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Create goals in Google Calendar

You can make time for the important things in your life by creating goals in Google Calendar.

How goals work

When you create a goal, you choose how much time you want to spend on it each week. Google Calendar automatically schedules time to work on your goal.

If you end up having a conflict at that time, the session is automatically rescheduled.

Over time, scheduling gets better as Google Calendar learns your preferences.

Create a goal

  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. In the bottom right, tap Create Create.
  3. Tap Goal.
  4. Choose a category, like Exercise or Friends & Family. To create a custom goal, pick a category, then tap Custom.
  5. Follow the directions on your screen to set up your goal.
  6. Tap Done Done.
  7. Sessions will be automatically added to your calendar, starting with the first four weeks. You can adjust the time or length of these events at any time.

Change goals you've created

Edit a goal
  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. Tap the session.
  3. Tap Edit Edit.
  4. Tap the setting you'd like to change and make your changes.
  5. At the top of the page, tap Save.

Any changes you make to your sessions help Google Calendar learn your schedule preferences over time and use that information to schedule future sessions.

Tip: To move a goal session, drag and drop it to a new time and date on your calendar.

Mark a goal as done
  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. Tap the session.
  3. Tap Did it.
  4. The session will be crossed out on your calendar.
Defer until later

If you don't have time to work on your goal when the session comes up, you can defer it until later.

  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. Tap the session.
  3. Tap Later.
  4. The session will be automatically rescheduled for a time you're free that week.
Delete a goal
  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. Tap the session.
  3. In the top right, tap More More.
  4. Tap Delete and then This session or All following sessions (and stop scheduling).
  5. Tap OK.

Change your notification settings

When you have an upcoming session, you'll get a notification on your device. You'll also a notification after your session to track your goal's progress.

  1. Open the Google Calendar app Google Calendar.
  2. Tap a session.
  3. Tap Edit Edit.
  4. In the "Notification" section Notifications, tap the current notification time.
  5. Change your notification time or settings.
  6. At the top of the page, tap Save.

Note: You can't add extra notifications, or create SMS or email notifications.

Connect your goal to Google Fit

When you're signed in to the same account, you can connect exercise goals to Google Fit. It’ll be marked as done automatically and moved to the time of your activity.

When you create a new exercise goal, you’ll be asked to connect it to Google Fit.

You can also connect existing exercise goals to Google Fit. Here’s how: 

  1. Open the Calendar app Calendar.
  2. Find your goal and open it.
  3. Tap Edit Edit.
  4. Tap Connect with Google Fit.
  5. If you created an activity other than running or cycling, you need to connect a fitness app to Google Fit. Read the section below.

Note: To make sure your goals sync correctly, use the same Calendar owner's account to sign in to Google Fit.

Connect your fitness app

You need to connect a supported fitness app to Google Fit. To connect, try looking for Google Fit in the fitness app’s settings. Next, sign in using your calendar account. 

See which apps work with Google Fit.

Note: If you have a running or cycling goal, they will also be tracked if no app is connected to Google Fit.

Share or hide your goals

Choose the sharing settings you have for your calendar to learn more about which goal sessions others can see on your calendar.

My calendar isn't shared with anyone

Your sessions can only be seen by you.

See only free/busy

Anyone who you've shared your free/busy information with can see that you're busy during your sessions.

They can't see the title or details for any of your sessions.

See all event details

Anyone who you've given view access to can see your sessions' name, date, and time.

They can't make any changes to your goal.

Make changes to events or Make changes AND manage sharing

What people you've shared with can see or do:

  • See sessions
  • Edit a session's date or time
  • Delete a session
  • Add notifications for upcoming sessions that show only on their calendar

What people you've shared with can't see or do:

  • Create a new goal
  • Defer a goal, or mark it as done
  • See the details of a goal, including its frequency, time of day, and duration
I have Google Calendar through my school or work

If you got your Google Account through your work or school, you have a domain administrator who manages your Google Account settings.

What your domain administrator can see or do:

  • See sessions
  • Edit a session's date or time
  • Delete a session
  • Add notifications for upcoming sessions that show only on their calendar

What your domain administrator can't see or do:

  • Create a new goal
  • Defer a goal, or mark it as done
  • See the details of a goal, including its frequency, time of day, and duration

Aaron is a Calendar expert and author of this help page. Leave him feedback below about the page.

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