Adding a calendar to a SharePoint site OverviewCreating an out of office calendar using the list typeCreating an out of office calendar using the calendar app from Classic SharePointMaking a calendar easily visible in SharePoint Overview This guide explains how to create a calendar and make it easily visible on a SharePoint site. You can create calendars for uses such as: An out of office calendar on which staff can indicate the dates they are on vacation or otherwise unavailable A content scheduler calendar that lists publication dates for upcoming announcements and newsletters A project calendar that lists due dates for deliverables and paper submission deadlines In this guide, we demonstrate how to create an out of office calendar using two methods: (Recommended) Using the list type in default or Modern SharePoint Using the Calendar app from Classic SharePoint Accessing SharePoint You can quickly access your SharePoint site from the SharePoint start page: https://usc.edu/sharepoint Creating an out of office calendar using the list type Quick guide Detailed guide (with screenshots) Quick guide Step 1: Create a list for the calendar Go to the SharePoint site. Click + New and select List. Select + Blank list. Type a name for the calendar and (optionally) a description. Make sure the checkbox Show in site navigation is selected, and click Create. The list is created with one default column named Title. Use columns to add event details. For an out of office calendar, we recommend adding two more columns (such as "Absence start date" and "Absence end date") with the Date and time column type. To add a new column: Click + Add column and select a column type. Fill out the fields and create the column. To modify a column: Click the column name, then select Column settings. Select Edit. To delete a column: Click the column name, then select Column settings. Select Edit. A pane opens to the right: click Delete at the bottom. Note that you cannot delete the default first column that SharePoint created. To change the calendar name or icon at any point, click the calendar name. Step 2: Create and set calendar view as the default By default, the list displays in the All Items view, which looks similar to a spreadsheet. To view the list as a calendar: First, create the calendar view: Click + Add view. Name the view and select Calendar. Select a layout, and make sure that the "Start date" and "End date" fields match the column names you created. Make sure the checkbox Make this a public view is selected, and click Create. Next, set this view as the default: In the upper right, click the Settings icon and select List settings. Scroll down to the Views section, and click the calendar view you created. Select the checkbox Make this the default view. (Optional) To make the calendar view the default on mobile as well, scroll down to the Mobile section. Select the checkboxes Enable this view for mobile access and Make this view the default view for mobile access. Click OK. SharePoint returns you to the calendar. Step 3: Add events Any site member can add events to the calendar: Click + Add new item. Fill out the event details, and click Save. The event is added to the calendar. Detailed guide (with screenshots) Step 1: Create a list for the calendar Go to the SharePoint site. Click + New and select List. Select + Blank list. Type a name for the calendar and (optionally) a description. Make sure the checkbox Show in site navigation is selected, and click Create. The list is created with one default column named Title. Use columns to add event details. For an out of office calendar, we recommend adding two more columns (such as "Absence start date" and "Absence end date") with the Date and time column type. To add a new column: Click + Add column and select a column type. Fill out the fields and create the column. To edit a column: Click the column name, then select Column settings. Select Edit. To delete a column: Click the column name, then select Column settings. Select Edit. A pane opens to the right: click Delete at the bottom. Note that you cannot delete the default first column that SharePoint created. To change the calendar name or icon at any point, click the calendar name. Step 2: Create and set calendar view as the default By default, the list displays in the All Items view, which looks similar to a spreadsheet. To view the list as a calendar: First, create the calendar view: Click + Add view. Name the view and select Calendar. Select a layout, and make sure that the "Start date" and "End date" fields match the column names you created. Make sure the checkbox Make this a public view is selected, and click Create. Next, set this view as the default: In the upper right, click the Settings icon and select List settings. Scroll down to the Views section, and click the calendar view you created. Select the checkbox Make this the default view. (Optional) To make the calendar view the default on mobile as well, scroll down to the Mobile section. Select the checkboxes Enable this view for mobile access and Make this view the default view for mobile access. Click OK. SharePoint returns you to the calendar. Step 3: Add events Any site member can add events to the calendar: Click + Add new item. Fill out the event details, and click Save. The event is added to the calendar. Creating an out of office calendar using the calendar app from Classic SharePoint Microsoft switched from Classic SharePoint to Modern SharePoint in 2018, and continues to support both. While you can continue to use the Calendar app and other apps from Classic SharePoint, be aware that the calendar's appearance will differ slightly from your SharePoint site: Quick guide Detailed guide (with screenshots) Quick guide Step 1: Create the calendar Go to the SharePoint site. Click + New and select App. Click classic experience.Note: While Microsoft will be retiring SharePoint add-ins starting April 2, 2026, this does not affect built-in features. Classic SharePoint apps such as the calendar app do not have a retire date. Click Calendar (you may need to scroll to the bottom). Name the calendar and click Create. The calendar is created. Click the calendar to open it. Step 2: Add events Any site member can add events to the calendar: Double-click on any date to create a new item. Fill out the form, and click Save. The event appears on the calendar. Detailed guide (with screenshots) Step 1: Create the calendar Go to the SharePoint site. Click + New and select App. Click classic experience.Note: While Microsoft will be retiring SharePoint add-ins starting April 2, 2026, this does not affect built-in features. Classic SharePoint apps such as the calendar app do not have a retire date. Click Calendar (you may need to scroll to the bottom). Name the calendar and click Create. The calendar is created. Click the calendar to open it. Step 2: Add events Any site member can add events to the calendar: Double-click on any date to create a new item. Fill out the form, and click Save. The event appears on the calendar. Making a calendar easily visible in SharePoint There are several ways to make a calendar more easily visible in SharePoint: Link to the calendar in the site menu Add the calendar to the site homepage (list calendars only; not available if the calendar was created using the Classic SharePoint app) Add the calendar link to the SharePoint site menu If you were unable to add the calendar to the site menu earlier, you can do so now: Quick guide Detailed guide (with screenshots) Quick guide Go to the calendar, and copy its URL from your browser's address bar. In the left menu, click Edit.If you are using the calendar app from Classic SharePoint, first select another link from the menu, such as Home. Otherwise, you will have to use Classic SharePoint, which is less intuitive, to edit the menu. Hover over the location where you want to add the calendar link, and click +. Fill out the fields and click OK: Choose an option: Link Address: Paste the URL you copied earlier Display name: Type the calendar name (Optional) To reorder, drag and drop the link up or down the menu. Click Save. You may have to scroll to the bottom of the left menu. Detailed guide (with screenshots) Go to the calendar, and copy its URL from your browser's address bar. In the left menu, click Edit.If you are using the calendar app from Classic SharePoint, first select another link from the menu, such as Home. Otherwise, you will have to use Classic SharePoint, which is less intuitive, to edit the menu. Hover over the location where you want to add the calendar link, and click +. Fill out the fields and click OK: Choose an option: Link Address: Paste the URL you copied earlier Display name: Type the calendar name (Optional) To reorder, drag and drop the link up or down the menu. Click Save. You may have to scroll to the bottom of the left menu. Add the calendar to the SharePoint site homepage You can only add the calendar to the SharePoint site homepage if it was created using a list. Calendars created using the calendar app from Classic SharePoint cannot be added to the homepage. Quick guide Detailed guide (with screenshots) Quick guide In the site menu, click Home. The site homepage appears. Click Edit in the upper right. Select a section or hover and click + to create a new section. Then, hover and click + to add a web part. Select List. Then, select the calendar you created. Click Republish in the upper right to save your changes. The calendar is added to the homepage. Detailed guide (with screenshots) In the site menu, click Home. The site homepage appears. Click Edit in the upper right. Select a section or hover and click + to create a new section. Then, hover and click + to add a web part. Select List. Then, select the calendar you created. Click Republish in the upper right to save your changes. The calendar is added to the homepage.