Ben Forta

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iPhone Tip: How To Remove A Leftover Calendar

This one was a pain to figure out, so I am sharing it here in case others can use the info (or for the next time I need it myself).
iPhone supports syncing with multiple calendars, and displays them in a single integrated calendar using a different color for each. But have you ever tried to remove one of the calendars? There is no option to do so! And unchecking the calendar in iTunes simply prevents it from being synced in the future, but does not remove the unwanted calendar from the iPhone – all that left over data just sits there.
In my case I have an Exchange calendar and a local Outlook calendar on the iPhone, and I wanted to remove the local calendar and leave only the Exchange calendar. Here are the steps that worked for me (adapt them as needed):

  1. On the iPhone, go to settings, select the Exchange mail/calendar, and turn OFF Exchange calendar use.
  2. iPhone will ask you if you want to delete the Exchange calendar data, confirm the deletion.
  3. Then turn ON the Exchange calendar.
  4. iPhone will ask you what you want to do with the existing (non-Exchange) calendar data, giving you the option of deleting it.
  5. Go ahead with the deletion.
  6. As soon as Exchange syncs you’ll have just that one calendar.

Pretty simple (although there really should just be a simple delete option!).

17 responses to “iPhone Tip: How To Remove A Leftover Calendar”

  1. MJ Avatar
    MJ

    Awesome, had the exact same problem and this solved it! Thanks!

    Reply
  2. RC Avatar
    RC

    Worked GREAT! Thank you for sharing!

    Reply
  3. Fred Wenders Avatar
    Fred Wenders

    Thanks. Works great

    Reply
  4. Oz Avatar
    Oz

    that was simple a great!!!
    thx

    Reply
  5. Andy Avatar
    Andy

    Simple and worked. Brilliant!!

    Reply
  6. CT Avatar
    CT

    Finally. This was the answer. Thanks for posting this

    Reply
  7. Philip N Avatar
    Philip N

    Brilliant.
    I was trying to copy the Calendar.sqlitedb to my pc and delete the calendat. cound not figure out what to do with it. Now I follow your tip and have been able to remove the annoying 2nd calendar on my iphone.
    Thank you for sharing

    Reply
  8. Paula Avatar
    Paula

    Thank you so much!!! I was trying to figure this out and got so many complicated workarounds, I knew there had to be an easier way. Thanks!!!!

    Reply
  9. Paul Avatar
    Paul

    Too easy. After 10 months of putting up with 2 calendars I now dont get duplicates. Many thanks

    Reply
  10. Michael Avatar
    Michael

    well done, that worked perfectly and on my contacts as well.

    Reply
  11. iAndy Avatar
    iAndy

    THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!! 🙂

    Reply
  12. Scott Miller Avatar
    Scott Miller

    dude thanks

    Reply
  13. Ben Forta Avatar
    Ben Forta

    In that situation don’t delete calendars, do a reset on the entire phone, there is a reset option for just this purpose, it returns it to the original factory state.

    Reply
  14. Gil Avatar
    Gil

    hmm..& there’s no another option but that?

    Reply
  15. Gil Avatar
    Gil

    Hi there!
    I don’t have a "Exchange mail/calendar" or a "turn OFF Exchange calendar"..can you help me please?
    I bought my friend’s iPhone 4 & it cames with 5 calendars that I don’t use!!
    Thanks

    Reply
  16. hugelsb Avatar
    hugelsb

    Thanks a lot for the straight forward instructions.

    Reply
  17. Habi Avatar
    Habi

    Here is how you can delete a calander on iPhone5.
    http://apple-ipad-iphone-ipod.blogspot.com/2012/10/how-to-delete-calendar-on-iphone.html

    Reply

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