iCloud calendars in Evolution Mail

Main source for this.

# A. Install the required software.

Install the following apps if you don’t already have them:

Install Evolution and Gnome Calendar:

sudo apt install evolution gnome-contacts

We will be using Evolution to set up the iCloud accounts but you will most likely want to use Gnome Calendar as your daily calendar as it offers a minimal, beautiful experience.

# B. Set up an app-specific password on iCloud.

  1. Sign into your Apple account at https://appleid.apple.com/
  2. Scroll down to the App-Specific Passwords area in the Security section and select the Generate Password… link.
  3. In the resulting pop-over, enter a descriptive name for this password.
  4. Copy the password onto the clipboard.

# C. Set up your calendar(s) in Evolution.

  1. Select the Calendar section in the main navigation.
  2. Open the drop-down menu next to the New button and select Calendar3.
  3. In the resulting New Calendar window, select CalDAV from the Type drop-down.
  4. In the URL field, enter https://caldav.icloud.com
  5. In the User field, enter your Apple ID
  6. Press the Find Calendars button.
  7. In the resulting password entry pop-up, paste the app-specific password you copied onto the clipboard in the last section.
  8. In the resulting Choose a Calendar window, select the calendar you want to set up4.
  9. Back in the New Calendar window, choose a colour to match the one you use on iCloud.
  10. Set your options: I select Copy calendar contents locally for offline operation, as I want to be able to access the calendar even if I don’t have an Internet connection, and Server handles meeting invitations.5
  11. If you want this to be your default calendar, also check Mark as default calendar.
  12. Set the Refresh every setting6 to decide how frequently your calendars should synchronise.
  13. Press the OK button to create the calendar when you’re happy with your choices.

# This should be easier…

That’s it! If all goes well, you should see your calendar entries begin to pop up in Evolution. If you want to set up additional calendars, rinse and repeat the instructions in this section. Once you’ve set up your accounts, fire up Gnome Calendar and enjoy your synchronised calendars in a beautifully minimal interface. Any entries you make in Gnome Calendar will sync to iCloud and, from there, to all of your Apple toys, and vice-versa.