I remember the small panic when my partner's shared weekend plans clashed with a work call — and my assistant couldn't even see the family calendar. That friction just got easier. On Jan 29, 2026, Gemini rolled out a notable upgrade: the Gemini app can now access, search, create, modify, and delete events across shared and secondary Google Calendars. I'll walk through what changed, how I tried it, where it still falls short, and what admins need to know.
1) Quick Overview: What Changed with Gemini app & Google Calendar
On Jan 29, 2026, the Gemini app rolled out a major upgrade to its Google Calendar tool. Before, Gemini could only see my primary calendar. Now it can search calendars by default across shared calendars and secondary calendars, which fixes a big gap for family and team planning.
- Search: asks about my schedule now scan all calendars automatically
- Create: I can add events to a specific calendar (like “Work”)
- Modify/Delete: works where I have edit access
In my tests, it recognized calendar names like Family and Work. Limits remain: no location/description edits, and no inviting attendees. Available for Business Standard, Enterprise, and AI Pro.
“Gemini today is rolling out a ‘major upgrade’ to the Google Calendar ‘tool’…” — Abner Li
2) Feature Breakdown: Search, Create Events, Modify & Delete
This upgrade makes it easier for me to search calendars and manage events without switching views. Gemini now checks my shared and secondary Google Calendar by default when I ask about my schedule.
Search, Create, Modify
- Search: It scans all calendars automatically, like Family or a work schedule.
- Create events: I can create events on a named calendar using Gemini prompts (for example, “Add ‘Dentist Appointment’ to my primary calendar for next Tuesday at 10 AM.”).
- Modify & delete: I can modify events or remove them on any calendar where I have edit access, like “Move my ‘Grocery Trip’ on my shared calendar to Friday at 5 PM.”
“It can now ‘find, create, and manage events’ in a shared family calendar, secondary work schedule, personal project calendar, etc.”
Caveat: it still can’t edit location/description or invite people.
3) How I Connect and Use It — Step-by-Step (with real prompts)
- Connect calendar: I sign in to Gemini apps, then enable Activity settings and action permissions (OAuth) so the Calendar API can run an Add action in Google Calendar.
- Call the tool: I use
@Google Calendarand name the calendar:@Google Calendar Family. - Search:
What do I have scheduled on my Family calendar this weekend? - Edit:
Move my ‘Grocery Trip’ on my shared calendar to Friday at 5 PM.If it’s read-only, Gemini tells me it can’t modify. - Create:
Add ‘Dentist Appointment’ to my primary calendar for next Tuesday at 10 AM.
Abner Li: “Since launch, @Google Calendar in the Gemini app has only been able to access your primary one.”
4) Limits, Privacy, and Security — What Still Needs Work
Even with shared calendars, I still hit hard limits: Gemini can’t edit event location, description, or invite people.
“Limitations like not being able to add/update the location or description of existing events, nor add/invite people to events, remain.”
Edit access is the safety valve: Gemini can only modify/delete where I have permission, which reduces accidental changes on read-only shares.
On privacy, broader access means Gemini can “see” more of my shared data, so I review sharing and activity settings in Google Workspace.
For Gemini enterprise, admins also need the Calendar API enabled and OAuth set up for actions. Since calendar invites have been flagged as a risk vector, I keep sensitive events on private calendars for now.
5) Enterprise Notes: Setup, API, and Admin Considerations
For Gemini enterprise in Google Workspace, I treat Calendar actions like an integration project. To Connect calendar features, admins typically need the Calendar API enabled and OAuth clients configured (see docs.cloud.google.com/gemini/enterprise/docs/assistant-actions-google).
- Plan OAuth scopes and consent screens to avoid over-permissioning shared calendars.
- Expect staggered rollout; Abner Li notes:
"Feature available for Business Standard, Enterprise, and AI Pro users with rapid rollout."
- Turn on audit/action logs so I can review what Gemini changed across shared calendars.
- I start with a small pilot on Business Standard or AI Pro seats.
- Keep HR/finance calendars out until tested, since invites/descriptions may still fail.
6) Real-World Use Cases & My Small Experiments
Family calendar, projects, and quick edits
Shortly after the Jan 29, 2026 rollout, I tested how Gemini can search calendars and manage events. For family logistics, I asked: What do I have scheduled on my Family calendar this weekend? and it pulled shared items with no extra setup. For side work, I used create events like “Add deadline to Project-X,” and it landed on the right calendar when I named it.
- Errand edits:
Move my Grocery Trip on my shared calendar to Friday at 5 PM. - Meeting times: pairs well with Gemini’s “best time” suggestions.
- Limitation: 1 manual step—add location/description after creation.
- Productivity settings: standardize names (Family, Work, Project-X).
Abner Li: “Example Gemini prompts include: ‘What do I have scheduled on my Family calendar this weekend?’”
7) Wild Cards, Tangents & A Personal Takeaway
Wild card: the “micromanager” roommate
I joked that a calendar-savvy roommate could use the Gemini app as a shared-chores micromanager—funny, but now plausible with shared access.
Keys to a second mailbox
This upgrade feels like giving your assistant keys to a second mailbox: convenient if you trust it, unsettling if you don’t. I can even imagine Gemini auto-suggesting a weekly family meeting by scanning shared calendars for open blocks—useful, but privacy-sensitive.
Abner Li: “More on Gemini: Gemini details AI Plus limits, rolls out NotebookLM integration on iOS Gemini 3 Flash’s new Agentic Vision improves image responses.”
My takeaway: I’m excited, but cautious—especially as Google AI Pro expands. Quirky tip: keep a “Do Not Touch” private calendar.
