# 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.

![image-20260712-172645.png](https://help.gocapable.com/images/62ec08af-7b4b-4739-ad84-7ab7e3a77b14.webp)

| **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

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

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

# Configuration options

![image-20260712-173424.png](https://help.gocapable.com/images/43f1f04b-3d5e-4119-9bf3-ce5192497712.webp)

| **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.

ℹ️

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.