A digital calendar is essential if you’re dealing with multiple commitments and deadlines—or maybe it helps save a bad memory. If you’ve never used the iPhone’s built-in Calendar app other than to check the current date, you’re missing out. Apple Calendar has some great features that will make your life a lot easier.

Here are some useful tips and tricks that will help you get to know the iPhone calendar app faster!

1. Create reminders and set alerts

It’s one thing to add following appointments and schedules, but it’s useless if you don’t see them. Setting alerts and reminders ensures that your iPhone will remind you of an upcoming event a week or a few days early.

First, you need to create an event if you haven’t already.

  1. Open the Calendar app.
  2. Click the Add (+) button in the upper right corner.
  3. Add a title to your event.
  4. Then scroll down and tap Alert.

    Touch the + sign, enter a name, and go to the Alarm option in the Calendar app.

  5. Choose from one week up to during the event.
  6. Select Add.

    Select a time period and tap Add in the Calendars app.

If you forget the event, you can add another alert by clicking on the event → Edit. Select “Second Alarm” and set the time for the alarm.

You can also set a default alarm time for all your appointments instead of wasting valuable time setting an alarm every time you create a new event. Do it:

  1. Go to settings.
  2. Select the calendar.
  3. Scroll down to the default alarm time.
  4. Set default alarm times for birthdays, events, and events throughout the day.

    Access the calendar, select the default alarm time, and set the event in Settings

2. Choose your preferred calendar view

There are different ways to view the calendar, from a general view of the year to a more detailed view of the day.

  • Year View: To view the entire year, simply click on the month in the upper left corner of the calendar to zoom out the year. You can swipe up and down to see past and future years.
  • Monthly view: In the year view, touch the month to switch to the month view. The monthly view allows you to view days in schedules indicated by gray dots below them. You can also swipe up and down to view other months.
  • Weekly view: To see an overview of your weekly schedule, turn the screen sideways and view your calendar. This format will also display an hourly breakdown for each day.
  • Day view: Click today to view the day’s schedule by hour. Touch or drag to another day to view the schedule for another day.
  • Click the List button at the top of the screen next to the Search button to see all upcoming schedules for the day in list view.
  • You can always go back to the current day by clicking “Today” at the bottom of the screen.

3. Create or add a new calendar

It can be confusing to manage multiple aspects of your life in one calendar. With Apple Calendar, you can create separate calendars to have a calendar dedicated to your work, personal life, and more.

For example, if you have multiple projects, having a calendar for each can help you better understand schedules and commitments and prevent duplication.

It’s also color-coded so you know at a glance which event is charted on the schedule on your calendar.

To create a new one:

  1. Open the Calendar app → tap Add calendar at the bottom.
  2. Click “Add Calendar” from the pop-up menu. Choose from any of the following options:

    Tap Calendars, add a calendar, select an option in the calendar app.

    • Add the calendar: You will need to enter a name for the calendar, the email address you want to use, and the color you want to set for the calendar.
    • Add a subscription calendar: You’ll need to enter a link to the calendar you’d like to subscribe to. Subscription calendars are read-only data streams that tell you about events that are updated by the data provider.
    • Add a holiday calendar: Select the country you want to add to add their holiday to your calendar.

4. Control when you want to start the week

Some start their week on Sunday, some start their week on Monday. The iPhone calendar starts the week on Sunday by default, but you can choose a different day.

Do it:

  1. Go to Settings → Calendar.
  2. Scroll down and tap Start week on → select the day you want.

    Access the calendar, start of the week, select the day in the Settings app

5. Open or share files before the meeting

You can add attachments to your calendar invitation so you can easily access or share them with invitees.

  1. Go to your event.
    In any calendar view, tap a specific day to view that day’s events.
  2. Click Edit → Add Attachment.
  3. Find the file you want to add. Use the search bar or browse tab to find it elsewhere.

    Click Edit, add an attachment, and open a file in the Calendars app.

  4. Click Done.

To remove an attachment from an event, simply go to the event, tap Edit, swipe left on the attachment and select Delete.

6. Let Siri add events from other apps

Siri can also check your activity in other apps, such as letters, mail, And Safari To update the calendar with other events, such as an online meeting sent via email, a hotel reservation, or a flight reservation.

To let Siri do this:

  1. Go to Settings → Calendar.
  2. Select Siri and search.
  3. Turn on Show in App.

    Click on

This allows Siri to suggest events that it finds in other apps.

7. Drag an event to organize your schedule.

The calendar list view not only allows you to view an overview of your daily schedule, but also allows you to organize your schedule and quickly move it to another day.

Simply select an event and drag it to a different time period. You can do this in the weekly or daily view.

8. Copy and paste events

If the event repeats, you can easily copy and paste it into your calendar. Simply touch and hold the event and then select Copy.

  1. Press and hold the time interval where you want to insert the event. This will create a new event.
  2. The copied event will appear under the title along with other details. Touch it and select Add.

    Copy the event, enter the event, select the event, and click

9. Zoom in on Siri

You can also use Siri, Apple’s trusted digital assistant, to create calendar events for you. Just say “Hey Siri, create a new event in my calendar” and fill in all the details.

For any changes to an event, say, for example, “Can you change the event in my schedule for (date)?” Select the event you want to change and tell Siri what changes you want to make.

10. Delegate your calendar to others

Another great feature of the calendar is the ability to delegate your calendar to others. You can let an assistant or family member manage your schedule, including adding, editing, replying to, and deleting invitations. Do it:

  1. Open the Calendar app → select Calendars at the bottom.
  2. Click the info (i) button next to the calendar you want to share.
  3. Select Add person.

    To access calendars, tap the information icon, tap Add person to the calendar app.

  4. Enter the person’s email address.
  5. Click on Add.
  6. Click View & Edit next to the person’s name and select the Allow Editing radio button. Don’t toggle it on if you want to share your schedule as read-only.

    To add a person, click

If the person doesn’t receive your invitation to share their calendar, tap Resend Invitation. You can stop sharing at any time by clicking Stop Sharing.

Please note that you will receive notifications and alerts when the person you have granted editing rights adds, edits, or changes your calendar. You can disable Show Changes to turn off shared calendar alerts and notifications.

11. Access your calendar from any device

Placing all of your schedules on the calendar ensures that you can easily access them when you need them, except when you leave your iPhone at home. However, don’t worry; You have the option to sync your calendar across Apple devices.

This feature is enabled by default, but if you disabled it earlier, then:

  1. Go to the Settings app → iCloud.

    Click on Apple Card and icloud in Settings.

  2. Click Show All → Enable Calendars.

    tap on

Since it syncs with your iCloud, you can go to iCloud.com at any time to access your calendar.

12. Add travel time

Adding an appointment to our calendars helps ensure we don’t miss them. But this does not take into account factors such as traffic and location. With Calendar, your iPhone will automatically notify you when it’s time to leave, based on where you’re from and where you’re going.

When you’re done creating an event, tap Edit → Select travel time. If you provided a location in the event, enter the starting location. If not, you can choose between 5 minutes and 2 hours to delay your transition to the scheduled event.

13. Sync events with CarPlay

surprised? do not be. If you use Apple CarPlay, you can also see upcoming calendar events on your dashboard.

It can also display directions to a location if you add an address to the event.

14. Show or hide individual calendars and events throughout the day

Stacking calendars is counterproductive and can be a nuisance instead of helping you organize your life. However, you do have the option to display and hide individual calendars as well as events throughout the day.

Are you the type who forgets birthdays? Then worry no more! Simply enter your contacts’ birthdays in their contact information and add them to your calendar to receive birthday reminders.

  1. First go to Contacts.
  2. Tap a contact → Edit.
  3. Scroll down and select (+) add birthday → tap Done.

    Click on

  4. Then open the calendar.
  5. Tap Calendars → Mark birthdays → Done.

    Tap Calendars, select a birthday, tap Done in the Calendar app.

Here is a more detailed guide to displaying birthdays in the calendar.

an end…

The calendar app is a powerful tool to help you stay organized. You can use the above tips to make the most of all its features.

What is your favorite calendar feature? Share with us by commenting below.

Read more:

  • Apple Calendar vs Google Calendar: Which is Better?
  • The best calendar apps for iPhone to stay organized
  • How to sync Google Calendar to iPhone