Senorit makes Framekin, which is one of the options below.
A countdown widget puts a number of days on your home screen: until a trip, a birthday, an exam, or the day you see someone again. It is one of the smallest useful things a phone can show.
Where countdown widgets come from
You can get one from a clock or calendar app that is already on your phone, from a dedicated countdown app, or from a widget inside an app you use for something else. The steps for placing any of them are the same.
How to add one
Google's Android help describes it like this:
- Touch and hold an empty space on your home screen.
- Tap Widgets.
- Find the app with the countdown widget and tap it to see the options.
- Touch and hold the widget and slide it into place.
Some of these steps only work on Android 14 and up. After placing it, open the app to set the date and a label. Whether a countdown can sit on the lock screen depends on your phone and Android version.
Ideas that work
- A trip: the days until you leave.
- A birthday or an anniversary.
- The day you see each other again, if you live far apart.
- An exam day or a deadline.
- A due date.
The Framekin countdown widget
Framekin has a countdown widget for a trip, a birthday or the days you have been together. It sits next to the photo widget, so the same phone shows the newest photo from your person and the days left until the next visit. If you live apart, the second one makes the first easier to carry.
Framekin works on Android and is available on Google Play. New customers get a 14-day free trial of Plus and Max, after which Framekin needs a plan.
Picking one
| Approach | What to check |
|---|---|
| Widget from your phone's clock or calendar | Does it count days, or only show the time? |
| A countdown app | Ads, price, what it asks permission for |
| A widget in an app you already use | Whether you want that app on your phone for this reason alone |
More on photo widgets in 3 ways to add a photo widget on Android, and a photo widget for long distance couples covers the daily photo habit.
Questions and answers
How do I add a countdown widget on Android?
Touch and hold an empty space on the home screen, tap Widgets, pick a countdown widget and slide it into place. Then set the date in the app.
Can a countdown widget sit on the lock screen?
It depends on your phone and Android version. Check your phone maker's help for lock screen widgets.
What is a good countdown for a trip?
Any widget that counts days and lets you set a label does the job. Pick one without ads that does not ask for more permissions than it needs.