If you are a Linux user and you own iPhone, you might know, how hard it can be to integrate Apple’s proprietary services with open-source ones. Luckily there is an easy way how to synchronize the iCloud calendar with gnome-calendar because Apple is using the CalDAV standard. You could use NextCloud to host your CalDAV server, but for the sake of simplicity, we will use iCloud calendar. The system I am running is Fedora 37 Beta with Gnome 43 and iPhone 8 with iOS 15.7.
Step 1: Generate an App-specific password
App-specific passwords are used to connect to your iCloud services.
They are visible for a limited time and can be revoked at any time.
To obtain an app-specific password you need to log into Apple ID
(You can use this link).
Go to Sign-In and Security -> App-specific passwords
and click plus sign button to create a new password.
Step 2: Make sure you have Evolution installed
To add a CalDAV account to gnome-calendar you need to have Evolution installed (If you know any other easier way, how to add CalDAV accounts to gnome-calendar, please let me know).
To install Evolution on Fedora use dnf install evolution or for Debian-based distros use apt-get install evolution.
Step 3: Add a calendar account in Evolution
Open Evolution and go to File -> New -> Calendar
Fill the form
| Key | Value |
|---|---|
| Type | CalDAV |
| Name | leave blank, will be filled automatically |
| Colour | leave blank, will be filled automatically |
| URL | https://caldav.icloud.com |
| User | your Apple ID email |
| leave blank, will be filled automatically | |
| Server handles meeting invitations | True |
and click Find callendars button. You will be asked for password. Enter the app-specific password you obtained earlier and select the calendar you wish to add.
Done
Well done, you just synchronized your iCloud calendar with gnome-calendar. If you wish to add more than one calendar just repeat Step 3 (If you know any better way, please let me know).