Zimbra - Synchronise a CalDAV calendar in an application

Objective

Zimbra email accounts can be configured on different compatible email software. This allows you to use your email address from your preferred device. Zimbra includes an online calendar feature, which can be synchronised from software compatible with the CalDAV protocol.

Find out how to add a Zimbra calendar to an application via the CalDAV protocol.

Requirements

An OVHcloud Zimbra email account
An application supporting the CalDAV calendar protocol installed
Login details for the email account on which to configure the calendar

Instructions

What is the CalDAV protocol?

CalDAV is a protocol for editing online calendars and tasks. Zimbra email addresses have calendars that use the CalDAV protocol.

CalDAV calendar configuration is similar to email account configuration and requires an application that supports this protocol.

Warning

This section only concerns the Zimbra Starter or Pro offers, which include the calendar sharing feature.

Info

The ICS file format used here is static: the file version corresponds to the moment when the user generates the link. This means that an event added after the link to the ICS file is generated will not be present in the file or in the calendar into which it is imported. There is no synchronisation.

To generate an ICS file link, follow the steps below:

Log in to your Zimbra email address via the webmail.
Go to the Calendar tab.
Right-click on the relevant calendar and click on Share....
Click on the Make public tab.
Tick the box Generate a public link, copy or open the link in a new tab and download the ICS file.

The ICS file you have downloaded can be imported into an existing or newly created calendar.

Unlike ICS file sharing, sharing by email invitation allows you to dynamically share a calendar with other email accounts from the same domain name. Events and actions on the shared calendar will be synchronised.

Warning

Only email addresses from the same domain name can receive this type of sharing.

To initiate a sharing on another email address:

Log in to your Zimbra email account via the webmail.
Go to the Calendar tab.
Right-click on the relevant calendar and click on Share....
Click on the Invite by email tab.

Follow the steps below to share a calendar with one or more email accounts:

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Enter the email address with which you want to share the calendar.

Info

If you share your calendar with an email account from the same domain name using the Roundcube webmail (MX Plan offer) or OWA (Email Pro and Exchange offers), the recipient email address receives a link to access the Zimbra webmail, allowing them to create a "guest" account to view the calendar.

Configuring the CalDAV calendar on compatible software

We have selected stable applications that are compatible with the CalDAV protocol.

For Windows: Follow the Add a calendar on Thunderbird section.
For macOS: Follow the section Add a calendar on macOS or Add a calendar on Thunderbird.
For Linux: Follow the Add a calendar on Thunderbird section.
For iPhone and iPad: Follow the Add a calendar on iOS and ipadOS section.
For Android: Follow the guide Zimbra - Configuring your email account on the Zimbra mobile application.

Warning

Android devices do not currently offer native support for the CalDAV protocol, neither is there currently a stable third-party app that is able to sync Zimbra calendars for our offers.

Only the Zimbra app, based on its webmail, is able to view online calendars on an Android device.

General settings for a CalDAV Zimbra calendar

If you are using a CalDAV-compatible application, here are the general settings you need to set up a CalDAV Zimbra calendar:

Server/Address/URL: Enter the value zimbra1.mail.ovh.net. For some software applications, you will need to include the “https” protocol in the address. Enter the value “https://zimbra1.mail.ovh.net”.
Username: Enter the full email address associated with the calendar.
Password: Enter the password for the email account associated with the calendar.

Adding a calendar on Thunderbird

Info

Mozilla Thunderbird is available on Windows, macOS and Linux. The following installation steps have been carried out from macOS, but they apply the same way to Windows and Linux.

Open Thunderbird and click on the "Agenda" icon in the left-hand column.

Follow the installation steps by clicking on the tabs below:

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Click New Calendar at the bottom of the calendar column or right-click an existing calendar and select New Calendar from the drop-down menu that appears.
Select On the network, then click Next.

Enter calendar login information:

Username: Enter the full email address associated with the calendar.
Address: Enter the value zimbra1.mail.ovh.net.
This address does not request a login ID: leave this box unticked, you will be asked to enter the password associated with the email account entered above.
Offline support: You can leave this option checked.

Click Find Calendars to begin calendar synchronization. Enter the password for the email account associated with the username in the window that appears, and confirm your entry.

Adding a calendar on iOS and ipadOS

Warning

The configuration below was made from an iPhone. However, the procedure is the same from an iPad.

To add a CalDAV calendar on the Apple Calendar app on your iPhone or iPad, follow the installation steps by clicking on the tabs below:

Step 1

Step 2

Step 3

Step 4

Go to the Settings of your iPhone or iPad. Find the Calendar section by scrolling through the menu, or by entering "calendar" in the settings search bar.