Getting started with Countdown Time

New to Countdown Time? Here are some simple steps to help you set up the app.

1. Upon opening Countdown Time after installation, the app will direct you to the Home page.

2. Tap the + Event button.

3. On the Add new event page, add the event name. 

4. Choose the date of the event by tapping the date.

5. Add the event time; this is optional.

6. By default, the display mode is on the Summary option. You can change it by tapping the Tracker Mode field.

7. You can also add a repeat schedule for the event by tapping the Repeat field. 

8. By default, the heading type will be the event name. You can change this by tapping the Heading Type field.

9. When you finish, tap the save button on the top-right corner of the page.

Note: Only the event name is required. Other fields have default values which you can change optionally.

See visual guide
Add multiple events.

1. To add more events, tap the add event button located on the Home page's top-right corner.

2. Fill out the required field and other optional fields. 

3. When you finish, tap the save button on the top-right corner of the page.

Note: If you're unfamiliar with adding an event, you can read the Getting Started guide. 

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Rearrange events.

1. Open the main menu button on the page's top-left corner.

2. Tap Organize.

3. Press and hold the event you want to rearrange, release or tap the auto-sort button to sort the events from earliest to latest dates or vice versa.

4. Slide it up or down and release. The changes will be saved automatically. 

See visual guide
Editing an event

1. Choose the event that you want to edit. 

2. Tap the Edit button located on the bottom menu.

3. Change the option(s) you want to change by tapping the field on the edit event page.

4. When you finish, tap the save button on the top-right corner of the page.

See visual guide
Delete an event

1. Choose the event that you want to delete. 

2. Tap the Delete button located on the bottom menu.

3. Confirm the action.

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Change an event's tracker mode.

1. Choose the event that you want to edit. 

2. Tap the Edit button located on the bottom menu.

3. Tap the Optional menu to see the optional fields.

4. Tap the Tracker Mode field to see the display mode options.

5. Choose the preferred display mode and tap it.

6. Tap the save button to confirm the changes.

See visual guide
Android: Add a widget to your home screen.

1. On the Home screen, touch and hold a free space.

Note: On some android devices, you will need to pinch the free space to view the Widgets option.

2. Tap Widgets.

3. Look for Countdown Time. Press and hold the Countdown Time widget.

4. Drag and drop the widget into the available space. The Countdown Time widget settings will appear, and on this page, you can customize the settings of your Countdown Time widget.

5. Hit the save button to confirm the settings.

Note: On some android devices, you don't need to touch and hold the Countdown Time widget. Tapping it will automatically add the Countdown Time widget to the available space on your home screen.

See visual guide
iOS: Add a widget to your home screen

1. Touch and hold the free space until the apps jiggle on the home screen.

2. Tap the Add button on the upper-left corner.

3. Look for the Countdown Time widget and tap to select it.

4. Choose from three widget sizes, then tap Add Widget.

5. Tap Done, or tap a space on the screen, and you are finished.

Visit the official Apple support to read more about adding a widget on an iPhone. 

See visual guide
Track and add multiple widgets.

For Android devices, use the following steps.

1. Start by adding a widget. Click this link to read the guide for adding a widget.

2. When the New widget setting appears, make sure to change the event.

3. Tap the save button to confirm the settings.

4. A new widget will appear on the available space of your Home screen.

Note: Not all Android phones support adding two or more of the same app widgets. 

 

For iOS devices, only iOS 14 supports adding multiple widgets.

1. Touch and hold a widget or an empty area from the Home Screen until the apps jiggle.

2. Tap the Add button Gray add button in the upper-left corner.

3. Select the Countdown Time widget, choose a widget size, then tap Add Widget.

4. Tap any space outside the widget.

5. Repeat the same process to add more Countdown Time widgets.

See visual guide
Widgets are not refreshing

Both Android and iOS limit how often widgets can refresh. This is an effort to limit strain on your device's resources and conserve your device's battery life. Depending on your device's available resources, the Countdown Time widget should update every 30 minutes.

If this is insufficient, you can use Countdown Time's widget service. This will update the widget frequently but could drain your device's battery.

1. On your Home screen, tap the gear button in the widget's bottom-left corner. It will open the Edit widget page.

2. Look for the Refresh Rate setting.

3. Drag the slider knob to adjust how frequently the widget will refresh.

4. Tap the save button to confirm the changes. 

 

If you're on Android and the widgets are not updating at all, check to see if Countdown Time has permission to perform background operations. Background operations are usually disabled if you have Battery Saver enabled, but they can also be enabled or disabled for each app.

Disable Battery saver by going to: Android Settings > Battery > Battery Saver

Allow Countdown Time to perform background operations: Android Settings > Apps > Countdown Time > Battery > Unrestricted.

See visual guide
Resizing the home screen widget

For Android devices:

1. Long-press the Countdown Time widget on your home screen and release.

2. Drag the white edges that appear around the widget to adjust its size.

3. Afterward, tap anywhere outside the widget to apply the changes.

Note: iOS widgets can't be resized once placed, but you can choose a different size the first time you add one to your home screen.

See visual guide
Edit a widget.

For Android devices, use the following steps.

1. Tap the settings button in the widget's bottom-left corner.

2. The Edit Widget page will appear. There are several options available to customize your widgets.

3. Adjust the options to your liking, and then tap the done button in the top right to save your changes and close the page.

 

iOS Home widget. Note: Only iOS version 14+ can use the home widget feature.

1. Touch and hold the Countdown Time home widget.

2. Tap the Edit Widget.

3. Change the Countdown Time widget base on your preferences.

4. Tap any space outside the widget setting box to confirm the changes.

 

iOS Today widget.

1. On the Home screen, swipe right to go to the Today view.

2. Look for Countdown Time Today's widget.

3. Tap the setting button(gear icon) at the widget's bottom corner.

4. The Edit Widget page will appear. There are several options available to customize your widgets.

5. Adjust the options to your liking, and then tap the done button in the top right to save your changes and close the page.

See visual guide
Delete a widget.

1. Press and hold the Countdown Time widget on your Home screen.

2. While still holding the widget, drag it across the screen and direct it to the Remove option. 

3. Release the Widget.

Note: Every version of Android appears to be a little different. On some Android devices, a close button or remove option will appear. Tapping it will remove the widget without dragging it.

See visual guide
Backup your Countdown Time data using cloud sync.

1. Open the main menu button on the Home page's top-left corner.

2. Tap Cloud Sync.

3. Sign in with your Cloud Sync account.

4. To Auto backup your data, enable the switch button. This will automatically back up your data whenever you make changes.

5. To manually store your data, you can use the five available storage slots. Tap the upload button to manually backup your data.

See visual guide
Restore data using cloud sync.

1. Open the main menu button located on the top-left corner of the Home page.

2. Tap Cloud Sync.

3. Sign in with your Cloud Sync account.

4. Tap the download button to restore your saved data.

Note: You can restore your Countdown Time data to any device with the Countdown Time app installed on it.

See visual guide
Delete data in the cloud.

1. Open the main menu button on the Home page's top-left corner.

2. Tap Cloud Sync.

3. Sign in with your Cloud Sync account if you are not signed in yet.

4. Tap the Delete button.

5. Confirm action.

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Data removal

Countdown Time collects anonymous data, like when your app crashes, that we use to improve the app across a wide array of devices. We also use your advertising identifier to serve your ads. We don't collect any of your personal or event information. Your event information is stored on your device and will be cleared when you uninstall the Countdown Time app unless you have chosen to back it up using Cloud Sync.

Disable anonymous usage data and personalized ads.

  1. Open the main menu in the top-left
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Data Privacy.
  4. Disable Personalized ads and Anonymous usage data.

Delete your Cloud Sync account (if you purchased this feature): 

  1. Open the main menu button on the Home page's top-left corner.
  2. Tap Settings.
  3. Tap Cloud Sync.
  4. Tap the account button on the top right corner of the cloud sync page.
  5. Tap the Delete Account button.
  6. Confirm the action.

Delete your device's data:

  1. Usually, you can simply uninstall Countdown Time from your Android or iOS device, which automatically clears app data.
  2. If you've enabled an app backup system inside your device's settings, you may need to manually clear your app data from Android or iOS.

Email us at support@sociosoftware.com if you experience any difficulties removing your data.

See visual guide
Upload your diagnostics

Uploading diagnostic data will upload your Countdown Time data into our diagnostic database. This will be accessed by our developers and will be able to assist you with any technical issues you might be facing. 

1. Tap the main menu button on the top-left corner of the home page.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Diagnostics.

4. Tap the Upload diagnostic button.

5. On the upload diagnostic data dialog, tap Upload.

After this process, your diagnostic data will be sent to our diagnostic database.

See visual guide
Purchasing Countdown Time Premium

1. Open the main menu button located on the top-left corner of the Home page.

2. Tap Premium.

3. Tap the buy button located at the bottom center of the page.

4. Complete the purchase using either Google Play or the Apple App Store

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Restore purchase

If you had an existing Countdown Time premium purchase, you could restore it by following the steps.

1. Open the main menu button on the Home page's top-left corner.

2. Tap Premium.

3. Tap the restore button on the top right corner of the page.

4. Tap the Find button.

Note: Countdown Time will look for any purchases made on Google Play for the Google account currently signed in to your device and/or Google Play.

See visual guide
Change Countdown Time's theme color.

1. Tap the main menu button on the page's top left corner.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Theme button.

4. Choose the preferred color by sliding the screen or tapping the next button.

5. Tap the Apply button to confirm the changes.

See visual guide
Change an event's background

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Background button.

3. Choose where you want to get your background among the Standard, Extended, Motion, and Upload options. 

4. After picking the background options, choose the image you want to use as the background. Tapping the image will automatically select the background for the event. 

See visual guide
Add a motion background to events

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Background button.

3. Tap the Motion button.

4. Tap the motion background you would like to use. 

See visual guide
Upload a background

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Background button.

3. Tap the Upload button, and allow permission to access your media storage.

4. Tap the image you want to use as your event background. 

See visual guide
Change an event's icon

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Icon button.

3. Tap the icon you would like to use for the event. 

See visual guide
Change a tracker's font.

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tracker button.

3. Tap the Font button.

4. Tap the font you want for the tracker and header text.

See visual guide
Change a tracker's color.

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tracker button.

3. Tap the Color button. 

4. Use the slider knob or drag your finger around the color wheel to change the color to your preference. 

5. Tap the Apply button to confirm the changes.

See visual guide
Change a tracker's text thickness.

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tracker button.

3. Tap the Thickness button.

4. Use the slider knob to change the text thickness.

Note: Not all fonts support the thickness option.

See visual guide
Change a tracker's text size

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tracker button.

3. Tap the Size button.

4. Use the slider knob to change the size.

See visual guide
Change an event's background tint

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tint button.

3. Use the slider knob to adjust the tint brightness or darkness.

See visual guide
Change an event's background tint color

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. Tap the Tint button.

3. Tap the Color button.

4. Use the slider knob or drag your finger around the color wheel to change the color of your preference.

5. Tap the Apply button to save the changes.

See visual guide
Reset tracker display setting

1. Tap the Display button located at the bottom menu bar.

2. On the top right corner, tap the reset button.

3. Confirm the action.

See visual guide
Events and daily summary notifications

1. Tap the main menu button on the page's top left corner.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Notifications button.

4. By default, events and daily summary notifications are enabled. To disable these notifications, disable the switch by tapping it. Tap the switch button again to re-enable it.

See visual guide
Change daily summary notification time

1. Tap the main menu button located on the top left corner of the page.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Notifications button.

4. To change the time, tap the schedule field. 

5. Choose the preferred time and tap OK.

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Change heartbeats per minute count

1. Tap the main menu button located on the top left corner of the page.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Units button.

4. Tap the heartbeats per minute field, and input the value preferred.

See visual guide
Change breaths per minute count

1. Tap the main menu button located on the top left corner of the page.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Units button.

4. Tap the breaths per minute field, and input the value preferred.

See visual guide
Past and repeat indicators

1. Tap the main menu button on the page's top left corner.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Indicators button.

4. By default, past, and repeat indicators are enabled. To disable these indicators, disable the switch by tapping it. Tap the switch button again to re-enable it.

Note: Past indicator indicates if an event already occurred and the counter is counting up instead of down. Repeat indicator shows if an event has already happened and is repeating according to its interval.

See visual guide
Add a password to Countdown Time

1. Tap the main menu button on the page's top left corner.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Password button.

4. Type the password on the password field. 

5. Re-input the same password on the confirm password field.

6. Tap the switch to enable the password.

Note: The password you are going to input is private. We can't reset it for you. Remember it, or you'll lose access to your data.

See visual guide
Data Privacy

1. Tap the main menu button on the page's top left corner.

2. Tap the Settings option.

3. Tap the Data Privacy button.

4. Countdown Time default enabled personalized ads and anonymous usage data. To disable these services, disable the switch by tapping it. Tap the switch button again to re-enable it.

See visual guide
Status notification

The status notification shows you a summary of all your events in your notification tray. It will be constantly updated, and you don't need to open Countdown Time. To enable it, use the following steps.

1. Tap the main menu button on the home page's top left corner.

2. Tap Settings.

3. Tap Notifications.

4. Enable the Status switch.

To disable this notification, disable the same switch or tap Disable on the notification itself.

See visual guide
Add a custom tracker mode

1. Choose the event you want to change the tracker mode.

2. Tap the Edit button located on the bottom menu.

3. Look for the Tracker mode field and tap it.

4. On the tracker mode list, tap the Custom option.

5. Year, Month, Days, Hours, Minutes, and Seconds are enabled by default. Untick the box by tapping it to disable an option. You can always enable it by ticking the box again.

6. Tap the save button to confirm the changes.

See visual guide
Share Countdown Time events.

To share an event, you can use the following steps.

1. Tap the share button on the Home page's bottom menu.

2. Choose the option on how you want to share your Countdown Time event, and tap it.

Note: There are three options for sharing Countdown Time events. The following options are:

Event Image - You can share your event as an image on this option. The app will generate an image copy of the event you like to share.

Event Setting - For this option, you are sharing the settings of your event. The app will generate a link. This link will open the Countdown Time app's edit event page with the shared event setting.

Countdown Time - For this option, you are sharing the Countdown Time's Play Store or App Store link. 

3. After tapping the share option, a dialog will show the list of the third-party app. Tap the third-party app where you want to share the event.

See visual guide
Change a date picker's year

1. On the event's edit page, tap the date field.

2. Tap the year drop-down menu.

3. Select the year of preference by tapping it. Scroll up or down to view more year options. 

4. Tap OK to save the preference. 

See visual guide
Change event Heading Type

1. Choose the event that you want to edit. 

2. Tap the Edit button located on the bottom menu.

3. Look for the Heading Type field. The event name is set as the default Heading Type. Tap the field to open the drop-down dialog box.

4. Choose from the list of heading type options and tap it.

5. Tap the save button to save the changes.

Note: There are four heading type options: Event Name, Event Date, Text Heading, and None. The Event Name option allows you to display the event's name (e.g., Birthday) on the home page tracker, while the Event Date option displays the date of the event. The Text Heading option lets you input personalized text as the heading.

See visual guide
Delete your account

Countdown Time does not require you to register for an account to use the app, so in most cases simply uninstalling the app will remove all of your data.

There is an optional account you can create: Cloud Sync.

Delete your Cloud Sync account:

  1. Open the main menu in the top-left
  2. Tap Settings
  3. Tap Cloud Sync
  4. Sign in with your Cloud Sync account if you're not signed in yet
  5. Tap on the account button in the top-right
  6. Tap on DELETE ACCOUNT

Email us at support@sociosoftware.com if you experience any difficulties deleting your account.

See visual guide