Countdown macro

Add a live timer to a Confluence page that counts down to a date or counts up from it. This is useful for launches, deadlines, events, milestones, anniversaries, and other time-based updates that should stay visible to readers.

Property	Details
Description	Display a live countdown or count-up timer on a page using a target date, time zone, and visual style options.
Type	Standard
Guest	Supported
Anonymous	Supported

#How it works

The Countdown macro shows a timer based on a target date and time. You can configure it to count down to a moment such as a launch or deadline, or count up from a moment such as a release, incident start, or anniversary.

When you add the macro, you choose the target date and time, the time zone, which units to display, and how the timer should look on the page. You can also add an optional title above the timer and define a message to show once a countdown reaches zero.

This makes the macro useful for both practical planning pages and more visual announcement pages where timing matters.

#Common ways to use it

Product launches to show time remaining until go-live
Project deadlines to keep a milestone visible on working pages
Events and webinars to highlight when a session begins
Campaigns and promotions to create urgency around an end date
Anniversaries or elapsed time to count up from an important moment
Operational incidents to show how long an outage or activity has been ongoing

#How to add the macro

In the page editor, place your cursor where you want the timer to appear.
Open the macro browser or type /countdown.
Select Countdown macro.
Optionally enter a Title to display above the timer.
Choose the Mode: count down to a date, or count up from it.
Set the Target date & time.
Select the correct Time zone for that date and time.
Choose which Units to show, such as days, hours, minutes, and seconds.
Select the Style, size, color, and position.
Decide whether to show unit labels and a border.
If you are using countdown mode, optionally add a Message when finished.
Publish the page.

Once published, the timer updates automatically on the page based on the selected settings.

#Configuration options

Setting	What it controls	Why it matters
Title	An optional heading shown above the timer.	Helps explain what the countdown or count-up is for, such as Launch day or Time since release.
Mode	Whether the timer counts down to a date or counts up from it.	Lets you use the same macro for future deadlines and past milestones.
Target date & time	The exact moment the timer uses.	Determines what the macro counts to or from.
Time zone	The time zone applied to the target date and time.	Prevents timing errors when teams work across regions.
Units	Which time parts appear in the counter.	Lets you choose a compact or detailed display.
Style and size	The visual format of the timer, such as tiles and display size.	Helps the timer fit the importance and layout of the page.
Color	The accent color used by the timer.	Supports page design and emphasis.
Position	Where the timer is aligned on the page.	Improves page layout and readability.
Show unit labels	Whether labels like days, hours, or minutes are displayed.	Makes the timer clearer, especially for broader audiences.
Border	Whether the timer has an outer border.	Adds visual separation from surrounding content.
Message when finished	The text shown after a countdown reaches zero.	Lets the page transition cleanly from a timer to a status message such as We’re live.

#Best practices

Use a clear title so readers immediately understand what the timer represents.
Double-check the time zone, especially for launches, webinars, and global deadlines.
Choose only the units you need. A strategic milestone may only need days and hours, while a live event may benefit from seconds.
Match the visual style to the page. Larger, centered timers work well on announcement pages, while smaller timers fit project or status pages.
Add a finished message for countdowns so the page remains useful after the target moment passes.
Test the page before sharing to confirm the timing and layout look correct for readers.

For shared deadlines, enter the target moment in the intended time zone rather than relying on readers to interpret the date differently in their local region.

#Common use cases

Use case	Why it helps
Launch pages	Keeps attention on the go-live moment and builds anticipation.
Project hubs	Makes important milestone dates visible without readers needing to scan schedules.
Event pages	Shows exactly how long remains before a session starts.
Incident or operations pages	Shows elapsed time since an event began when using count-up mode.

#Things to know

The timer is based on a specific date and time, so correct configuration matters more than page publish time.
Time zone selection is important when the audience spans multiple locations.
Countdown and count-up serve different needs: countdown creates urgency for a future event, while count-up highlights elapsed time since a past event.
The display is visual, not a scheduling system. It works best as a page element that supports communication, not as a replacement for calendars or project plans.
After a countdown ends, the macro can show a replacement message instead of continuing to display zero.

#Troubleshooting

The timer shows the wrong remaining time

Check the target date, target time, and selected time zone. A mismatch in any of these settings can make the counter appear early or late.

The countdown finished at the wrong moment for some users

Verify that the configured time zone matches the intended event time. This is especially important for global teams and daylight-saving transitions.

The timer is hard to read on the page

Try a larger size, a different color, a simpler unit selection, or a centered position. Adding a short title can also make the purpose clearer.

The page is still showing a timer after the milestone has passed

If you want the page to switch to a clearer status, add a message in Message when finished so readers see an outcome such as Now live or Registration closed.

#Summary

The Countdown macro adds a simple live timer to Confluence pages for future deadlines and past milestones. With support for countdown and count-up modes, time zones, unit selection, and display styling, it is a flexible way to highlight timing directly where teams work.