What it does
- Read-only availability sync - AI sees when you’re busy from your ICS feed
- Universal compatibility - Works with any calendar that exports ICS
- Conflict checking - Prevents double-booking with existing events
ICS feeds are read-only. CallDesk can check your availability but cannot create events in your calendar. For full two-way sync, use Google Calendar, Outlook, or Apple Calendar.
Setup
Finding your ICS URL
Common calendars
| Calendar | Where to find ICS URL |
|---|---|
| Google Calendar | Settings → Calendar settings → Integrate calendar → Secret address in iCal format |
| Outlook.com | Settings → Calendar → Shared calendars → Publish a calendar |
| Apple Calendar | Share calendar → Public calendar URL |
| Yahoo Calendar | Calendar settings → Share → Get sharable link |
How it works
- CallDesk fetches your ICS feed periodically (every few minutes)
- Busy times from the feed block those slots in your availability
- AI only offers times that don’t conflict with your calendar
Limitations
| Feature | ICS Feed | Direct Integration |
|---|---|---|
| Check availability | Yes | Yes |
| Create appointments | No | Yes |
| Two-way sync | No | Yes |
| Real-time updates | Minutes delay | Instant |
Use cases
ICS feeds work well for:- Secondary calendars - Check additional calendars for conflicts
- Team availability - Aggregate multiple team members’ availability
- External systems - Import schedules from other software
Troubleshooting
Feed not updating
Feed not updating
ICS feeds sync every few minutes. For real-time sync, use a direct calendar integration.
Invalid URL error
Invalid URL error
Make sure you’re using the ICS/iCal URL, not the HTML calendar link. It should end in .ics or contain /ical/.
Events not showing
Events not showing
Some ICS feeds only include future events or have a limited date range. Check your calendar’s ICS export settings.
Requirements
- Calendar with ICS export capability
- Public or authenticated ICS URL
- No additional cost
Connect ICS Feed
Set up the integration now