this post was submitted on 11 Jun 2026
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Hi everyone

I posted before here. I'll try once more but don't want to get over bearing.

I'm trying to self host all my contacts and my calendar.

I've managed to install radicale but there very little ui and I'm not actually sure how to import my contacts and calendar, or how to start using it with a client.

This is all I see

I've set up the calendar and contacts server but I can't find any security settings to password protect it

Any guidance would be awesome, thank you

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[–] gedaliyah@lemmy.world 10 points 1 day ago* (last edited 1 day ago) (2 children)

Yes, radicale works great, but the UI is pretty spartan. It will manage the data, but requires a client to make edits or view the content.

First, you will have to export any existing calendar and contacts as files. It depends on what you're currently using. Contacts should probably be a vcf file, and a calendar should probably be an ics.

Next, use the ↑ button in radicale, select the exported files, and it will create a new "collection" as shown in your post. You can also create a new empty collection to use as you wish. Radicale will not merge files, but you can use a client to do that once you have created the collection in radicale.

You will have to find a client that will sync. On Android, DAVx5 will integrate it into the system so basically any client can access it. Certain Android apps may connect directly, but it's pretty hit or miss. On desktop, I use Thunderbird which works very well, but there are other options. You will use the blacked-out URL in your post to add the contacts and calendar. Check the individual app documentation or make another post if you want help.

Oh, and the last thing... Of course the client will have to be on the same network. If you want to access it remotely, you will want to set up something like wireguard (I use Tailscale, which is dead simple).

[–] philanthropicoctopus@thelemmy.club 2 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Thank you so so much. I was able to upload my calendar and contacts. I really appreciate your detailed response. It helped me out heaps

[–] lemmyvore@feddit.nl 2 points 15 hours ago

DAVx5 also includes good security, like the ability to use mTLS to secure your access to Radicale adequately even if you expose it over the open Internet. It's also being actively developed, with updates coming out every few weeks.

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 5 points 1 day ago (1 children)

Good answer. i would add, since most people already have their contacts set up in their phone, that after setting up davx5, they have a new empty phone book. Most phones already have s mechanism to move your contacts to a new phone book. Just move them over and delete or disable the phone book you currently use like google etc.

[–] philanthropicoctopus@thelemmy.club 1 points 16 hours ago (1 children)

Do you know how to disable the stock contacts? Do I do this using adb? I've done that before for other apps

[–] Nomad@infosec.pub 1 points 13 hours ago

Usually in the account settings for your google account.