How to Share an Android Calendar with an iPhone Using Family Daily
Most modern families juggle an assortment of devices—Android phones, iPhones, tablets, and more. This device diversity can create unexpected challenges, particularly when it comes to keeping everyone's schedules in sync.
If you've ever missed a soccer practice, double-booked a family dinner, or forgotten a doctor's appointment because calendar information wasn't shared properly between Android and iOS devices, you're not alone. The good news is there's a simple solution to this cross-platform calendar conundrum.
The Cross-Platform Calendar Challenge
The struggle to share calendar information across different operating systems is remarkably common. With iPhone holding 57.68% market share in the US while Android dominates globally with a 70.93% market share in 2024, many families find themselves with a mix of devices.
Why is this such a problem? Android devices typically use Google Calendar as their default calendar app, while iPhones and other Apple devices rely on Apple Calendar. These two platforms weren't originally designed to communicate seamlessly with each other. While there are workarounds (like subscribing to each other's calendars or using third-party apps), these solutions often have limitations:
One-way syncing: Changes made on one platform don't always update on the other
Delayed updates: Changes can take hours to appear across devices
Limited details: Some event details get lost in translation
Complex setup: Most solutions require technical knowledge of calendar URLs and settings
The frustration is particularly acute for blended families, where coordinating between households adds another layer of complexity. When children move between households with different technology ecosystems, important events can fall through the cracks.
Understanding Family Daily's Calendar Integration
Family Daily takes a fundamentally different approach to the calendar sharing problem by creating a neutral platform that works equally well with both Android and iPhone devices. Rather than trying to force Google Calendar and Apple Calendar to communicate directly, Family Daily serves as a bridge between these systems.
The app creates a central family calendar that everyone can access regardless of which device they use. What makes this approach particularly powerful is that it preserves the ability for family members to maintain their personal calendars while still contributing to the shared family schedule.
This dual approach—shared family events visible to everyone while maintaining private events for individual viewing—solves one of the biggest challenges families face when trying to coordinate schedules.
Step-by-Step Guide: Sharing Android Calendar with iPhone
Sharing your Android calendar with iPhone users (and vice versa) through Family Daily follows a straightforward process:
1. Set Up Family Daily on All Devices
The first step is getting Family Daily installed on all family members' devices:
For Android users: Download Family Daily from the Google Play Store
For iPhone users: Download Family Daily from the Apple App Store
After installation, each family member should create an account or sign in with their credentials.
2. Create Your Family Group
One family member needs to create a family group and invite others:
Open Family Daily and navigate to Settings
Select "Create Family"
Follow the prompts to name your family group
Invite family members via email or phone number
3. Import Existing Google Calendar (Android)
For Android users who want to bring their existing Google Calendar events into Family Daily:
Go to Settings > Calendar
Select "Import Calendar"
Choose Google Calendar from the options
Sign in to your Google account when prompted
Select which calendars you want to import
Choose visibility settings (visible to all family members or just you)
4. Import Existing Apple Calendar (iPhone)
For iPhone users who want to import their Apple Calendar events:
Go to Settings > Calendar
Select "Import Calendar"
Choose Apple Calendar from the options
Grant the necessary permissions when prompted
Select which calendars you want to import
Choose visibility settings for each calendar
5. Verify Calendar Sharing
To ensure calendars are properly shared:
Open the Family Daily calendar view
Toggle between "Family Calendar" and "My Calendar" views
Verify that appropriate events appear in each view
Test the system by adding a new family event and confirming it appears on all devices
Advanced Calendar Sharing Features in Family Daily
Beyond the basic calendar sharing functionality, Family Daily offers several advanced features that particularly benefit families using a mix of Android and iPhone devices:
Custom Calendar Views
Family Daily allows each user to customize how they view the shared calendar data:
Day view
3-day view
Week view
Month view
This flexibility means that regardless of which calendar view a family member prefers, they can continue using that view within Family Daily.
Event Categories and Color Coding
One feature that dramatically improves calendar usability is the ability to color-code events:
Assign colors to different family members
Create color categories for different types of activities
Filter the calendar view by color to focus on specific family members or activities
The Family Daily to-do list feature integrates seamlessly with the calendar, allowing families to assign tasks with due dates that appear directly in the calendar view.
Calendar Reminders Across Platforms
Family Daily's unified notification system ensures:
Standardized reminders for all family events
Customizable notification timing
All family members receive the same reminders regardless of their device type
Recurring Events Made Simple
Families have many recurring events—weekly sports practices, monthly doctor appointments, annual birthdays. Family Daily makes setting up these recurring events simple:
Create daily, weekly, monthly, or annual recurring events
Set custom recurrence patterns
Make exceptions to recurring events when needed
Real-World Benefits of Cross-Platform Calendar Sharing
The practical advantages of seamless calendar sharing between Android and iPhone devices extend far beyond technical convenience:
Reduced Family Stress
The simple act of having everyone literally "on the same page" reduces miscommunications that often lead to family tension. When everyone knows exactly what's happening and when, there's less room for confusion or conflict.
Time Savings
The efficiency gains from proper calendar sharing are substantial. Instead of spending time texting about schedules, calling to confirm appointments, or dealing with the fallout of missed events, families can focus on what matters most – spending quality time together.
Improved Co-Parenting for Blended Families
For divorced or separated parents navigating co-parenting arrangements, cross-platform calendar sharing has proven especially beneficial. Family Daily's neutral platform provides a single source of truth for children's schedules, reducing miscommunications that can otherwise create tension between households.
Better Participation in Family Life
When everyone has visibility into the family calendar, participation in family events increases. Children and teens who can see the family schedule on their own devices are more likely to remember and prepare for family activities.
The Family Daily Advantage
The challenge of sharing calendars between Android and iPhone users represents one of the most common frustrations for today's multi-device families. Family Daily's approach—creating a neutral platform that works equally well across operating systems while integrating with native calendars—offers a comprehensive solution to this problem.
Ready to solve calendar sharing problems between your family's Android and iPhone devices once and for all? Download Family Daily today and experience the peace of mind that comes with truly synchronized family schedules.
