> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.helmkit.com/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.
# Google Calendar Integration
> Connect your Google Calendar to let Helm check your availability and sync accepted tour assignments to your personal calendar
Connect your Google Calendar to let Helm check your availability and sync accepted tour assignments to your personal calendar.
## What connecting does
When you connect Google Calendar to Helm:
* **Helm checks when you're busy** – Helm looks at all your calendars to see when you have existing events. This helps agencies assign tours when you're actually available.
* **Accepted assignments sync to your calendar** – When you accept a tour assignment, or when an agency you trust auto-confirms it, Helm adds it to your calendar automatically so you see it alongside your other commitments.
* **Your privacy is protected** – Helm only reads busy/free status. It doesn't access event titles, descriptions, locations, or any other details from your personal calendar.
## Privacy and what agencies see
Agencies only see whether you're available or busy during specific time slots. They don't see:
* Event titles or names
* Descriptions or notes
* Locations
* Meeting attendees
* Any other calendar details
Events marked as "Private" in Google Calendar still block your time in Helm—they just show up as "Busy" without any details. Events you mark as "Free" (transparent) won't block time in Helm.
## Connecting your calendar
You'll connect your calendar during initial onboarding, or you can add it later from your account settings.
Click to connect and sign in with your Google account. Google will ask you to
grant Helm permission to read your calendar availability.
After connecting, select which calendars Helm should check for availability.
You might have work calendars, personal calendars, or shared calendars. Select
all the calendars that should block your time when checking if you're
available for tours.
Your calendar is now connected. Helm will check these calendars when agencies assign you to tours, and accepted assignments will appear on your default calendar.
You can disconnect or reconnect your calendar at any time from your account
settings. Disconnecting removes Helm's access but doesn't delete any existing
calendar events for accepted assignments.
## What counts as "busy"
Helm marks you as busy during any time when you have an event on your selected calendars, with these rules:
* **Regular events** block your time
* **Private events** block your time (agencies just see "Busy" without details)
* **All-day events** block the entire day
* **Events marked "Free"** (transparent) don't block your time
* **Declined events** don't block your time
If you want Helm to see you as available during a calendar event, mark that event as "Free" or "Show as available" in Google Calendar.
## Calendar events for accepted assignments
When you accept a tour assignment, Helm creates an event on your default Google Calendar. If you've enabled auto-accept for a specific agency, Helm creates that calendar event as soon as the agency assigns you. This event includes:
* Tour name and type
* Date, time, and duration
* Location (if provided)
* Basic details about the tour
These events are read-only—you can view them but can't edit or delete them directly from your calendar app. To change assignment details, make updates in Helm and they'll sync to your calendar automatically.
If an assignment was auto-accepted, Helm adds it as a confirmed event directly. You do not need to respond in Google Calendar, and Helm does not send a separate Google RSVP-style invite email for that automatic confirmation.
Responding to Google Calendar invitations (accept/decline/maybe) doesn't
change your assignment status in Helm. The calendar event is just a visual
reminder. When an assignment still needs your decision, accept or decline it
in Helm directly.
If the tour details change after you accept—like a new time or location—Helm updates the calendar event automatically. If you decline an assignment or the agency removes you, Helm deletes the calendar event.
## Disconnecting or reconnecting
You can disconnect your Google Calendar at any time from account settings. When you disconnect:
* Helm stops checking your calendar for availability
* Existing calendar events for accepted assignments remain on your calendar
* You can reconnect later without losing any data
To reconnect after disconnecting, go through the connection flow again. You may need to reselect which calendars to monitor.
## Troubleshooting
Check your connected calendars—you might have an event on a calendar you don't actively use. Review which calendars you selected during setup. If you have old calendars with outdated events, remove them from your Helm monitoring list or clean up those calendar events in Google Calendar.
Make sure you're looking at the correct calendar—Helm adds events to your
default Google Calendar. Check your calendar list in Google Calendar to
confirm which one is set as default. If events still don't appear, try
disconnecting and reconnecting your account from Helm settings.
If you have multiple Google accounts, make sure you're connecting the right
one. Disconnect any incorrect accounts from Helm settings, then reconnect with
the account you want to use.
If a calendar doesn't appear in the selection list, check that your Google account has access to it. Shared calendars need explicit permissions. If you recently added a calendar in Google, try disconnecting and reconnecting in Helm to refresh the list.