How the two-way sync works
When you connect a Google or Outlook account, 4appointments gets an OAuth token scoped to calendar only (no email, contacts or drive access). Then: any event created in 4appointments is pushed to the external calendar in under two seconds; any event marked "busy" in the external calendar automatically blocks the matching slot on the public booking calendar.
- Real-time sync (<2s) via Google + Microsoft Graph webhooks
- OAuth scoped to calendar only — not email, not contacts
- Tokens refreshed automatically, no password re-entry
- One-click disconnect from the panel, no orphan data
Per practitioner, not per firm
Every practitioner on your team connects their own Google/Outlook account from the personal panel. That way, bookings land in the calendar of the person who will see the client, not in a shared calendar without context. And their personal blocks (lunch, external meetings, vacation) block only their slots — colleagues stay available.
Real-world use cases
Stylists with variable days off, therapists on split shifts, doctors on night call, consultants negotiating their own schedule — all need their personal Google calendar to be the source of truth. 4appointments respects that source: you don't re-enter anything by hand, and the public slots adjust on their own.
- Vacations in Google never show as bookable on the site
- External meetings in Outlook block the slot automatically
- Bookings made in 4appointments land on the practitioner's phone instantly
- Time changes propagate in both directions
Frequently asked questions
Does 4appointments read my emails or contacts?
No. At OAuth time we request only the "calendar.events" scope (Google) and "Calendars.ReadWrite" (Microsoft). We have no access to Gmail, Drive, Contacts or Outlook Mail. The permissions are visible when you connect the account.
Can I connect more than one calendar (personal + work)?
Yes. Every practitioner can connect both a personal Google calendar AND a work Outlook 365 calendar — any "busy" block in either blocks the public slot. Useful for those who keep personal and professional schedules separate.
What happens if I lose access to my Google account?
Sync stops (no data is lost), and the 4appointments calendar stays the source of truth. You reconnect the account (or a different one) and sync resumes where it left off, with no duplicates.
Does it work with iCloud Calendar?
Yes, via Apple's official CalDAV protocol. iCloud sync is slightly slower (10-30 seconds) than Google or Microsoft Graph, but it works correctly in both directions.
Want your Google calendar to be the source of truth?
Connect Google or Outlook in one click from the panel. Disconnect is also one click, no orphan data.
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