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B_Van_Spanje's avatar
B_Van_Spanje
Brass Contributor
Mar 18, 2020

.ics files open in Calendar App instead of Microsoft Office Outlook

I did a Microsoft Office repair last week. Now when I click on a .ics file, It opens up in the Windows 10 Calendar App instead of Microsoft Outlook. When I went to change the default settings, I didn't see any options for Outlook like I did in my email default programs.

 

How do I fix it? I have Microsoft Office 365 on the Monthly Channel Insider program and regular Windows 10.

  • mytquinnc's avatar
    mytquinnc
    Copper Contributor

    B_Van_Spanje 

     

    Hi mate, was also headbutting the keyboard on this until...

     

    Type default apps into search bar

    Bottom left should be set default by apps

    Find Calendar, click manage.

    Change to Outlook on the .ics option.

     

    Your welcome 😄

      • Rman2022's avatar
        Rman2022
        Copper Contributor

        Experiencing this issue after a recent update (last 3-4 wks, but haven't pinned down which one).  Mail client was suddenly active instead of outlook desktop client for MS365.  Tried the default apps - BUT when entering the .ics file extension - outlook is NOT listed as an option for .ICS file extensions, just MS mail.  When i try choosing an alternate application then select Outlook.exe - i get the warning message that this application does not support the .ics file extension.

        Only workaround so far is the drag & drop method after saving the .ics file to my pc.

    • juliemincey's avatar
      juliemincey
      Copper Contributor

      mytquinnc 

      I think I am having the same issue. my outlook is my default app but it keeps downloading a ics file like an attachment in an email instead of opening it as a calendar invite to "add to calendar"

    • EricaLeaScott's avatar
      EricaLeaScott
      Copper Contributor
      This fixed it for me. Thanks @mtquinn!! I was SOOO annoyed.
      • Akurdian's avatar
        Akurdian
        Copper Contributor

        EricaLeaScott .ics and .msg files cannot open automatically w/in Outlook anymore. I tried using "Open With", then I tried changing default app behavior.  It's like the Settings doesn't know that OUtlook is installed on my computer because there is no option to change from the MS Calendar to Outlook as the default app.  The only way to do it is to open up the calendar then open up the ics file individually.  It's a workaround, but cumbersome.  Heard that there was some bug that was updated causing this issue.  I do not currently have an option for an update. for Office.  What is the problem?

  • RonBonham's avatar
    RonBonham
    Copper Contributor

    B_Van_Spanje 

     

    I am a support tech and we have a Mac user with the same issue. The user gets invites all the time and adds them to her calendar via an ics file. Out of the blue last week Outlook just started opening the ics in an email message instead of her calendar.

     

    Any news on a fix? She is up to date with Office for Mac 16.43

    • vdpollm's avatar
      vdpollm
      Copper Contributor

      Hi, am running Monteray on an intel MacBook, with office365, and had the same issue:
      under Calendar App preferences, my default calendar app is set to Outlook, but each time I double-clicked on *.ics, it would open Calendar App, not Outlook.
      what I had to do is right-click and choose open with, and I noticed that it had CalendarFileHandler selected.
      To fix this, right-click on a *.ics file, and select "get info". then go to "open with" and select Outlook, and click on the "change all" button.
      hope this helps a fellow mac user

    • jnoga's avatar
      jnoga
      Copper Contributor

      RonBonham Having the same issue after the latest OS update. Having to open in iCal/Calendar and copy/paste into Outlook. 

      • EJ100's avatar
        EJ100
        Copper Contributor
        Hi

        Please try the below for Windows 10 users, it may work for you:

        Click on the start icon->type default apps->click on default apps->scroll to the bottom of the page->click on choose default apps by file type->scroll all the way down to .ics-> click on .ics and select outlook ->close outlook and reopen

        Thanks
  • LaurieD9's avatar
    LaurieD9
    Copper Contributor

    B_Van_Spanje This is what I found on Mac help desk and it worked for me:   In Apple Calendar app, go to Calendar > Preferences and set Outlook as your default calendar. Thereafter, . ics files downloaded open automatically in Outlook

    • vdpollm's avatar
      vdpollm
      Copper Contributor

      Hi, am running Monteray on an intel MacBook, with office365
      Under Calendar App preferences, my default calendar app is set to Outlook, but each time I double-clicked on *.ics, it would open Calendar App, not Outlook.
      what I had to do is right-click and choose open with, and I noticed that it had CalendarFileHandler selected.
      To fix this, right-click on a *.ics file, and select "get info". then go to "open with" and select Outlook, and click on the "change all" button.
      hope this helps a fellow mac user

      • Akurdian's avatar
        Akurdian
        Copper Contributor
        Thank you. Yes, I tried that, and it says that it cannot be associated with that kind of file type. I run windows, so it has to be done a little bit differently but the net effect is the same is that it won’t let me do it. Coincidentally, there is a minor glitch with word in that.DOCX Files don’t show up with a Microsoft Word icon, but still open find me a double click on them.

        The only way to get an ICS file into outlook is to do an import from the main menu under file. Otherwise I’m just at a loss.
    • ChannelChick's avatar
      ChannelChick
      Copper Contributor

      LaurieD9 I am having the same problem and the suggested steps are already in place but it does not fix the problem.  Outlook has not worked since updating macOS Big Sur to Monterey.

  • philbert68's avatar
    philbert68
    Copper Contributor
    This was happening to me. I am on Windows 10, Office 365. Outlook is set as my default email client but ics files were set to open with Calendar. Here is how I fixed it.
    1. In the search box by the start button type DEFAULT.
    2. Default Apps pops up above. Choose that.
    3. Scroll to the bottom of the newly opened window and click "Choose default apps by file type".
    4. Scroll down to .ics and change the default app to Outlook.
    • kcb_LB61's avatar
      kcb_LB61
      Copper Contributor
      I tried this repeatedly. It did not work for me. No change in behavior.

    • tward60's avatar
      tward60
      Copper Contributor
      I found my Outlook was 1809 vs 1909. Went to File | Office Account | Office Updates and updated. Now I can open .ics files and assign outlook as the default app.
  • B_Van_Spanje's avatar
    B_Van_Spanje
    Brass Contributor

    I just want everyone to know that this issue resolved without me knowing what happened. Perhaps it was the midmonth Office 365 update that fixed it, but all ics. files now default to my Microsoft 365 Outlook instead of my Microsoft mail app.

     

    Again, I can't explain specifically how this got fixed if anyone else is experiencing the same problem

    • CSutton30's avatar
      CSutton30
      Copper Contributor

      B_Van_Spanje The same thing has started happening to me. I've run the Outlook updates and it's still not resolved it. It is really annoying you can set O365 as the default opener for ics files not the Calendar app. 

  • Santt08's avatar
    Santt08
    Copper Contributor

    The defaults can be changed from the ' get info ' options.

    Due to permissions the default is not working when tried to change it directly

    right click on the .ics file > select 'get info' > unlock the change permissions by entering the credentials > then make changes to the default outlook app

     

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