ICS File Generator
Generate RFC 5545 compliant .ics calendar files with reminders (VALARM), recurring rules, and timezones. Free, no signup, view source.
Selected reminders are written as VALARM blocks; supported calendars will trigger notifications.
Fill in the event details to generate an .ics file
From .ics file to shareable event page
An .ics file is great for one recipient — but a Calen event page works on every device, in every browser, with no download required.
How to generate an ICS file
- Enter your event details (title, date, time, timezone, description)
- Select reminders — 5 min to 1 week before — and they are written as VALARM blocks
- Download the .ics file or copy the raw RFC 5545 source
Perfect For
Email Attachments
Attach the .ics to an invitation email — recipients add the event with one click in Apple Mail, Outlook, or Gmail
Website & Blog Embeds
Host the .ics file on your site so visitors can save your webinar, course, or release date to any calendar
Developers & Integrations
Inspect the raw ICS source, copy it into tests or fixtures, or feed it into automation and CMS pipelines
Why Calen Over a Plain ICS Generator?
| Feature | ICS Generator | Calen |
|---|---|---|
| .ics file generation (RFC 5545) | ✅ | ✅ |
| VALARM reminders | ✅ | ✅ |
| Recurring events (RRULE) | ✅ | ✅ |
| View raw ICS source | ✅ | — |
| Beautiful Event Pages | — | ✅ |
| Attendee Management | — | ✅ |
| Analytics & Insights | — | ✅ |
Related Tools & Articles
Other Free Tools
- Calendar Link Generator — One-click add-to-calendar links
- Calendar QR Code Generator — QR codes for flyers and badges
- Timezone Converter
- Event Image Generator
Recommended Reading
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an .ics file?
An .ics (iCalendar) file is a plain-text format defined by RFC 5545 that calendar apps use to exchange events. Apple Calendar, Outlook, Google Calendar, Thunderbird, and most other calendar apps can open it.
How do I open an .ics file?
On macOS or iOS, double-tap the file to open it in Apple Calendar. On Windows, double-click to open in Outlook. To import into Google Calendar, go to Settings → Import & export → Select file from your computer.
Are the reminders (VALARM) actually triggered?
Yes — Apple Calendar, Outlook desktop, and Thunderbird honour VALARM blocks and will display notifications at the specified offsets. Google Calendar imports them as event notifications too.
Is the output RFC 5545 compliant?
Yes. We emit a VCALENDAR with VERSION:2.0, a unique UID, DTSTAMP, properly escaped text fields, and 75-octet line folding as the spec requires.
Can I generate a recurring event?
Yes — turn on the recurring toggle and set frequency, interval, and end date. The generator emits an RRULE that all major calendar apps respect.
Is this free? Do I need to sign up?
Completely free. No signup required to generate, download, or copy the .ics source.