Connect Google Calendar
Quick path: Settings → Integrations → Google Calendar → Connect → Select calendars → Save
What this helps you do
Section titled “What this helps you do”Google Calendar integration pushes your Bloowatch sessions into a Google account. Instructors and managers can check the day’s schedule from their phone, get reminders, and see staff assignments — all from Google Calendar. This is especially useful for staff who are on the water or in the field and need a quick glance at what’s coming up.
Watch out: This is a one-way sync only — Bloowatch pushes data to Google Calendar. Changes you make in Google Calendar (moving events, deleting them, editing details) do not flow back to Bloowatch. Blocking time in Google Calendar does not block availability in Bloowatch. Always make scheduling changes inside Bloowatch.
Before you start
Section titled “Before you start”- You have a Google account (personal or Google Workspace — both work)
- You are logged into Bloowatch as an Admin or Owner (Settings is only visible to these roles)
- You have Activity Calendars already set up in Bloowatch with sessions scheduled
- Your Bloowatch plan is PRO or GOLD (Google Calendar integration is not available on START)
1. Open the Integration settings
Section titled “1. Open the Integration settings”Click your profile name in the top-right corner, then select Settings. In the Settings sidebar on the left, click Integration.
This page manages all external connections — payment gateways and Google Calendar.
2. Locate the Google Calendar section
Section titled “2. Locate the Google Calendar section”Scroll down on the Integration page until you find the Google Calendar section. It is below the payment gateway settings.
3. Connect your Google account
Section titled “3. Connect your Google account”Click the Connect with Google button. A Google authorization window opens in a new tab (or popup).
- Select the Google account you want to sync with
- Review the permissions Bloowatch is requesting — it needs access to create and manage events on your Google Calendar
- Click Allow to authorize the connection
Once authorized, you are redirected back to Bloowatch. The Integration page now shows your connected Google account email.
Watch out: If you use a shared Google account for the business (e.g., info@yourschool.com), any team member with access to that Google account will see the synced sessions. For personal instructor calendars, each person needs to connect their own Google account from their own Bloowatch profile.
4. Choose which Activity Calendars to sync
Section titled “4. Choose which Activity Calendars to sync”After connecting, Bloowatch shows a list of your Activity Calendars. Select which ones you want to push to Google Calendar.
| Option | What it does |
|---|---|
| Select specific calendars | Only sessions from the chosen Activity Calendars appear in Google Calendar |
| Select all | Every Activity Calendar syncs — useful if one person oversees the entire operation |
Check the boxes next to the Activity Calendars you want to sync, then click Save.
5. Verify the sync in Google Calendar
Section titled “5. Verify the sync in Google Calendar”Open Google Calendar (calendar.google.com or the mobile app). You should see a new calendar created by Bloowatch in the left sidebar under “Other calendars.”
Check that:
- Upcoming sessions appear as events
- Each event shows the session time, activity name, and assigned instructor(s)
- The calendar color matches what you expect (you can change this in Google Calendar’s settings)
What syncs (and what doesn’t)
Section titled “What syncs (and what doesn’t)”| Syncs to Google Calendar | Does NOT sync |
|---|---|
| Session date and time | Booking details (client names, contact info) |
| Activity name | Payment information |
| Staff/instructor assignments | Changes made in Google Calendar |
| Session capacity (total spots) | Time-off entries |
| Meeting spot (if set) | Waitlist information |
Sessions are created as Google Calendar events. When you update a session in Bloowatch (change time, reassign instructor), the Google Calendar event updates automatically. When you delete a session in Bloowatch, the Google Calendar event is removed.
What should happen next
Section titled “What should happen next”- Your Google Calendar shows Bloowatch sessions as events within a few minutes of creation
- Changes to sessions in Bloowatch (time, instructor, deletion) propagate to Google Calendar
- Staff who have access to the Google account can view the schedule on any device
- Google Calendar notifications work as usual — you can set reminders for upcoming sessions
Common mistakes
Section titled “Common mistakes”| Mistake | Why it happens | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| ”Events don’t appear in Google Calendar” | The sync takes a few minutes to propagate | Wait 5-10 minutes and refresh Google Calendar. If still missing, check that you selected the right Activity Calendars in step 4 |
| ”I edited an event in Google Calendar but Bloowatch didn’t change” | Sync is one-way only (Bloowatch to Google) | Always make changes in Bloowatch. The Google Calendar event will update to match |
| ”I blocked time in Google Calendar but clients can still book” | Google Calendar changes don’t affect Bloowatch availability | Use Time-off in Bloowatch to block instructor availability |
| ”Wrong Google account connected” | You selected the wrong account during authorization | Disconnect the current account in the Integration settings, then reconnect with the correct Google account |
| ”Only some sessions appear” | Not all Activity Calendars are selected for sync | Go back to Settings > Integration > Google Calendar and check the calendar selection |
If it still doesn’t work
Section titled “If it still doesn’t work”- Check your Google account permissions: Go to myaccount.google.com/permissions and verify Bloowatch has access. If it was revoked, reconnect from the Integration page.
- Try disconnecting and reconnecting: In Settings > Integration, disconnect Google Calendar, wait a moment, and reconnect. This forces a fresh authorization.
- Check your browser: Pop-up blockers can prevent the Google authorization window from opening. Try allowing pop-ups for your Bloowatch domain.
- Contact Bloowatch Support via the chat widget (the “b” icon, bottom-right) — mention which Google account you are trying to connect and which Activity Calendars you selected.
