Create a countdown
Use New Countdown for a blank countdown, Quick Add for natural-language text, or import an upcoming Calendar event, dated Reminder, Contacts birthday, Contacts anniversary, or calendar invite file.
Support
Orbit Down Support
Help for the free, private, no ads countdown app for iPhone, iPad, and Mac.
Common Tasks
Add widgets
Open the in-app Widget Gallery, then add an Orbit Down widget from the system picker. Choose Countdown and optional Layout for one countdown, Source/Collection/Rows for an upcoming list, or Collection for a dashboard. Widgets inherit saved appearances and open the matching countdown when tapped.
Use Siri and Shortcuts
Use App Shortcuts to create countdowns from spoken or typed text, open Quick Add, import Calendar and Reminders items, read summaries, export countdown files, and open Widget Gallery.
Protect your data
Countdowns stay local by default. Optional sync stores individual records and photo assets in your private CloudKit database. Orbit Down does not use legacy iCloud Key-Value Storage or iCloud Documents. You can export backups, use Erase Local Data to clear a device, or use the separately confirmed Delete iCloud Data action to permanently remove Orbit Down records and photo assets from your private CloudKit database.
Troubleshooting
Calendar, Reminders, or Contacts import is empty
Check system privacy permissions for Orbit Down, then make sure the source item has a future date. Calendar and Reminders imports only read items when you choose an import flow.
Widgets are not updating
Open Orbit Down once after editing countdowns, then wait for the system widget refresh window. iOS, iPadOS, and macOS control widget update timing to protect battery life.
Notifications do not appear
Confirm notifications are enabled in system settings. Reminder notifications are scheduled locally and can include optional Time Sensitive delivery when you choose that setting.
Contact
Support contact: https://github.com/Z3lnick/orbitdown/issues/new
Include your device type, OS version, a short description of what happened, and whether the issue involves widgets, Calendar, Reminders, notifications, iCloud sync, backups, or Shortcuts.