Overview
To help keep Binghamton University calendars secure and free from spam, we are updating the default behavior for calendar invitations in Google Workspace.
What is changing?
As of September 2026 your Google Calendar invitation setting is now set to “Only if the sender is known” (or “Accept only invitations from known users”). You cannot set your Google Calendar Invitation to a less secure setting than “Only if the sender is known”.
Who is considered a "known sender"?
An invitation is automatically added to your calendar if it comes from:
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Anyone within the Binghamton University domain
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Anyone saved in your Google Contacts.
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Anyone you have previously emailed or interacted with.
What happens when an unknown sender invites you to an event?
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In Email: You will still receive an email notification containing the invite.
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On Your Calendar: The event will not appear automatically on your calendar.
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To Accept: In the email notification, you will see a prompt to confirm the sender or accept the invitation (e.g., clicking "I know the sender" or selecting "Yes" to respond). Once accepted, the event will appear on your calendar, and future invites from that sender will be added automatically.
When you receive a calendar event from an unknown sender, you can select to "Add to calendar" or "Report spam".
Why are we making this change?
Malicious spam and phishing attempts often misuse automated calendar invites to place unverified links or content directly onto users' schedules. Restricting auto-add functionality to known contacts adds an extra layer of protection while keeping your schedule clean.
How to check or change your settings
If you frequently receive calendar invites from new external partners, vendors, or scheduling tools (like Calendly) you will need to manually add the invitation to your calendar from the dialog in the email message.
You can adjust your personal settings to a higher level of security at any time:
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Open Google Calendar on your computer.
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Click the Gear icon (Settings) in the top right, then select Settings.
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In the left menu, select General > Event settings.
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Under "Add invitations to my calendar," choose your preferred option:When I respond to the invitation in email (Only adds events after you reply in Gmail)
Additional help for calendar invitations
https://support.google.com/calendar/answer/13159188
If you would like assistance, please feel free to contact the Binghamton University ITS Help Desk at 607-777-6420 or Submit a Request, and we'll be happy to help.
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