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I'm using Mozilla Thunderbird 9.0.1 with Lightning 1.1.1. Is there an easier way to import an ICS file attached to an email than saving it to disk, then in Calendar going to File --> Open?

If I select "Open with Thunderbird" from the save dialog, it just opens a new mail message and attaches the file to it.

(I did see this older question, but it refers to much older versions of Thunderbird and Lightning)

Update: I've updated to 10.0 and 1.2, respectively and it still doesn't work right.

Update 2: Bugzilla.

Community
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travis
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11 Answers11

75

For Thunderbird 15.0 / Lightning 1.7 the following procedure works for me:

  1. Open the "Today Pane" ie. the Events panel on the right hand side next to the email list.

  2. Drag&Drop the ics-file onto that pane.

In my case (Kubuntu 12.04) it will create the event. Hope this helps.

N.B In Windows 7, you need to hold the CTRL key down while dragging the ICS file on to the events pane.

mack nordstrum
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SwingLocators
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11

Right click on the mail and click Convert > Event

Natim
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6

On Windows:

  1. Save the attachment to the desktop
  2. From Events & Tasks select Import
  3. Select the .ICS to be added to the Calendar
  4. From the calendar pop-up select which calendar to add the event
Andrea
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Rob
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3

If you have the Lightning calendar extension installed on Thunderbird and have the Events pane open.

You can add an ICS file by holding the CTRL key and then dragging the ICS file on to the events pane. (The CTRL key needs to be pressed on Windows 7, but apparently it may work without pressing the CTRL key on Windows 10 and Linux)

The only problem with it seems to be it doesn't manage to parse the start time and end time from the ICS file properly. Instead, it just marks the event as an all day event and disregards the actual start and end times (on windows anyway, not sure about Linux) the rest of the info seems to be picked up correctly.

There is a bug open in Bugzilla for this issue (ICS files not being able to be directly opened in Thunderbird/Lightning). If enough people vote for this bug, its more likely it will get fixed. To vote for the bug to get fixed, create an account on Bugzilla, then go to Opening or adding .ics files to calendar by double click. Under the header titled Importance there is a link that says Vote. Click that then add a tick to the bug and then click Change Votes.

mack nordstrum
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2

TBird 38.3.0 & Lighting 4.0.3 - Scenario: You click on an ICS link, and are presented with the Open/Save Dialog Solution:

  1. Click Open in Thunderbird
  2. You are presented with a new mail pane
  3. Send the mail to yourself
  4. In the resultant mail in your inbox, you'll see a blue banner at the top, "This message contains an event"
  5. Click 'Add'

Still not as convenient as it might be, but maybe a little better than saving & dragging.

Status3543
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Rich B
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1

In the latest version of TB, 78.12.00, you can associate .ics files with TB/Lightning.

  • Right click > open / double click on the attachment.
  • Select "open with" and then "other" from the dropdown.
  • Select "browse" and Navigate to (usually) C:\Program Files (x86)\Mozilla Thunderbird and select Thunderbird.exe
  • Click on Open and you should get a dialog box "Import calendar Events and Tasks" from which you can import the event.
  • From now on double clicking on an.ics attachment should take you to a similar dialog box once you have checked "always do this "
Peter Jennings
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1

On Windows 8.1, Thunderbird 24.6, and Lightning 2.6.6 it works by dragging the .ics into the today tab (F11 to open if Lightning is installed) without any keyboard modifiers. No other part of lightning or thunderbird will accept the file as a dragged item. All information appears to arrive intact including times/details/location.

It would appear that the bugs referenced in some of the other answers have been fixed.

John
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1

If using TB 31.X on a Mac running OS 10.9 and using Google Calendar Tab 3.9 - it's a bit counterintuitive to add .ics events to the calendar. First, save the .ics file to your local drive. On the Google calendar tab in TB, mouse over the "My Calendars" name then click on the little down arrow and select "Settings". Find the "Import Calendar" option in the setting screen view, browse for your saved .ics file, choose which calendar to add the event to, then select "Import". You should then get an import confirmation. Good luck. RH

Rusty
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0

At the top of the open message there should be a "This message contains an event [..]" ribbon. Select accept → accept & send now.

If the ribbon does not show up, that is a bug in Lightning that needs addressing.

Bjartur Thorlacius
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0

As of Thunderbird 78.0, there is a command-line way to open .ics files in Thunderbird. This means it will be easy to add file associations now.

https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/new-thunderbird-78#w_calendar-preview-and-select-events-to-import-from-ics-file

jdpipe
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-1

Create new Agenda : https://support.mozilla.org/en-US/kb/creating-new-calendars

You can delete the old Agenda

the update will be automatic

user1121218
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