Files with ics extension are calendar data in exchange format which is widely accepted in many personal information managers and e-mail clients such as Microsoft Outlook, or Apple iCal. It is an universal format for transporting calendar data and events from one program to another.
.ICS file extension - iCalendar calendar file format (Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal)
What is ics file? How to open ics files?
File extension ics is mainly associated with Microsoft Outlook, a personal information manager, which is part of Microsoft Office, developed by Microsoft Corporation. But the ICS format is widely used by many other applications.
The ics file format is universal calendar format used by many other applications such as Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal (Calendar), Mozilla Sunbird, and Google Calendar.
It allows users to publish and share calendar data on internet. Other users can subscribe to published calendars and import events into their own calendars. The specifications for this format are described in RFC 2445.
MIME types:
text/calendar
Updated: January 3, 2025
The default software associated to open ics file:
Company or developer:
Microsoft Corporation
Microsoft Outlook is a professional e-mail management tool and personal information manager distributed with the Microsoft Office suite. Outlook integrates the e-mail application, calendar, task manager, contact manager, and note-taking into one application.
Company or developer:
Apple, Inc.
Apple Calendar (iCal) is a personal calendar application bundled with Apple Mac OS X since 2002. Calendar was the first calendar application for Mac OS X to offer support for multiple calendars and the ability to publish/subscribe calendars to WebDAV server.
Company or developer:
Google Inc.
Google Calendar is on-line application for calendar management.
List of software applications associated to the .ics file extension
Recommended software programs are sorted by OS platform (Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android etc.)
and possible program actions that can be done with the file: like open ics file, edit ics file, convert ics file, view ics file, play ics file etc. (if exist software for corresponding action in File-Extensions.org's database).
Hint:
Click on the tab below to simply browse between the application actions, to quickly get a list of recommended software, which is able to perform the specified software action, such as opening, editing or converting ics files.
Software that open ics file - iCalendar calendar file format (Microsoft Outlook, Apple iCal)
Programs supporting the exension ics on the main platforms Windows, Mac, Linux or mobile. Click on the link to get more information about listed programs for open ics file action.
Microsoft Windows:
Main software associated with ics file by default:
Microsoft Outlook
Other suggested software:
Lightning
