How to use holiday exports in Outlook

Overview

Outlook supports holiday calendars well, but there are multiple Outlook products (Windows desktop, Mac desktop, Outlook on the web, and mobile) and each one handles imports slightly differently.

This guide shows how to use the holiday exports from Find My Way Trip in Outlook, including:

• importing an .ics calendar file,
• keeping dates correct across time zones,
• avoiding duplicates,
• updating a calendar when a new version is available,
• common fixes when Outlook appears to do nothing after import.

Table of contents

• Choose the right export format
• Import into Outlook on Windows (classic desktop)
• Import into the new Outlook for Windows
• Import into Outlook on Mac
• Use Outlook on the web
• Use Outlook mobile
• Time zones and all-day events
• Avoid duplicates and keep one clean calendar
• How to update an imported holiday calendar
• How to remove a holiday calendar
• Troubleshooting
• FAQ

Choose the right export format

Most users should export ICS.

• ICS: Best for calendar apps (Outlook, Apple Calendar, Google Calendar). Preserves all-day events and works across devices.
• CSV: Useful for spreadsheets or HR tools. CSV can be imported into some Outlook versions, but ICS is the safer choice for a clean calendar.

If you haven’t exported yet, open a country/year calendar and use the ICS export button.

Import into Outlook on Windows (classic desktop)

Steps can vary slightly by Outlook version, but the workflow is consistent.

Option A: open the .ics file directly

1. Download the .ics file from Find My Way Trip.
2. Double-click the file.
3. Outlook opens and shows a preview.
4. Choose Open as New (recommended) or Import depending on the prompt.

Tip: Open as New usually creates a separate calendar, which is easier to manage than merging into your main calendar.

Option B: import using Import/Export

1. In Outlook, go to the Calendar view.
2. Choose File > Open & Export > Import/Export.
3. Select Import an iCalendar (.ics) or vCalendar file (.vcs).
4. Choose your downloaded .ics file.
5. Select whether to open as a new calendar or import into an existing calendar.

If you manage multiple calendars (work + personal), importing into a dedicated “Holidays” calendar makes it easier to show/hide.

Import into the new Outlook for Windows

The “new Outlook” experience has changed some menus. Some versions prioritize calendar subscriptions and web-based imports.

Recommended approach:

1. Import using Outlook on the web (see below) into the same Microsoft account.
2. Open the new Outlook app and ensure that calendar is enabled.

If your new Outlook build supports local file uploads:

• Go to Calendar
• Look for Add calendar
• Choose an option like Upload from file (wording varies)

If you do not see an upload option, your account or admin policies may restrict imports.

Import into Outlook on Mac

Outlook for Mac supports file imports, though the exact menu path can vary.

1. Download the .ics file.
2. In Outlook, open Calendar.
3. Use File > Import (or drag-and-drop the .ics into Outlook if your version supports it).
4. Choose the destination calendar.

If the import merges into your primary calendar, consider moving imported items into a dedicated “Holidays” calendar afterwards.

Use Outlook on the web

Outlook web UI changes periodically, but the concept is stable.

1. Open Outlook in your browser.
2. Go to Calendar.
3. Choose Add calendar.
4. Select Upload from file.
5. Select the .ics file.
6. Choose a calendar name (for example: “Japan holidays 2026”).
7. Confirm import.

If you’re using a work account, some organizations restrict external imports. If upload is blocked, ask your admin or import into a personal Outlook account.

Use Outlook mobile

Mobile apps typically do not provide robust file import. The best approach is:

1. Import the ICS calendar using desktop Outlook or Outlook on the web.
2. Ensure the imported calendar is enabled in your account.
3. Open Outlook mobile and enable that calendar in the calendar list.

This way, your phone syncs the calendar without needing to import a file directly.

Time zones and all-day events

Holiday calendars should be treated as all-day events.

Why time zones can look wrong

If an event is created with a time (for example 00:00) instead of an all-day flag, Outlook can display it shifted by time zone. That can make a holiday appear on the previous day.

Best practice

• Keep holidays as all-day events.
• If you see date shifts after import, open one event’s details. If it has a start/end time rather than “All day,” that’s the issue.

If you need to share a holiday calendar across multiple time zones for a team, keep the holiday calendar separate from meeting calendars.

Avoid duplicates and keep one clean calendar

Duplicates happen when you import the same ICS multiple times.

Prevention

• Always import into a dedicated “Holidays” calendar.
• Name it clearly (country + year), for example: “Japan holidays 2026”.
• If you update the calendar, delete the old calendar first (or remove all events) before importing the newer file.

Cleanup

If duplicates already exist:

1. Hide all calendars except the holiday calendar.
2. Search within the calendar for a common holiday name.
3. Delete duplicates in bulk if Outlook supports multi-select.

For teams, consider using one controlled calendar import (managed by HR/ops) rather than letting everyone import separately.

How to update an imported holiday calendar

Most Outlook ICS imports are static snapshots.

If you export a refreshed holiday calendar (for example, you chose a different year, or the site’s data was updated), updating is usually:

1. Remove or clear the old imported calendar.
2. Import the new ICS again.

Practical tip: avoid importing multiple versions of the same calendar under different names. It is better to keep one calendar per market/year.

How to remove a holiday calendar

Removal depends on how you imported it.

• If it is a separate calendar: remove or delete the calendar from the calendar list.
• If it merged into your main calendar: delete the events (filter by category or search holiday names) or re-import into a separate calendar next time.

If you are in a shared organization account, you may not be allowed to delete some calendars created by admins.

Notes on CSV imports

Outlook can import CSV in some versions, but CSV is not ideal for holidays because it may not preserve all-day event behavior consistently.

If you already have a CSV:

• Import it into a separate calendar if possible.
• Double-check that events are all-day and land on the correct dates.

If you want the most predictable results across desktop, web, and mobile, prefer ICS.

Troubleshooting

The calendar imported but I can’t see anything

Check:

• Are you viewing the correct calendar in the left sidebar?
• Are you in the correct month and year?
• Did Outlook import into a different account profile?
• Is the calendar hidden (unchecked) in the calendar list?

Outlook shows the holiday on the wrong day

This is usually a time zone or all-day event issue. Confirm the event is marked “All day.” If it has times, delete the imported calendar and import again using a clean ICS.

Import option is missing

Some work-managed accounts disable file imports.

Try:

• importing through Outlook on the web,
• importing using a personal Outlook account,
• asking your administrator whether calendar file uploads are restricted.

If your organization uses strict security policies, you may need to import into a personal account and then share the calendar, or ask an admin to perform the import centrally.

Outlook did nothing after I opened the file

Sometimes Outlook opens the ICS in a preview window without adding it to a calendar.

Look for an action button like Add, Import, or Open as New, then confirm the destination calendar.

I want updates automatically

Outlook supports subscriptions in some scenarios, but the simplest and most predictable approach for static exports is periodic re-import.

If you need a centrally managed calendar for a company, consider having HR/ops import and share one consistent calendar rather than many individual imports.

FAQ

Should I use ICS or CSV for Outlook?

Use ICS for best results.

Can I share the holiday calendar with coworkers?

Yes. Create a dedicated calendar and share it, or provide the ICS file and instructions. For consistency, one shared calendar is often better than many personal imports.

How do I import holidays for multiple countries?

Export each country/year as a separate calendar so you can enable/disable them easily.

What is the safest way to avoid duplicates?

Import into one dedicated calendar per market/year, and delete that calendar before importing a newer version.

Explore country calendars

If “How to use holiday exports in Outlook” affects schedules or planning, use a small set of country pages as a quick cross-check before you generalize.

• United States — a common reference point for “How to use holiday exports in Outlook”.
• United Kingdom — a common reference point for “How to use holiday exports in Outlook” in Europe-focused contexts.
• Canada — a practical reference for “How to use holiday exports in Outlook” in North America.
• Australia — a practical reference for “How to use holiday exports in Outlook” in Oceania.
• India — a practical reference for “How to use holiday exports in Outlook” in South Asia.

You can then browse /public-holidays for a broader set of countries relevant to “How to use holiday exports in Outlook”.