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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...
office 365
RonBonham's avatar
RonBonham
Copper Contributor
Dec 08, 2020

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
    Jan 11, 2022

    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

    • dbess's avatar
      dbess
      Copper Contributor
      Nov 10, 2022
      This was the only thing that worked for me. Thanks for sharing vdpollm
    • StephenBieda's avatar
      StephenBieda
      Copper Contributor
      Jul 20, 2022

      vdpollm You're brilliant! Your solution actually works. Thank you!

  • jnoga's avatar
    jnoga
    Copper Contributor
    Jan 06, 2021

    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
      Apr 15, 2021
      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
      • FDM_942's avatar
        FDM_942
        Copper Contributor
        May 03, 2022
        Thank you! This fixed it for me.
    • cjmnews's avatar
      cjmnews
      Copper Contributor
      Jan 13, 2021

      The only work around I have found is to set the browser to save the file and not open it.  Then open Outlook and switch to Calendar mode.  Drag the file from File Explorer and drop on the calendar to add it.

      All the usual methods to change this fail:

      1. Open With - Outlook not listed, choosing Outlook gives you an error saying you can't open ics files with Outlook (lie)

      2. Default Apps by File Type - Outlook not listed, no option to select a local app.

      3. Registry hacks - haven't found one that works yet.

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