Guide · 3 minute read
How to add a countdown widget to your iPhone Lock Screen
A countdown on the Lock Screen means you see the number every time you pick up your phone, without opening anything. It takes about a minute. Here is how to do it, plus the Home Screen version.
Before you start
- iOS 16 or later. Lock Screen widgets arrived in iOS 16; current versions work the same way.
- A countdown app with widgets, with at least one countdown already set up. Open the app once after installing it so iOS knows about its widgets.
We use Countfie in the pictures because it is our app (coming soon to the App Store). The steps are the same for any countdown app that offers widgets.
Add a countdown to the Lock Screen
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Touch and hold the Lock Screen
Wake your iPhone and unlock it with Face ID or Touch ID, but stay on the Lock Screen. Touch and hold an empty spot until the Lock Screen gallery opens, then tap Customize.
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Choose Lock Screen
iOS asks what you want to change. Tap the Lock Screen preview on the left.
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Tap the widget area
Tap the box under the clock. If it is empty it says Add Widgets. A widget gallery slides up from the bottom.
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Pick your countdown app
Scroll or search for your countdown app and tap a widget to add it. Circular widgets show just the number; rectangular ones fit the name, the number and a progress bar.
The row fits up to four circular widgets, two rectangular ones, or one rectangular and two circular.
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Choose the countdown, then tap Done
While you are still editing, tap the new widget to choose which countdown it shows, if the app offers that. Close the gallery, tap Done, then tap the Lock Screen to finish.
Tip: tap the date above the clock to add a one-line countdown there too, like "Christmas in 67 days".
Add a countdown to the Home Screen
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Edit the Home Screen
Touch and hold an empty part of the Home Screen until the apps jiggle. Tap Edit in the top corner, then Add Widget. On older versions of iOS, tap the + button instead.
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Add, place and set it up
Search for your countdown app, swipe to pick small, medium or large, and tap Add Widget. Drag it where you want it and tap Done.
To change which countdown it shows later, touch and hold the widget and tap Edit Widget.
If the widget does not show up or update
- The app is missing from the widget list. Open the app once, close it and try again. If it is still missing, restart your iPhone.
- The number looks a day off. Check Settings, General, Date & Time, and make sure the time zone is right. Opening the app also refreshes its widgets.
- The colors look different. Lock Screen widgets are drawn in a single tint that matches your clock and wallpaper. That is how iOS shows them; full color is for the Home Screen.
Countdowns to try
Need a date to count to? See how many days until Christmas, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah or New Year's, or browse all holiday countdowns.
Which iPhones support Lock Screen widgets?
Any iPhone running iOS 16 or later. Home Screen widgets have been around since iOS 14. You can check your version in Settings, General, About.
Can I have more than one countdown on my Lock Screen?
Yes. The widget row under the clock fits up to four circular widgets, and you can add one more line above the clock. You can also set up several Lock Screens and switch between them.
Does the countdown update by itself?
Yes. A countdown widget changes once a day, shortly after midnight. iOS decides the exact moment it refreshes, so if it ever looks a day behind, opening the app usually updates it right away.
Do countdown widgets drain the battery?
Not in any way you would notice. Widgets do not run all the time; iOS redraws them on a schedule, and a countdown only needs to change once a day.
Big, bold countdowns for your Lock Screen.
Countfie has circular, rectangular and inline Lock Screen widgets and three Home Screen sizes, with holiday dates filled in every year. Coming soon to the App Store, free to download.
Coming soon to theApp Store