A light-hearted exchange on social media between leading tech figures has resulted in a practical update for Google Calendar. Sundar Pichai, CEO of Google, confirmed that the platform now includes a quick event duplication feature, following a suggestion by Stripe co-founder John Collison just over a month ago. Collison had proposed a Ctrl-click shortcut to instantly copy meetings, similar to features in other calendar tools like Microsoft Outlook. The new functionality allows users to duplicate events by holding Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and dragging them in Day, Week, or Month view, eliminating multiple steps previously required. This small but impactful update enhances scheduling efficiency, making recurring or similar appointments faster and more convenient for Google Calendar users.
How John Collison small request for Google Calendar sparked an update
On July 5, John Collison took to X (formerly Twitter) with a simple request for Google Calendar. He asked whether the platform could introduce a shortcut to copy events, similar to features available in Microsoft Outlook and other popular calendar tools. Collison suggested a Ctrl-click function that would instantly duplicate meetings or appointments and tagged Sundar Pichai, ensuring the idea reached the right decision-makers at Google.Unlike most social media requests that disappear into the noise, this one stood out. Pichai responded in kind, announcing that the feature had been implemented in Google Calendar’s web version.
Google Calendar event duplication shortcut: How it works
The new shortcut allows users to hold Ctrl (or Cmd on Mac) and drag an event to another time slot within Day, Week, or Month view, instantly creating a copy.Key advantages include:
- Faster scheduling: Duplicate events without opening multiple menus.
- Reduced clicks: Previously, users had to navigate through the three-dot menu to duplicate events—a multi-step process.
- Improved productivity: Perfect for busy professionals managing multiple meetings or recurring events.
This shortcut makes event duplication in Google Calendar intuitive and efficient, reflecting Google’s focus on enhancing user experience.
Current limitations of the Google calendar new update feature
While the update improves workflow, it’s important to note some limitations:
- Not available in all views: Users in Schedule or Year view cannot use the drag-and-duplicate feature.
- Works only in movable views: The shortcut functions only where events can be dragged or resized directly.
- Despite these constraints, the feature saves users valuable time and reduces friction in scheduling tasks.
Google Calendar Shortcut sparks social media buzz as Sundar Pichai responds
Collison’s suggestion quickly became a talking point on X. Other tech figures joined the conversation, adding a mix of humor and curiosity. Box CEO Aaron Levie jokingly suggested leveraging influence to improve Waymo’s self-driving cars on a congested Silicon Valley route.For everyday Google Calendar users, the shortcut may seem minor but adds tangible convenience, making repetitive scheduling tasks faster and more intuitive. The incident highlights Sundar Pichai’s hands-on approach to social media engagement. Users praised his responsiveness:“Sundar Pichai is out here doing customer service. I love it.”“Hi Sundar, can we log out of one Gmail account at a time instead of all accounts at once?”Pichai’s interactions are consistent with past instances. Earlier in 2025, he responded to Quora CEO Adam D’Angelo about Google Meet audio issues, showing Google’s commitment to addressing user feedback promptly.
Google Calendar shortcut significance for Google Calendar users
Even though event duplication in Google Calendar may seem like a small feature, it reflects a larger trend: Google is listening to user feedback and rapidly implementing improvements. By allowing quick duplication of meetings, the platform enhances workflow efficiency and provides users with a smoother scheduling experience.Professionals, teams, and casual users alike benefit from this shortcut, which reduces unnecessary clicks, saves time, and simplifies calendar management.Also Read | Who is Igor Babuschkin? Co-founder of Elon Musk’s xAI leaving to launch a new AI safety venture