Check that the account syncs calendars. Go to Settings, Apps, Calendar, Calendar Accounts (on iOS 17 and earlier: Settings, Calendar, Accounts), tap the account and make sure Calendars is on.
3. Check iCloud. In Settings, tap your name, then iCloud, and make sure Calendars is turned on. Use the same Apple Account on every device.
4. Check the calendar is shown. In the Calendar app, tap Calendars and make sure the calendar has a check mark.
5. Refresh. On the Calendars screen, pull down to refresh.
6. Check Fetch settings. In Settings, under Mail or Calendar accounts, tap Fetch New Data and turn on Push, or set Fetch to a shorter interval.
7. Set date and time automatically. Settings, General, Date & Time, turn on Set Automatically.
8. Remove and re-add the account. If one account still won't sync, delete it from Calendar Accounts and add it again.

Work accounts are different. If your employer blocks sync to personal phones, no setting fixes it; see sync Outlook calendar with iPhone. For Google, see sync Google Calendar with Apple Calendar.

When an event never makes it to the calendar at all

Sometimes the problem isn't sync. The event was in a text, an email or on a flyer and never got typed in. Snap to Calendar reads a photo or screenshot, lists the events for you to check, and saves the ones you approve.

More calendar guides