Countdown Widget on the iPhone Lock Screen: Setup and 8 Apps Compared
Short answer: iOS has no built-in countdown widget, so install a countdown app that supports Lock Screen widgets, create the event, then press and hold the Lock Screen, tap Customize → Lock Screen, tap the strip under the clock and add the app's circular, rectangular or inline widget. It takes about two minutes.
One limit to know before you start: Lock Screen widgets refresh on Apple's schedule, so most show days, not ticking seconds. iOS allows a live timer text inside a widget, and DayDrop uses it for the final 24 hours, but for a countdown that ticks for days you want a Live Activity; the section below explains the difference.
The three Lock Screen widget shapes
Every Lock Screen widget on iPhone is one of three shapes, and the shape decides what a countdown can show.
| Shape | Where it sits | Best for | What a countdown shows |
|---|---|---|---|
| Circular | Strip under the clock (1 of 4 slots) | One number at a glance | Days left, often with a progress ring |
| Rectangular | Strip under the clock (2 of 4 slots) | Name plus number | Event name, days left, sometimes the date |
| Inline | The single line above the clock | Text only, always visible | "42 days to Lisbon" style text |
The strip under the clock has four small slots. You can fill it with four circular widgets, two rectangular ones, or one rectangular and two circular. Add the inline line above the clock and you can keep five countdowns on one Lock Screen.
How to add the widget (iOS 18 and iOS 26)
Install a countdown app that offers Lock Screen widgets and create your event in the app. In DayDrop, tap +, enter the name and date, and save.
Wake the phone and unlock with Face ID, but stay on the Lock Screen (don't swipe up). Press and hold an empty area until the screen zooms out and Customize appears.
Tap Customize, then Lock Screen on the left. The widget strip under the clock becomes editable.
Tap the strip, find the app in the list, and choose circular or rectangular. For an inline widget, tap the date line above the clock instead and pick the app there.
Tap the widget you just placed to choose which countdown it shows (most apps default to the next event). Tap Done, then Done again.
If the app doesn't appear in the widget list, open it once first; iOS registers an app's widgets on first launch. If a widget shows placeholder text, tap it and pick an event.
Why most Lock Screen widgets don't tick every second
Widgets on iOS are snapshots. The system asks the app for a timeline of states and shows them on a schedule it controls, with a daily budget of refreshes to protect battery. A countdown that changes once a day fits that model; one that changes every second does not. There is one exception: iOS lets a widget contain a timer-style text that counts down on its own without a refresh. DayDrop uses it to show hours, minutes and seconds in its widgets for the final 24 hours before an event with a set time. Most countdown apps don't, which is why their Lock Screen widgets show days, and at best hours.
The exception is a Live Activity. Live Activities are the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island elements that sports scores and food-delivery apps use, and they can run a true ticking timer. DayDrop's Live Activity shows days, hours, minutes and seconds with a progress ring, in the Dynamic Island and on the Lock Screen, for events with a set time. If seconds matter to you, that is the feature to look for; see the Dynamic Island countdown guide.
8 countdown apps with Lock Screen widgets, compared
Ratings and counts are from the US App Store on October 7, 2026, via Apple's public lookup. All eight are free to download; most sell extra widgets or features through in-app purchases, and the exact prices change often, so check the listing. "Lock Screen" means the app's own description says it offers Lock Screen widgets.
| App | Rating | Ratings | Lock Screen widgets | Live ticking (Live Activity) | StandBy | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Countdown (Find Appiness) | 4.81 | 187,887 | Yes | Not listed | Yes | Largest rating count of the dedicated countdown apps; simple and dependable |
| Widgetsmith | 4.61 | 774,351 | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | General widget builder; countdown is one widget type among many |
| Countdown: Event Countdown (ROOT38) | 4.75 | 23,872 | Yes | Yes | Yes | One of the few with a Live Activity |
| DayCount | 4.66 | 26,260 | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Counts up and down; long-running app |
| Countdown Buddy | 4.64 | 26,041 | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Playful style, subscription for extras |
| Days • Countdown & Widgets | 4.77 | 12,599 | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Clean design, many widget looks |
| Countdown – Pretty Progress | 4.71 | 3,073 | Yes | Not listed | Not listed | Progress-bar focus, pretty widgets |
| DayDrop (this site) | 4.76 | 21 (US) · 85 worldwide | Yes: circular, rectangular, inline | Yes, with progress ring | Yes | AI-generated event backgrounds; Lock Screen widgets are in Premium (one-month free trial on yearly) |
"Not listed" means the feature isn't mentioned in the app's App Store description on the date above; the app may still offer it. DayDrop's worldwide rating is 4.6 from 85 ratings across all storefronts.
How to choose
- You want the safest, most-reviewed pick: Countdown by Find Appiness. Nearly 188,000 ratings at 4.81 is hard to argue with.
- You already use Widgetsmith: add its countdown widget and skip a second app.
- You want seconds ticking on the Lock Screen: you need a Live Activity, so Countdown: Event Countdown or DayDrop.
- You want the Lock Screen to match a photo of the event: DayDrop generates the background from a description and uses it across the widgets, the Live Activity and the app.
DayDrop is free with unlimited countdowns and Home Screen widgets. Lock Screen widgets, the Live Activity and AI backgrounds are in Premium, with a one-month free trial on the yearly plan.
Download DayDropFrequently asked questions
Does iOS have a built-in countdown widget for the Lock Screen?
No. iOS 18 and iOS 26 ship Lock Screen widgets for Calendar, Reminders, Weather, Clock, Fitness and Batteries, but none of them counts down to a date you choose. You need a third-party countdown app.
Why doesn't my Lock Screen countdown widget show seconds?
Apple limits how often widgets can redraw, so a Lock Screen widget refreshes on a schedule. iOS does allow a live timer text inside a widget (DayDrop uses it for the final 24 hours before an event), but most countdown apps don't. For a countdown that ticks for days, use a Live Activity on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island.
How many countdown widgets fit on the Lock Screen?
Up to four small slots under the clock (four circular, two rectangular, or one rectangular plus two circular) and one inline widget above the clock, so five countdowns at once.
Are Lock Screen countdown widgets free?
Every app above is free to download. Most, including DayDrop, put Lock Screen widgets in a paid tier or behind an in-app purchase. DayDrop's Home Screen widgets are free; Lock Screen widgets are part of Premium, which has a one-month free trial on the yearly plan.
Can I have a different countdown on each Lock Screen?
Yes. Each Lock Screen keeps its own widgets, so pair a holiday countdown with one wallpaper and a trip countdown with another, then swipe between them.
My widget stopped updating. What do I do?
Open the app once (widgets are refreshed when the app runs), check that Background App Refresh is on for it, and make sure Low Power Mode is off. The full checklist is in Countdown widget not updating on iPhone: 7 fixes.