How do I add a countdown widget on iPhone?
- In DailyThemes, open Big Days and add an event: a name, a date, and whether it repeats every year (for birthdays and holidays).
- Choose a style. Countdown widgets pick up your theme's colors.
- On the Home Screen: touch and hold, tap + (or Edit ▸ Add Widget), search DailyThemes, choose a size and add it.
- On the Lock Screen: touch and hold, Customize ▸ Lock Screen, tap under the clock and choose Countdown · Circular or Rectangular.
What can I count down to?
Anything with a date: birthdays, anniversaries, holidays, trips, exams, due dates, the first day of a new job.
Yearly events like birthdays roll over automatically after the day passes, so a birthday countdown widget keeps working year after year. One-off events, like a trip, simply finish.
Which countdown widget size should I use?
| Size | Shows | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Small (Home Screen) | One event, big number | The one date you care about most |
| Medium / Large | Several upcoming events | Families, friend birthdays, travel plans |
| Lock Screen circular | Days left in a ring | A quick glance |
| Lock Screen rectangular | Name and days left | “Mia's birthday · 12 days” |
| Lock Screen inline | One line beside the date | Minimal Lock Screens |
Holiday countdowns
Counting down to Christmas, Thanksgiving, Halloween, Hanukkah, Diwali, Easter, a public holiday or a long weekend? Add the date once and let the widget do the math. In December, the Christmas widget set adds a festive countdown to December 25 that pairs with the wallpapers from The Season advent calendar.
Is my calendar data used?
Big Days uses the dates you add. Separately, the Day widget can show your calendar agenda, which is read on your device and never uploaded.
See Home Screen widgets for the Day, Health and Sleep sets, and Lock Screen widgets for how tinting works under the clock.
Countdown widget ideas
- Family birthdays: a medium widget listing the next three birthdays, so you never scramble for a card again.
- Trip countdown: a small widget with a big number on your first Home Screen page, next to a wallpaper of where you're going.
- Exam or deadline: an inline Lock Screen widget that quietly says “Finals in 18 days”.
- Holiday season: the Christmas countdown paired with a wallpaper from The Season.
Because each countdown uses your theme's colors, it looks like part of your Home Screen rather than a sticker on top of it.
Frequently asked questions
Is there a birthday countdown widget for iPhone?
Yes. Add a birthday in Big Days and set it to repeat yearly; the widget counts down and rolls over to next year automatically.
Can I put a countdown on my Lock Screen?
Yes, as a circular, rectangular or inline Lock Screen widget.
Can I show multiple countdowns in one widget?
Yes. Medium and large widgets can list several upcoming big days.
Does the countdown use my time zone?
Yes. Days are counted in your device's local time.
Is the countdown widget free?
Yes, countdown widgets are available on the free plan. Pro unlocks premium widget designs.