# How to Use Countdown X with Shortcuts: Create Events in a Tap on iPhone > Use the Shortcuts app to create countdown events without opening Countdown X. Run the ready-made shortcut, add it to your Home Screen, or build your own shortcut with the Create Event action. - Author: [Artem Grabowski](https://countdownx.app/authors/artem-grabowski), Product Designer & iOS Developer - Published: 2026-10-31 - Canonical URL: https://countdownx.app/blog/countdown-shortcuts-iphone - App: [Countdown X - Widget & Counter](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757264819) Adding a countdown should take seconds. When you're in the middle of something else, opening an app, finding the right button and filling in a form can feel like too much, so the date never makes it in. Countdown X works with the Shortcuts app. It comes with a ready-made shortcut that asks for a name and a date and creates the event for you, without opening the app. You can run it from the Shortcuts app, put it on your Home Screen, or use the Create Event action in your own shortcuts. ## What You Need Before Getting Started To use Countdown X with Shortcuts, download the [Countdown X](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757264819?pt=128028811&ct=blog_shortcuts&mt=8) app from the App Store. The shortcut and the Create Event action are free for all users. Events you create with Shortcuts count toward the free limit of three events, and Premium removes that limit. Shortcuts work with Countdown X on iPhone and iPad. There's nothing to set up. Once Countdown X is installed, its shortcut appears in the Shortcuts app on its own. ## How To Find the Countdown X Shortcut Follow these steps to find the shortcut in the Shortcuts app: 1. Open the Shortcuts app. 2. Find Countdown X in the list of apps, or search for "Countdown X". 3. Open it to see the Create action and the "Create an event in Countdown X" shortcut. ![Countdown X page in the iPhone Shortcuts app with the Create action open in a menu showing Add to Home Screen and New Shortcut, above the "Create an event in Countdown X" shortcut](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-shortcuts-app-create-event.jPxtiTqQ.png) *The Countdown X page in Shortcuts: touch and hold the Create action to add it to your Home Screen or start a new shortcut with it.* ## How To Create an Event with the Shortcut Follow these steps to create an event with the shortcut: 1. Tap "Create an event in Countdown X". 2. Type the event's name, for example "Birthday", and tap Done. 3. Pick the date in the calendar and tap Done. 4. The shortcut confirms that the event was created. When you run the shortcut, a small window opens over whatever is on your screen and asks what the event is called. Type the name the way you want to see it in the app, such as "Birthday" or "Paris trip", and tap Done. ![Countdown X shortcut on an iPhone Home Screen asking "What's the event called?" with an empty Name field and Cancel and Done buttons](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-shortcut-event-name.BwMRoVAE.png) *First, the shortcut asks for the event's name.* Next, the shortcut asks when the event is and shows a calendar. Tap the day, use the arrows to move to another month if you need to, and tap Done. ![Countdown X shortcut on an iPhone Home Screen asking "When is the event?" with an October 2026 calendar and October 31 selected](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-shortcut-event-date.I3CkbiOu.png) *Next, pick the date. You can switch months with the arrows at the top.* Once you've picked the date, the shortcut creates the event and confirms it by name. Tap Done to close the window, and you're back where you were. ![Countdown X shortcut confirmation on an iPhone Home Screen reading Created "Birthday" with a Done button](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-shortcut-event-created.B7jJevk4.png) *The event is created without opening Countdown X, and it's ready in the app and your widgets.* The shortcut creates an all-day event with the first color template, like a new event in the app. To change its colors, add a reminder or turn on [Live Countdown](/blog/live-countdown-lock-screen-dynamic-island), open the event in Countdown X and choose Edit. ## How To Add the Shortcut to Your Home Screen To create events right from your Home Screen, follow these steps: 1. On the Countdown X page in Shortcuts, touch and hold the Create action. 2. Tap Add to Home Screen. 3. Follow the prompts to place it. Now you can tap the icon on your Home Screen to create an event, with the same two questions. ## How To Build Your Own Shortcut To use the Create Event action in a shortcut of your own, follow these steps: 1. On the Countdown X page in Shortcuts, touch and hold the Create action. 2. Tap New Shortcut. 3. Tap Name or Date in the action to fill them in, or leave them empty so the shortcut asks each time. 4. Add any other actions you like, then tap Done. The action reads "Create Name on Date". If you fill in both, the shortcut creates the event without asking anything. The action also returns the new event, so later actions in your shortcut can use it. ## Tips for Using Shortcuts with Countdown X The same shortcut works with Siri. Say "Siri, create an event in Countdown X" and answer the questions out loud. Our guide on [creating a countdown with Siri](/blog/create-countdown-event-with-siri) covers the phrases Siri understands. If your iPhone has an Action button, you can set it to run this shortcut, so a single press starts a new event. See our guide on [adding events from Control Center and the Action button](/blog/add-countdown-event-control-center-action-button) for the steps. ## Troubleshooting If the shortcut doesn't create the event, check these common causes: - You've reached the free event limit: the shortcut says "You've reached the free event limit." Delete an event you no longer need, or upgrade to Premium for unlimited events. - Countdown X doesn't appear in Shortcuts: open Countdown X once, then check the Shortcuts app again. - The name was empty: the shortcut asks for the name again until you enter one. ## Need Help or Have Feedback? If you encounter any issues, have questions about Shortcuts, or want to suggest improvements, you can always reach out through the [contact page](/contact). Your feedback helps make the countdown app better for everyone.