> ## Content Index > Fetch the complete content index at: https://www.jeffsu.org/llms.txt > Use this file to discover other available public pages before exploring further. # Google Calendar: 3 features I wish I knew sooner - URL: https://www.jeffsu.org/google-calendar-3-features-i-wish-i-knew-sooner/ - Published: 2026-02-27T13:00:55.000Z - Updated: 2026-02-27T13:00:55.000Z - Description: #237 - Author: Jeff - Tags: #newsletter, Google Calendar *Want to see these tips early?* [*Subscribe to the newsletter*](https://www.jeffsu.org/newsletter/?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=post&utm%5Fcampaign=beginning)*!* --- Today's issue is a fun one (well, even more fun than usual because let's be real, all my newsletters are a blast 😉). We're going over 3 Google Calendar features I wish I knew wayyyyyy sooner. ### Tip #1: Pick Your Own Calendar Colors Google Calendar gives you about 24 preset colors for your calendars, which I guess is fine, but they're also the same 24 colors everyone else is using. Your "Work" calendar looks identical to your coworker's "Gym" calendar. **Here's what you (probably) didn't know:** You can paste in any hex color code you want. 1. Head to [​colorhunt.co​](https://colorhunt.co/?ref=jeffsu.org) and find a palette you like (their Pastel collections are great) 2. Click into a palette and click the hex code to copy it to your clipboard 3. In Google Calendar, click the **three dots** next to any calendar in the left sidebar 4. Click the **"+"** icon under the default color swatches 5. Paste your hex code and hit **Save** ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/4QWkasbZfS6CzzToEx4GVD/2o6Ms4GX7zbZnavCU3xCUK/email) **Now your calendar actually looks like yours.** The visual distinction sounds minor until you're scanning a packed week and everything isn't the same shade of cornflower. 💡 **Pro tip:** Custom hex colors only work on the web version of Google Calendar, but once set, they'll display correctly on mobile too. ### Tip #2: Export Your Entire Calendar in a Few Clicks I keep a separate calendar for all my friends' birthdays. It took 20 minutes to set up and has paid for itself a hundred times over. Remembering someone's birthday is one of the easiest ways to stay connected, and it makes asking for favors feel more natural too 😛. The underrated part: if I ever switch to another calendar app, I can **export** that entire birthday calendar as a file and import it wherever I go. Same goes for sharing a calendar of events with a new hire joining your team, or migrating calendars between your personal and work Google accounts. 1. Go to **Settings** (gear icon, top right) > **Import & Export** 2. Under **Export**, click **Export** to download a .zip file containing .ics files for each of your calendars 3. To import into another account or app: go to **Import & Export** \> **Import**, open the .zip, and upload the individual .ics files ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/4QWkasbZfS6CzzToEx4GVD/eSSWFKaAi3dTx36yfFQsm3/email) That's it! ### Tip #3: Create a "Lazy" Calendar Invite Let's say you need to invite 400 people to an all-hands, but there's no team alias that covers everyone (e.g. ‘marketing-all@google.com’) and you really don't want to type in 400 email addresses. 1. Create your event and finalize **all** the details (title, time, location, description) 2. Open the event and click **More Actions** (three dots, top right) 3. Click **"Publish Event"** and copy the **Link to Event** 4. Share that link however you want (email, Slack, carrier pigeon 🕊️) ![](https://embed.filekitcdn.com/e/4QWkasbZfS6CzzToEx4GVD/dvWXBbJSuN8dzEG8xusoxt/email) Now recipients can click the link, see all the event details, and save it to their own calendar! **A couple of limitations to be aware of:** - Recipients have to actively click the link and save the event themselves - Changes you make to the original event **won't** automatically update on copies others have saved. 💡 **Pro tip:** This works great for recurring events too, like a monthly team social. Create it once, publish the link, and drop it in your team channel. ### Bonus: My favorite keyboard shortcuts - **W** \= Week view - **X** \= Custom view (shows whatever number of days you've configured in your Calendar settings) - **S** \= Settings - **C** \= Create a new event Try one of these this week and let me know how it goes! 😁 --- **Whenever you're ready, here are some other ways I can help you:** 💻 [The Workspace Academy:](https://academy.jeffsu.org/workspace-academy?utm%5Fsource=newsletter&utm%5Fmedium=post&utm%5Fcampaign=footer) Never lose a file, task, or note again with my CORE workflow for Google Workspace. Adopted by over 10,000 Googlers. ✅ [Build Your Command Center in Notion:](https://www.pressplay.cc/link/s/064F24D8?ref=jeffsu.org) Plug-and-play dashboard that surfaces today’s priorities automatically and organizes your life in seconds. #1 rated Notion Course globally.