How to add a Outlook work calendar to your iPhone’s Calendar app without enrolling your device

The problem

You have an iPhone and would like to add your work calendar to it, but when you sign in, you see the following:

Let’s say you don’t want to do this, so is there a different way to do it without letting my company “set up” my personal device (whatever that means)?

Yes, by sharing your calendar with your email set as an Apple ID (you must have one since you have an iPhone).

The solution

1. Go to your Microsoft work account online (Office 365), then go to “Outlook” app.
2. Once there, simply switch from mail view to calendar view.
3. Go to the specific calendar (your main work calendar) and click on the three dots for “More options” > “Sharing and permissions”
4. Enter an email address (Here you put your Apple ID email, let’s say someone@icloud.com) and press “Share”.
5. Check your Apple ID email inbox and look for the subject “You’re invited to share this calendar”. Use the attached Internet Calendar URL to set it up on your iPhone. This will automatically add it to your iCloud calendar, and thus all of your Apple devices.

And that would be all. If you don’t see the Internet Calendar URL in the email (it happened to me), do the following:

1. Go to your Outlook work email app and then to the “Sent Items” folder. You will find the URL in the email with the same subject mentioned above.
2. Make sure you access that URL from your iPhone.

That’s it. Now you have a clear view for what it’s the upcoming meeting from the palm of your hand without letting your company “set up” your iPhone.

Tip: You can also set up the new work calendar on your phone with Focus Mode in iOS 16. That is, only events on your “work” calendar (assuming it’s called that) will appear when the “Work” focus is on. 👨🏻‍💻