I cannot connect my Apple iCloud calendar: Booked Solid is not in Privacy & Security > Calendars

If you are hunting for Booked Solid in System Settings > Privacy & Security > Calendars and it is not there, nothing is wrong with your Mac or your app. You do not need that permission. This article shows the sign-in that does work for an iCloud calendar.

Why Booked Solid is not in that list

Booked Solid does not read your calendar through the macOS Calendars permission, so it never asks for it and never appears in that list. The option called Calendar app on this Mac does not work yet either. If you test it, the app tells you that reading the Mac Calendar app directly is not built yet and points you to the private sign-in below. That is the step many people get stuck on.

Connect iCloud the way that works

1. Open the Connections tab and scroll to Mail & calendars.
2. Click Add a calendar.
3. Pick Private calendar sign-in (iCloud / CalDAV) as the method.
4. Type your Apple ID email, the account that owns the calendar.
5. For the password, use an app-specific password, not your normal Apple password. Create one at account.apple.com under Sign-In and Security. If you use your main Apple password, the app says the calendar service refused that sign-in.
6. Leave the optional calendar server box empty for iCloud.
7. Click Check it. A good result says Connected and the number of upcoming events it found. Then click Save.

Nothing is published and the connection is read-only. The password stays in your computer's encrypted vault. Pick a purpose for the calendar, such as bookings or personal, so the clash check can use it.

If it does not work

• Make sure you are on version 1.11.18 or newer. Older versions showed iCloud as connected but read no events.
• If Check it says the sign-in was refused, create a fresh app-specific password and click Edit on the calendar to paste it.
• Google Calendar cannot use this method. Pick Calendar feed (ICS link) and paste the secret iCal address from Google Calendar's settings.

Looking for the Mac sync instead

Under Settings, Your Mac's own apps adds your gig dates to a calendar called Booked Solid in the Calendar app. It only adds entries there and does not touch your own. If macOS asks for permission when you press Sync now, allow it. That feature is separate from connecting your iCloud calendar for clash checks.

Still stuck? Email bookedsolid@kivimedia.freshdesk.com and a person will help.