Connecting your calendar lets your Receptionist check your availability in real time and book appointments directly into your Google or Outlook calendar - so you never have to manually schedule the meetings your callers ask for.
Your calendar is used only to check availability and create events. Nothing else is read or shared.
📌 Where this lives:
Your calendar is connected at Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar, on the Beside mobile app (iPhone and Android) and on Beside on the web.
Booking hours, destination calendar, and duration are set in different places depending on the platform - see Appointment settings below.
Connect your calendar
Beside supports Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar. The connection steps are the same on the Beside mobile app and on Beside on the web.
Go to Receptionist (on the web app, sign in first at app.beside.com and open Receptionist in the sidebar)
If you have multiple lines, select the relevant one from the dropdown
Under Integrations, tap or click Connect Calendar
Choose Google Calendar or Outlook Calendar
Sign in and grant permissions when prompted
Once connected, your Receptionist can start booking appointments based on your availability.
⚠️ Grant full calendar access:
During sign-in, make sure to allow all requested permissions. If any permissions are unchecked (for example, by a Google Workspace admin policy), Beside won't be able to connect.
On the latest mobile app version, you'll see a "Calendar permissions required" error if access is incomplete - tap it to reconnect and grant full access.
📌 Supported calendars:
Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar only. Apple Calendar and iCal are not currently supported.
Appointment settings
Where you set your booking hours, destination calendar, and appointment duration depends on which platform you're using.
💡 Two different places:
On Beside on the web, all of these settings live together on the Calendar page, at Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar.
On the Beside mobile app, they're set per rule, inside the Book Appointment action you add to a call reason in Receptionist → Scenarios. If you add a Book Appointment action to more than one call reason, each one can have its own settings. 📖 Set up Scenarios
Your calendar connection and booking confirmation texts are single shared settings on the Connect Calendar page on both platforms.
Booking hours
Your Receptionist will only book appointments during the days and hours you select.
Beside on the web: go to Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar, then under Booking hours select the days you're available and set the From and To times.
Beside mobile app: go to Receptionist → Scenarios, open a call reason, open its Book Appointment action, then set Booking hours there.
📌 One time range for all days:
It isn't currently possible to set different hours for each day. You can exclude entire days (for example Saturday and Sunday) by leaving them unselected.
Destination calendar
If your account contains multiple calendars, use Add events to to choose which one receives new appointments - for example your work calendar rather than a personal one.
Beside on the web: the Add events to dropdown is on the Calendar page.
Beside mobile app: Add events to is inside the Book Appointment action.
Appointment duration
This sets how long each booked appointment lasts. The default is 30 minutes.
Beside on the web: use the Duration dropdown on the Calendar page.
Beside mobile app: use the Duration field inside the Book Appointment action.
Buffer time
On the Beside mobile app, the Book Appointment action also includes a Buffer Time setting - extra time blocked before and/or after each appointment, so back-to-back bookings aren't scheduled with no gap in between.
Booking confirmation texts
When enabled, callers receive a confirmation SMS from your Beside number after a meeting is scheduled.
On both the Beside mobile app and Beside on the web, go to Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar and toggle Send confirmation text under Appointment confirmation. This is a single shared setting, not set per rule.
Update or reconnect your calendar
Go to Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar
If you have multiple lines, select the relevant one from the dropdown
Tap or click the trash icon next to the connected calendar to disconnect it
Reconnect and grant full access when prompted
Calendar permissions explained
Beside needs permission to view your free/busy status, check availability to avoid conflicts, and create events on your selected calendar. These permissions are handled through Google or Microsoft OAuth - not your device's system settings. Beside does not share or expose personal calendar data.
Troubleshooting
If your calendar is connected but bookings aren't working - the Receptionist isn't offering slots, a confirmed meeting never appears in your calendar, or your calendar isn't syncing - see the dedicated guide:
FAQ
Where do I set booking hours on the mobile app?
Where do I set booking hours on the mobile app?
Inside the Book Appointment action, not on the Connect Calendar page. Go to Receptionist → Scenarios, open a call reason, open its Book Appointment action, and set Booking hours there. If you don't see the action yet, add it to a call reason first. 📖 Set up Scenarios
Why is my Calendar page stuck on a loading screen?
Why is my Calendar page stuck on a loading screen?
This is most commonly caused by a calendar connection where permissions were incomplete during setup, or a connection that has expired. Go to Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar, disconnect your calendar, and reconnect granting full access.
What happens if I don't grant all permissions during sign-in?
What happens if I don't grant all permissions during sign-in?
If any calendar permissions are unchecked during Google or Outlook sign-in (including permissions removed by a Google Workspace admin policy), Beside won't be able to read your calendar. On the latest mobile app version, you'll see a "Calendar permissions required" error. Tap it to reconnect and grant full access.
My calendar was connected before but now it's asking me to reconnect - why?
My calendar was connected before but now it's asking me to reconnect - why?
Calendar connections can expire over time, especially for Outlook. Reconnect from Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar to restore scheduling.
My Google Calendar is managed by my company - can I still connect it?
My Google Calendar is managed by my company - can I still connect it?
Yes, but your Workspace admin may have restricted which permissions third-party apps can request. If Beside's connection fails, contact your IT admin and ask them to allow calendar access for Beside. Once allowed, reconnect from Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar.
Can I connect iCal or Apple Calendar?
Can I connect iCal or Apple Calendar?
Not currently. Beside supports Google Calendar and Outlook Calendar only.
I have multiple calendars under the same email - which one does Beside use?
I have multiple calendars under the same email - which one does Beside use?
The one selected under Add events to. On Beside on the web, that dropdown is on the Calendar page at Receptionist → Integrations → Connect Calendar. On the Beside mobile app, it's inside the Book Appointment action in Scenarios. Note that your Receptionist only checks availability on the connected calendar account - events on separate accounts won't be detected.