Outlook.com Calendar cannot be added to iCal

So when will Microsoft work with Apple to resolve this Outlook.com and iCal issue. I'm an Office 365 subscriber, and have been using Microsoft cloud solutions a bit more; however, if I can't have a two way communication with my local iCal calendar and Outlook.com; it's pretty much useless. 

I suppose I can always go to Outlook.com to make changes; but it shouldn't be so hard. Microsoft was able to get Outlook.com/Hotmail calendars to work with Android and iOS; why is it so difficult to just offer the service on the iCal for the Mac?  ...I can sync iCal with Google and Yahoo; why not Microsoft??

I'm sorry; but I get the feeling that none of you Microsoft Moderators understand our (Mac users) concerns. We simply want to be able to sync Outlook.com calendars with iCal on the Mac just like we can sync it on iOS, or just like we can sync Google or Yahoo calendars on iCal. 

This is an issue YOU (Microsoft) needs to work with Apple if you want us to continue using your cloud solutions. 

We do have other options (iCloud, Google, and Yahoo); but in my case, I would like to use Outlook.com since I'm a Windows 8, Windows Phone, Android, iOS, and Mac OS X user.  

...so is there any way the moderators can just escalate this to the proper development team and get the issue resolved as opposed to just giving us work arounds?

Hi HeeroYuy001,

Thank you for taking time in posting here in the community. I understand your frustration regarding this matter, please allow me to help you and see if we can fix this for you.

I understand that you're having difficulty in syncing Outlook.com Calendar and iCal on your Mac computer. I'd like to ask how you import your Calendars to your Mac computer. Do you get an error message? If yes, we'd like to have the complete error message. We need the steps you did in order for us to reproduce or simulate the issue here on our end, and eventually will come up with a solution.

In the mean time I have an article here that might help to fix this problem with calendars. Try reading it to have an ideal.

Import or subscribe to a calendar in Outlook.com

We're looking forward to your response.

Thanks,

Thanks Randal G, 

Here's my dilemma - I do not want to import or subscribe to a calendar. Importing a calendar gives me nothing but static events that aren't dynamically updated; so if an event gets cancelled, I would probably still show up (not fun). I also do not want to subscribe to an iCal calendar on Outlook.com, or subscribe to an Outlook.com calendar on iCal - sure, events would be dynamically updated; but it's still a one way communication. 

I simply want the Outlook.com calendar to work as well as my iCloud or Google calendars works. 

If I want to add a Calendar, all I do is go to Calendar > Preferences > Accounts > and choose what to add...

Once I choose the calendar to add, it should be as easy as this...

I have tried choosing the Exchange option, assuming that Exchange and Outlook.com are both Microsoft technologies; but it does not work. It tells me the Exchange server is not responding. I've tried both:

• imap-mail.outlook.com
• pop3.live.com

Adding Outlook.com email to Apple's Mail app on a Mac is no issue, although somewhat of a manual process; it's adding a calendar that's a big pain.

Adding an Outlook.com calendar to an iPhone or an iPad is no trouble at all, Outlook.com is an option...

...so i'm not sure why Microsoft just can't work with Apple to add Outlook.com as an option on the Mac just as it is on an iPhone or an iPad.

Hi HeeroYuy001,

Thanks for providing those screenshots. We would like to know the exact version of the computer that you are using, and the affected email account. I have provided a Private Message tab for you to be able to provide the account in a secure area. Take note that you need to sign into this website using your Microsoft account and click the notification on top of your post that states, “You have a private reply to this message...” or click Private Messages across All Replies.

We will wait for those details.

Regards,