Google Calendar: Using Labels and Color Coding

Written by:  • Edited by: J. F. Amprimoz
Updated Jun 18, 2009
• Related Guides: Google | Google Calendar

When you have several calendars, it's easy to lose track of what appointments are on which calendars. That's were labels and color coding come in. Using these two features will help you keep everything straight, no matter which calendar view you prefer

Using Labels and Color Coding

If you use other Google applications, you're probably already familiar with the usefulness of the color coding and label system that's standard throughout all Google Aps. But, how can put these features to work for you in Google Calendar?

Color Coding makes it easy to tell what appointments or events belong to which calendar. This means that you never have to wonder if "Dr. Appointment 4pm Monday" means you, your spouse, or one of the kids. You can create a different calendar for each different member of your family and then assign each calendar a color. Ta-da! You'll know at a glance what appointment belongs to which person. You can even use color coding to assign tasks to members of your team, or chores to your family, just record the task or chore on the calendar belonging to the responsible person.

When you look at the calendar menu bar to the left of the screen, you'll notice there is a color swatch under the name of each calendar. That color swatch tells you the color assigned to the calendar.

Change/Assign a color to a calendar

1. Log into Google Calendar

2. In the calendar menu bar, find the name of the calender to which you want to assign a color. Click on the arrow to the right of the calendar name.

3. In the drop down menu, select the color you want to use to code the calendar. Google gives you 21 colors to choose from. The color around the calendar name will change to the selected color

When you create an appointment on any calendar, Google will automatically code the appointment in the corresponding color. This makes it easy to tell at a glance what or who the appointment is for. You won't ever get your appointments and who they blong to mixed up. Staying organized is as easy as spotting a color.

Images

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Comments

Showing all 21 comments
 
Philip Fenez Aug 19, 2011 11:59 AM
colour coding calendar
It is very frustrating that you cannot colour code one calendar. The way this is set up I would need to have 12 calendars set up. Surly it could be programmed easily enough to be similar to outlook.
Jane Rainey Mar 14, 2011 10:41 PM
color coding
Please put it plain and simple. When I use Word, I can easily control color of font. It is simple and easy. Could someone explain how I can apply color coding to activities I select on my google calander.. This is hugely important. I mean huge. If this cannot be done simply, it is an unforgivable design flaw. Please respond ASAP. Jane
myforum Mar 13, 2011 5:54 AM
join this issue on goolge
Google maintains an issue tracker for user request in connection with Google Apps.
I opened an issue with this title:
"Google Calendar : using multiple colors in the same calendar is not supported."

You can join by clicking on the star sign (favorite symbol) on the top left corner, or you can add comments too.
Kat Mar 11, 2011 3:32 PM
Stuck w/ Google via Droid
I have been a Palm user for many, many years and have never been disappointed with it. Even had several Palm cell phones and still loved it.
Now I have a DroidX and have to use Google Calendar and boy is it in the dark ages. There is no reason for Google to be this far behind with this application. The color coding events feature is a must! Please look at Palm and improve the Calendar. And please do it fast!!
Georgia Dunn Feb 28, 2011 8:40 PM
RE: Google Calendar: Using Labels and Color Coding
Google, you need to be able to use different color labels within one calendar. C'mon. This can't be presented to reasonable people as the way it's supposed to be. If I had the time to a make "doctor appointment calendar for me", "doctor appointment calendar for my spouse", 'oil changes calendar', 'dentist appointment calendar'---I wouldn't need a fancy calendar.
sharona Jan 4, 2011 2:47 AM
color coding within one calendar
Thank you guys for your comments. Now I know that color coding within one calendar is not an option. I thought I just didn't find how to make it happen...
TINA VESTAL Dec 30, 2010 9:21 PM
color code calendars
ok people, I think I've got it. All you need to do is set up as many different "calendars" as you need like CB says Non Billable and pick orange to associate - Billable Green and so on - is it each will show up as a Label - (T H I N K L A A A B E L ) or color coding on ONE calendar. Yup it does work... Even on my smart phone - BUT you will have to set them up as far as I can tell in your GMAIL -
Best Wishes
tina vestal Dec 26, 2010 9:05 PM
color coding within one calendar
I don't need numerous calendars, I need ONE CALENDAR that I can code work items verses personal items verse health items, there is only me so why do I need to create 8 different calendars? Please accommodate this very logical request. pretty please with sugar on top
Ken Cruze Dec 24, 2010 1:38 PM
color code events
I have a 5+yr old palm calendar that is 10X more user friendly than google.
Google, you are smarter than that. Please address this issue.
AG Nov 23, 2010 6:52 PM
RE: Google Calendar: Using Labels and Color Coding
Same here! Giving us the option of colour-coding events would be one of the most sensible modifications to the Google calendar. I find it hard to understand how come the people who design it don't see how easy it is to overlook things that appear uniform on the screen. Please work on this feature.
John Sears Nov 20, 2010 9:01 AM
This is not lables
The "multiple calendars" is very different from the labels that we know and love in gmail. Emails can be associated with multiple labels and you can sort them based on labels. Google should really look to add this ability with events in the calendar (and to be able to share calendar events based upon the labels). The way it works now is more akin to folders than labels and folders are very 20th century.
Katie Nov 19, 2010 10:02 PM
Multiple Colours Please
Has this issue been fixed, does anyone have a solution to our problem?
Ashley Nov 18, 2010 5:20 PM
google finally fails
google is usually so user-friendly. this is a big disappointment.
John Dill Oct 10, 2010 11:40 AM
Thanks!
I've been looking all over for how to do this! I have my weekly schedule for work and classes and share it with a lot of people, so I wanted to distinguish between common events. Thanks for the tip.

Also, come check out my blog for other daily tips if you want: http://bloggerlisted.blogspot.com
Heather McGillivary Sep 28, 2010 2:20 PM
Google Mail Calendars
I just migrated from Outlook, and I absolutely HATE Google calendar! Everything shows up the same color, regardless of whether it is marked Available or Busy (and there isn't even a Out of Office choice). I was told that I needed to have multiple calendars in order to have things show up with different colors, so I spent an entire day moving things to other calendars. Now, I find out that in an office environment, the only things that show up as busy when others are searching for free time, are the things that are on my main calendar. So, the only way to have out-of-office events show up in a different color than in-office appointments is to keep them in two separate calendars, but only one of those two calendars will show busy-free information to everyone else. So, basically the calendaring program is worthless. Those tiny little smiley face icons just don't do much for me either.
John Cotton Sep 18, 2010 10:37 PM
color coding...
I'm in the same boat as the rest of you guys: I want to use only ONE calendar and color code different types of events: Concerts I work at / Concerts I go to for fun / birthdays / etc.

I want different types of events to be different colors. Why is this so hard???
CB Sep 16, 2010 10:47 AM
Why not multiple colours for ONE calendar??
Juste is 100% correct. what total nonsense that multi colors cannot be managed in one calendar.

Non Billable work: Orange
Billable work: Green
Vacation: Yellow
Milestones: Red.

without managing load of calendars. How hard is that?
Sandra Jul 22, 2010 1:08 PM
1 calendar/multiple colors
I would also like to be able to add multiple colors to 1 calendar. I would like to be able to change colors at the task & event level. For example, once I complete a task or appointment, I like to change the color to red. A great visual cue to see what appointment/tasks are open and/or need to be rescheduled.
Juste Jul 16, 2010 2:13 PM
Why not multiple colours for ONE calendar??
Sorry, but this is really stupid. Why did noone come up with different colours for ONE calendar? At the moment I am running ten different calendars for ONE person (me) just because Google doesn't allow me to have different colours for my main calendar. And every time I come up with a new activity, I have to make a new calendar. This can't be it, now can it?!
Amanda Hopkins Jul 15, 2010 1:35 PM
Event type colour
I wish they'd do a system to colour-code event types for multiple people? I.e. being able to select a particular colour when setting up or editing a calendar entry if ALL the calendar "members" are to attend a particular event. Does anyone know if there's a gadget or add-on for this?
Dan Prusaitis May 31, 2010 7:19 PM
multiple calendars won't back up to the phone via microsoft exchange
Multiple calendars won't back up to the phone via microsoft exchange so it seems so far. I have tried with two different logins, and as soon as I put a second calendar in either the events of one won't download to the phone, or the calendar won't download at all.
 
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