Populating your Outlook calendar with public holidays helps you plan around days when your colleagues may be unavailable. Learning how to add holidays to Outlook calendar is a simple process that saves you time and keeps your schedule organized. Whether you use Outlook for work or personal planning, having holidays automatically marked means you never miss a day off or double-book a meeting on a public holiday.
This guide walks you through every method available. You will find step-by-step instructions for the desktop app, the web version, and even mobile devices. No matter which Outlook version you use, you can get your holidays set up in just a few minutes.
Why Add Holidays To Your Outlook Calendar
Adding holidays to your calendar does more than just show you when the post office is closed. It helps you see at a glance when your team members might be out of the office. It also prevents you from scheduling important deadlines or meetings on days when most people are away.
Many workers use Outlook for email and calendar management. When you add holidays, your calendar becomes a more accurate reflection of real working days. This is especially useful if you work with colleagues in different countries or regions.
Benefits Of Having Holidays In Your Calendar
- You can plan vacations around public holidays to maximize your time off.
- Project timelines become more realistic when you account for non-working days.
- You avoid sending meeting invites on days when attendees are unavailable.
- Your calendar syncs across devices, so holidays appear everywhere you check.
How To Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar (Desktop Version)
The desktop version of Outlook is still the most popular way to manage calendars. Here is the exact process for adding holidays to your calendar in Outlook 2016, 2019, and Microsoft 365.
Step 1: Open Calendar View
Launch Outlook on your computer. Click the “Calendar” icon at the bottom of the navigation pane. This switches your view from email to your calendar.
Step 2: Access Calendar Settings
In the calendar view, look for the “File” tab in the top-left corner. Click it, then select “Options” from the menu. A new window titled “Outlook Options” will open.
Step 3: Find The Add Holidays Option
In the Outlook Options window, click “Calendar” in the left-hand list. Scroll down until you see the section labeled “Calendar options.” Look for the button that says “Add Holidays.” Click it.
Step 4: Choose Your Country Or Region
A small dialog box appears with a list of countries and regions. Check the box next to the country whose holidays you want to add. You can select multiple countries if you work with international teams. Click “OK” to confirm.
Step 5: Wait For The Holidays To Import
Outlook will download and add the holidays to your calendar. This usually takes only a few seconds. Once finished, click “OK” to close the Options window. You will now see holidays marked on your calendar.
Note: If you have a slow internet connection, the import might take a little longer. Be patient and do not close Outlook during the process.
How To Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar (Web Version)
Outlook on the web (OWA) is a bit different from the desktop app. The steps are simpler, but the options are more limited. Here is how to do it.
Step 1: Sign In To Outlook On The Web
Open your web browser and go to outlook.com or your organization’s Outlook web portal. Sign in with your email address and password.
Step 2: Go To Your Calendar
Click the “Calendar” icon in the app launcher or navigation bar. It looks like a small calendar square.
Step 3: Add A New Calendar
On the left side of the screen, you will see a list of your calendars. Click “Add calendar” near the bottom. A panel opens with different options.
Step 4: Select “From Internet” Or “Holidays”
In the Add calendar panel, choose “Holidays” from the list. You will see a list of countries and regions. Check the box next to the ones you want. Click “Save” at the top of the panel.
Step 5: View Your Holidays
The holidays will appear as a separate calendar layer. You can toggle them on or off by checking the box next to the calendar name. This is useful if you want to see only work events sometimes.
One thing to note: The web version does not let you add holidays to your main calendar directly. Instead, it creates a separate holiday calendar that overlays your existing one. This is actually a good thing because you can remove it later if needed.
How To Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar (Mac Version)
Outlook for Mac works differently than the Windows version. Here are the steps for adding holidays on a Mac.
Step 1: Open Outlook For Mac
Launch the Outlook app on your Mac. Make sure you are in the Calendar view.
Step 2: Go To Preferences
Click “Outlook” in the top menu bar, then select “Preferences.” A new window will open.
Step 3: Click “Calendar”
In the Preferences window, find and click the “Calendar” icon. This opens the calendar settings.
Step 4: Add Holidays
Look for the option labeled “Add holidays to your calendar.” Click it. A list of countries appears. Check the ones you want and click “OK.”
Step 5: Confirm The Import
Outlook for Mac will ask if you want to add holidays to your default calendar. Click “Add.” The holidays will appear in your calendar within a few seconds.
Tip: If you use iCloud or Google Calendar syncing, the holidays might not sync perfectly. Check your calendar after adding them to make sure everything looks right.
How To Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar (Mobile App)
The Outlook mobile app for iOS and Android does not have a built-in option to add holidays. However, you can still get holidays on your phone by syncing with the desktop or web version.
Method 1: Sync From Desktop
Add holidays to your Outlook calendar on your computer first. Then, make sure your mobile app is set to sync that calendar. Open the app, go to settings, and verify that the calendar with holidays is turned on.
Method 2: Add A Public Holiday Calendar
On your phone, you can also add a public holiday calendar from your device’s native calendar app. For example, on an iPhone, go to Settings > Calendar > Accounts > Add Account > Other > Add Subscribed Calendar. Enter a URL for an iCal feed of holidays. Many free feeds are available online.
Method 3: Use A Third-Party App
Some third-party apps sync holiday data to Outlook. Apps like “Holiday Calendar” or “Public Holidays” can export holidays to your default calendar. Just make sure the app is reputable and respects your privacy.
Remember: The mobile app itself does not have a “Add Holidays” button. You must do this on a computer or through a sync method.
How To Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar For Multiple Countries
If you work with teams in different countries, you might want to add holidays for several regions at once. This is easy to do in the desktop version.
Steps For Multiple Countries
- Follow the steps to open the Add Holidays dialog box (File > Options > Calendar > Add Holidays).
- Check the boxes for every country you need. You can select as many as you want.
- Click “OK” and wait for all the holidays to import.
- Outlook will add each country’s holidays as a separate calendar layer. You can turn them on or off individually.
This feature is very helpful for global teams. You can see at a glance when your colleagues in Germany, Japan, or Brazil are off work.
How To Remove Or Edit Holidays In Outlook
Sometimes you might add the wrong country or want to remove old holidays. Here is how to manage them.
Removing A Holiday Calendar
In the desktop version, look at the left sidebar where your calendars are listed. Find the holiday calendar you want to remove. Right-click it and select “Delete Calendar.” Confirm the deletion. The holidays will disappear from your view.
Editing Individual Holidays
You cannot edit holidays directly because they are imported as read-only items. However, you can copy a holiday to your main calendar and edit the copy. To do this, drag the holiday from the holiday calendar to your default calendar. Then open the copied event and make changes.
Adding Custom Holidays
If your country has a holiday that is not in the Outlook list, you can add it manually. Simply create a new appointment on your calendar for that date. Set the subject to the holiday name and mark it as “All day event.” You can also set it to repeat annually.
Troubleshooting Common Issues
Sometimes adding holidays does not work as expected. Here are common problems and solutions.
Holidays Not Appearing
If you added holidays but they do not show up, check the following:
- Make sure the holiday calendar is checked in the left sidebar.
- Verify that your calendar view is set to show the correct dates.
- Restart Outlook and check again.
Duplicate Holidays
If you see the same holiday twice, you might have added the same country twice. Remove one of the duplicate calendars. If the problem persists, try removing all holiday calendars and adding them again.
Holidays Not Syncing To Phone
This is a common issue. Make sure your Outlook account is set to sync all calendars. On your phone, go to the Outlook app settings and check that the calendar with holidays is enabled. You might also need to refresh the app by pulling down on the calendar view.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar For Free?
Yes, adding holidays is a free feature built into Outlook. You do not need to pay for any extra services or subscriptions.
Why Can’t I Find The Add Holidays Button In Outlook?
The Add Holidays button is only available in the desktop version of Outlook. If you use the web version, you need to add a separate holiday calendar instead. Check that you are in the Calendar view and have clicked File > Options.
How Do I Add Holidays To Outlook Calendar For A Specific Year Only?
Outlook adds holidays for the current year and future years automatically. If you only want one year, you can manually delete the holiday calendar after that year ends. There is no option to limit it to a single year.
Can I Add Religious Holidays To Outlook Calendar?
Outlook’s built-in holiday list includes public holidays for each country. Some religious holidays are included if they are public holidays in that country. For other religious holidays, you will need to add them manually or find a third-party calendar feed.
Does Adding Holidays Affect My Work Calendar?
Adding holidays does not change any existing appointments or meetings. It simply adds new events to your calendar. Your work events remain untouched.
Final Tips For Managing Holidays In Outlook
Once you know how to add holidays to Outlook calendar, you can keep your schedule accurate all year round. Here are a few final tips to make the most of this feature.
- Check for updates each year. Outlook updates its holiday list periodically. If you notice missing holidays, try removing and re-adding the calendar.
- Use color coding. You can assign a specific color to your holiday calendar so it stands out from work events.
- Share your calendar with holidays. If your team uses shared calendars, your holidays will be visible to others, helping everyone plan better.
- Combine with other calendars. You can overlay your Outlook calendar with Google Calendar or iCloud to see all events in one place.
Adding holidays to Outlook is a small task that makes a big difference. It takes less than five minutes and saves you from scheduling mistakes throughout the year. Whether you use the desktop app, web version, or mobile sync, the process is straightforward and reliable.
Now that you know the steps, go ahead and add your holidays. Your future self will thank you when you see a clear view of your working days and time off.