Should I archive my calendar before cleaning it?

Archiving and cleaning are complementary actions. Cleaning removes events from the live calendar so it is easier to use. Archiving creates a permanent record of those events in a file you can store and search if needed.

How to archive a Google Calendar

1. Open Google Calendar on desktop
2. Click the three dots next to the calendar name in the left sidebar
3. Click Settings and sharing
4. Scroll to Export calendar and click it — this downloads an ICS file

Store the ICS file in a shared drive folder, organised by calendar name and date range. This gives your team a searchable archive of past calendar data without any of the clutter of having it in the live calendar.

When archiving is most valuable

• Before any large or important calendar clean-up
• At the end of each year or major project phase
• Before a migration clean-up
• For compliance-sensitive calendars where historical records need to be retained