Guides

How to set up & use Tuta Calendar

Tuta Calendar is not only the best calendar for privacy, but it also helps you stay organized and plan your schedule. Today, we show you how to set up and use Tuta Calendar.

Popular calendars like Google Calendar are not truly private because Google has access, and scans your digital schedule. With the growing movement to choose private digital solutions that actually respect your privacy and offer robust security, now is the perfect time to make the switch to Tuta. With its quantum-resistant encryption and its zero-knowledge architecture, the Tuta Calendar is the most secure and private calendar to ensure your schedule and shared calendars remain confidential. In this ultimate guide, the Tuta Team walk you through setting up your encrypted calendar from start to finish, and show you their favorite calendar tips.

How to set up and use Tuta Calendar in 7 quick steps

  • Step 1: If you don’t have a Tuta account, sign up for a free or paid plan.

  • Step 2: Download the Tuta Calendar app for iOS or Android, or access Tuta Calendar directly in Tuta Mail client on Windows, MacOS, Linux, or via a secure browser.

  • Step 3: Create different calendars.

  • Step 4: Subscribe to public calendars, for example, holidays in your region.

  • Step 5: Import your calendar events via .ics files.

  • Step 6: Create new events and send invites.

  • Step 7: Add the calendar widget to your home screen on mobile to stay in the loop and organized wherever you are!

Turn ON Privacy in one click.

Step-by-step guide to use the Tuta Calendar

Step 1: Sign up for a Tuta Account

Create a paid or free Tuta Calendar here

The Tuta Calendar is the best calendar available for people who prioritize data privacy and security for their private schedules. Like Tuta Mail, Tuta Calendar is end-to-end encrypted by default, open source, green, and built for organization and planning. Tuta Calendar also works great for teams so check out the business version.

If you’re looking for a private calendar alternative to Google Calendar because you’ve decided to DeGoogle or maybe you just want a new private calendar, you’ll be happy to know that even Tuta’s push notifications on Android for your calendar events have been built with zero ties to Google! Plus, you can get all Tuta apps, including Tuta Calendar, from F-Droid.

Screenshot: Tuta Abos: Free, Revolutionary, Legend. Screenshot: Tuta Abos: Free, Revolutionary, Legend.

Screenshot: Tuta Abos: Essential, Advanced, Unlimited. Screenshot: Tuta Abos: Essential, Advanced, Unlimited.

Tuta Calendar, Contacts and Tuta Mail come bundled together in the different plans each designed for different user needs. For a full breakdown of each plan check our pricing page.

The Tuta Calendar is available to use for free and in paid plans. Free users can use both Tuta Mail and Tuta Calendar, but with limited features. To get the best out of Tuta Calendar and unlock all its organizatonal features like setting up multiple calendars in different colors and family calendars, we’d recommend choosing either the Revolutionary plan for €3/month or the Legend plan for €8/month.

Related: How to set up Tuta Mail and organize your mailbox!

Step 2: Download the Tuta Calendar

Tuta Calendar on mobile:

Once you’ve created a Tuta account, we’d recommend downloading the standalone Tuta Calendar app available for download on the Google Play Store, F-Droid, and the App store for iPhone. The standalone calendar app allows you to make use of more features like adding calendar widgets to your mobile home screen.

If you’d prefer to have just one app for your encrypted email and calendar, you can simply download the Tuta Mail app. In Tuta Mail, you have mail, calendar and contacts neatly integrated into one application.

Download Tuta Calendar on mobile here:

Once you’ve downloaded the calendar app and logged in, follow the welcome set up guide to customize the app to your liking:

  • Grant Notification Permissions: Choose if you’d like to allow or not allow the Tuta Calendar to send you notifications.
  • Choose the color theme.
  • Select your unlock method: Choose between automatic unlock, system password or biometrics, or biometrics only.

Note: When using the Tuta Mail and Tuta Calendar apps on mobile, you might get double notifications for calendar events. To stop this, please open the Tuta Mail app and go to Settings > Notifications > Receive calendar event notification & choose deactivated.

Download the Tuta Calendar on desktop

For desktop use, Tuta Calendar comes conveniently integrated and available by default in the Tuta Mail desktop client that are free for Windows, MacOS, and Linux.

If you’d prefer not to download the Tuta desktop clients or mobile apps, the Tuta Calendar can also be accessed via a private browser of your choice.

Download the Tuta desktop client here:

What’s the difference between the Tuta Calendar app vs. using Tuta Calendar within Tuta Mail?

For now, Tuta offers a standalone Tuta Calendar app for mobile. The Tuta Calendar can also be accessed within Tuta Mail on all platforms. The main difference between the calendar app and using the calendar in Tuta Mail is that the standalone app offers a calendar widget and better integration on mobile. If you want to access your calendar on your phone, we highly recommend getting the Tuta Calendar app!

Turn ON Privacy in one click.

Step 3: Add different calendars

One nice organizational feature in Tuta Calendar is the flexibility offered when it comes to how you can use and organize the calendars. In all Tuta paid plans, you get unlimited calendars so you can add different calendars for different groups or events. And even better, you can make these calendars shareable with other Tuta users who have paid plans.

Related: The best family calendar app!

How to add calendars in Tuta Calendar mobile app

Steps to add calendars in the Tuta Calendar app on mobile: Click on the burger menu in the top left corner, next to Your Calendars click on the +, click Add calendar, add a calendar name & choose a calendar color. Under advanced, choose a default reminder for events in this calendar, click Save. Steps to add calendars in the Tuta Calendar app on mobile: Click on the burger menu in the top left corner, next to Your Calendars click on the +, click Add calendar, add a calendar name & choose a calendar color. Under advanced, choose a default reminder for events in this calendar, click Save.

Adding calendars in the Tuta Calendar app is quick and easy.

  • Open the Tuta Calendar app
  • Click on the burger menu in the top left corner
  • Next to your Your Calendars, click on the +
  • Click Add calendar
  • Add a calendar name & choose a calendar color
  • Under Advanced, choose a default reminder for events in this calendar
  • Click Save

How to add calendars in the Tuta Calendar desktop app

  • Open the Tuta Calendar in the desktop app
  • On the panel to the left, next to Your Calendars, click on the +
  • Click Add calendar
  • Add a calendar name & choose a calendar color
  • Under Advanced, choose a default reminder for events in this calendar
  • Click Save

Turn ON Privacy in one click.

Step 4: How to subscribe to calendars in Tuta Calendar

In Tuta Calendar on mobile and in the desktop clients, you can subscribe to publicly available calendars via an ics URL. For example, popular public calendars you might want to subscribe to are the national holidays in your region, sports fixtures, or a school calendar for your child.

How to subscribe to calendars in the Tuta Calendar mobile app

Steps to subscribe to external calendars in the Tuta Calendar app on mobile: Click on the burger menu in the top left corner. Next to your Your Calendars click on the +, click from URL, Enter the public ics. URL, click subscribe. Steps to subscribe to external calendars in the Tuta Calendar app on mobile: Click on the burger menu in the top left corner. Next to your Your Calendars click on the +, click from URL, Enter the public ics. URL, click subscribe. Subscribe to external calendars to stay up to date!

  • Open the Tuta Calendar app
  • Click on the burger menu in the top left corner
  • Next to your Your Calendars, click on the +
  • Click From URL
  • Enter the public ics. URL
  • Click Subscribe

How to subscribe to calendars in the Tuta Calendar desktop app

  • Open the Tuta Calendar in the desktop app
  • On the panel to the left, click next to your Your Calendars on the +
  • Click From URL
  • Enter the public ics. URL
  • Click Subscribe

Step 5: Import your calendars into Tuta

Thanks to calendar import, bring existing calendars from Outlook Calendar or Google Calendar is quick and easy, and can be done in Tuta Calendar on mobile, in the browser, or in the desktop clients.

How to import calendars into Tuta Calendar in the desktop client:

Steps to import external calendars into Tuta Calendar in the desktop client. Login to your account, click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to, click Import, select the ics files and click open. Steps to import external calendars into Tuta Calendar in the desktop client. Login to your account, click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to, click Import, select the ics files and click open.

You can import calendars into Tuta Calendar via ics files in Tuta desktop clients or through Tuta on a web browser.

  • Click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to
  • Click Import
  • Select the ICS. files & click open
  • Click Import

How to import calendars into Tuta Calendar app on mobile:

Steps to import external calendars into Tuta Calendar app on mobile. Login to your account, click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to, click Import, select the ics files and click open. Steps to import external calendars into Tuta Calendar app on mobile. Login to your account, click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to, click Import, select the ics files and click open.

You can import calendars into Tuta Calendar via ics files in the standalone Tuta Calendar app, or within the calendar in Tuta Mail on mobile.

  • Click on the three-dot button next to the calendar you wish to import data to
  • Click Import
  • Select the ICS. files
  • Click Import

Note: Importing calendars into Tuta Calendar does not mean the calendars sync from the original calendar where the files came from.

How to create shared calendars in Tuta

When you’ve set up your calendars and events, you can choose which calendars you’d like to make shareable with specific Tuta recipients. Calendar sharing is easy to set up, and it is a great feature for teams, for families with many different schedules, and for people who need to plan and coordinate efficiently.

How to set up calendar sharing on the desktop client:

How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: click on the three dot menu next to the calendar you want to share, click Sharing. How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: click on the three dot menu next to the calendar you want to share, click Sharing.

How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: Click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with. How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: Click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with.

How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: enter the recipient's email address, set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write or Read only, click Invite. How to share calendars in the Tuta desktop client: enter the recipient's email address, set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write or Read only, click Invite.

With calendar sharing between paid Tuta users, planning and coordinating busy schedules becomes easy.

  1. Click on the three-dot menu next to the calendar you want to share
  2. Click Sharing
  3. Click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with
  4. Enter the recipient’s email address
  5. Set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write or Read only.
  6. Click Invite

How to share calendars in the Tuta Calendar app on iPhone or Android:

How to share calendars in the Tuta Calendar Mobile app: click on the three dot menu next to the calendar you want to share, click sharing, click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with, enter the recipient's email address, set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write or Read only, click Invite. How to share calendars in the Tuta Calendar Mobile app: click on the three dot menu next to the calendar you want to share, click sharing, click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with, enter the recipient's email address, set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write or Read only, click Invite.

Calendar sharing can also be easily set up within Tuta Calendar on mobile.

  1. Click on the three-dot menu next to the calendar you want to share
  2. Click Sharing
  3. Click on the + to add the participant you want to share the calendar with
  4. Enter the recipient’s email address
  5. Set the calendar permissions: Write and manage sharing, Read and write, or Read only.
  6. Click Invite

Turn ON Privacy in one click.

Step 6: Set up Tuta’s calendar widget

If you’re using the standalone Tuta Calendar app on your mobile device, set up the calendar widget so that you never miss an important event. With the widget displayed on your home screen, you can have a neat overview of your agenda and use it as a Calendar shortcut. Click on the widget to open the calendar, or click on the + corner of the widget to create a new event in the calendar.

How to add the widget on iPhone:

Steps to set up the Tuta Calendar widget on iPhone: Press your screen, click edit, click add widget, select Tuta Calendar, select the calendar account, choose which calendars to display and click the tick, choose your widget style. Your calendar events now appear in the neat widget. Steps to set up the Tuta Calendar widget on iPhone: Press your screen, click edit, click add widget, select Tuta Calendar, select the calendar account, choose which calendars to display and click the tick, choose your widget style. Your calendar events now appear in the neat widget.

Once you’ve added the Tuta Calendar widget to your homescreen, you will have a neat overview of your schedule. The widget can also be used as a shortcut: clicking on the widget will open the Tuta Calendar app and clicking on the + will create a new event in the calendar app.

  1. Press your screen
  2. Click Edit
  3. Click Add widget
  4. Select Tuta Calendar
  5. Select the calendar account
  6. Choose which calendars to display & click the tick
  7. Choose your widget style
  8. Your calendar events now appear neatly summarized on your home screen

How to add the widget on Android:

  1. Press your screen
  2. Click Widgets
  3. Scroll down to Tuta Calendar
  4. Choose the account & calendars you’d like to see in the widget

Extra usability features & tips

How can I add and edit events in Tuta Calendar?

  • On Tuta Calendar in the desktop client, click on New event or click on the day and time.
  • On the standalone Tuta Calendar app, click on the + symbol in the bottom right corner or click on the day and time.
  • On Tuta Calendar in Tuta Mail on mobile, click on the + symbol in the top right corner or click on the day and time.

🎬 Watch how to duplicate events, and comment on event invitations in Tuta Calendar on our YouTube channel.

When you have created a new event, you can then edit it:

  • Set the duration of the event
  • Choose which calendar the event belongs to
  • Set up repeat rules
  • Add an event reminder
  • Add event guests: Guests will automatically receive an invite email
  • Add a location
  • Add an event description

🎬 Watch how to add default reminders to individual recurring events in Tuta Calendar on our YouTube channel.

How can I add birthdays to the Tuta Calendar?

When on any of Tuta’s paid plans, the Tuta Calendar comes with a birthday calendar by default. To add birthdays to this calendar, you will need to add the birthdays to your contacts in Tuta Contacts.

How to add a birthday to Tuta Calendar:

  1. Click Contacts
  2. Click on the +
  3. Add your contacts’ details including their birthday

Your contacts’ birthdays are then synced to the birthday calendar automatically.

More than easy organization!

Unlike Big Tech providers like Google and Microsoft, which scan your private schedule and track you across services, Tuta provides the opposite. Tuta Mail and Tuta Calendar are end-to-end encrypted by default, come with no tracking, and no ads. The Tuta Team is working to provide everyone with secure email and calendar that’s free to use, open source, and green.

Our team is constantly working to improve all aspects of Tuta’s products so if you’d like to follow our journey and stay up to date, give us a follow on Mastodon or Bluesky.

Illustration of a phone with Tuta logo on its screen, next to the phone is an enlarged shield with a check mark in it symbolizing the high level of security due to Tuta's encryption.