Cannot import .ics file into Outlook (new) app

I was having the same problem as everyone that couldn't find a solution. I am using gmail and google calendar with NEW Outlook on my Windows machine. It would not let me add an ICS file in any way. It would not let me select a calendar when doing all of the provided solutions. I finally went to my native google calendar at calendar.google.com and was able to add there. It's still not a great experience in native Gcal. You have to go to your calendar, click the settings gear in the upper right corner, go to import/export, and then select the ICS file from your computer. This will add it to google calendar and then because Outlook is pulling the data from your google account it will show up in the outlook calendar.

When reviewing online it seems new outlook doesn't play nice with ICS files. The problem appears to not be the drop down menu to select a calendar but the fact it doesn't actually populate the ICS file when it opens the import dialog UX. I doesn't think you have even selected a file to import yet so it doesn't give you the option to select a calendar to add it to. This makes you feel like the drop down menu is broken, when in fact, it is pending a file in order to give you a selection.

So, the only work around I can find is to open native Google Calendar in a web browser and import it there.

I hope they fix this in the future.

I did the exact same steps as you have pictured in the Desktop and Web app. Both said import was successful, but the appointment does not show up on the calendar. Yes, both desktop and web were closed and re-opened but still no appointment to drive a reminder.

At this point, I have to manually add the appointment which is basically reverting functionality back to Outlook 2000. Is anyone from Microsoft monitoring this community thread?

New Outlook is absolutely annoying. There are so many simple features that have been removed. Attachments have become combersome and need to be downloaded twice, settings are hidden and extremely limited, moving files is sketchy and a whole host of other things. Whoever did this 'upgrade' obviously doesn't have a real job.

Annoying is an understatement. This is how I managed to get my .ics file added to the calendar.

I would say hurray "Imported invite.ics to Calendar", except I don't see what my schedule is or any other relevant information. In the "old" Outlook (I put the quotes on OLD because it was so much better), I get to see what the .ics actually is about:

1. Title
2. When the meeting is (my date and time)
3. How it actually fits in my calendar (i.e. do I have conflicts)
4. Details on what the meeting is about
5. Decide whether I really want to import it based on my schedule.

But noooo... Outlook (New) now just tells me it has imported .ics file into calendar (hurray??!).

Compare the above with the old Outlook below where all these information is available and it is not a good thing, even if the import is successful.

I finally went to my native google calendar at calendar.google.com and was able to add there. It's still not a great experience in native Gcal. You have to go to your calendar, click the settings gear in the upper right corner, go to import/export, and then select the ICS file from your computer. This will add it to google calendar and then because Outlook is pulling the data from your google account it will show up in the outlook calendar.

...

So, the only work around I can find is to open native Google Calendar in a web browser and import it there.

Thanks for describing your workaround, but I'm a little confused. What do you mean by importing "it" (the GCal ics file? or maybe an Outlook ics file?) into Google Calendar?

What I've been trying to do is to download a GCal ics file and import that into New Outlook, so that I can view my GCal events in New Outlook. What it sounds like you're describing is importing GCal's ics file back into Google Calendar? Can you say more about your process or maybe provide screenshots? Thanks in advance!

This is where I get stuck... I do not get to click the drop-down.

I do not get the opportunity to select "Calander".

So in turn the IMPORT button is never enabled to be pressed.

So the result is the ICS can never be imported.

I should note that I do have multiple calendars/accounts. Google, Samsung/google, etc.. ALL worked just fine in the old Mail and Calander apps. REPEAT.. New Outlook doesn't work.. Switching back to old apps DOES work w/ this same ICS file.

To comment on others' comment posts about this upgrade and the Coders/coding.. 

MS HAS the original import ICS dialog code. FROM OUTLOOK and MAIL/CALANDER. Clearly, someone decided to start all over AGAIN.. (reinvent the wheel again...) And didn't take advantage of just porting the old code for the new app.  Gee, they forgot a lot of BASICS and MUCH NEEDED FEATURES!!!

***NEEDED FEATURE ENHANCEMENT****

REMIDNERS/REMINDER DEFAULT SETTINGS SHOULD allow for multiple reminders to be set.. 2 days before, 2 hours before, for example. When adding /importing events to a calendar also. (LIKE ANDROID GOOGLE CALANDER DOES)