# How to Create a Countdown with Siri: Add Events Hands-Free on iPhone

> Create a countdown event by asking Siri, without opening the app. Say "Create an event in Countdown X", answer two questions, and your new countdown is ready on your iPhone or iPad.

- Author: [Artem Grabowski](https://countdownx.app/authors/artem-grabowski), Product Designer & iOS Developer
- Published: 2026-10-31
- Canonical URL: https://countdownx.app/blog/create-countdown-event-with-siri
- App: [Countdown X - Widget & Counter](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757264819)

The best time to add a countdown is the moment you hear about the date. A friend tells you about their wedding, you book a trip, or a deadline lands in your inbox. If your hands are busy, opening the app and typing can wait too long and the date slips your mind.

With Siri, you can create a countdown in Countdown X just by asking. Siri asks for the event's name and date, creates the event, and it shows up in the app and your widgets right away. You don't need to open Countdown X at all.

## What You Need Before Getting Started

To create events with Siri, download the [Countdown X](https://apps.apple.com/app/apple-store/id6757264819?pt=128028811&ct=blog_siri&mt=8) app from the App Store. Creating events with Siri is free for all users. Events you add with Siri count toward the free limit of three events, the same as events you add in the app. With Premium, you can create as many as you want.

Siri works with Countdown X on iPhone and iPad. There's nothing to set up in the app. As soon as Countdown X is installed, Siri knows the phrases below. Siri itself needs to be turned on in your iPhone's Settings.

## How To Create an Event with Siri

Follow these steps to create a countdown with Siri:

1. Say "Siri, create an event in Countdown X".
2. When Siri asks "What's the event called?", say the name, for example "Birthday".
3. When Siri asks "When is the event?", say the date, for example "November 1".
4. Siri confirms that the event was created.

Siri first asks what the event is called. Say the name the way you want to see it in the app, such as "Birthday" or "Paris trip". You don't need to unlock your iPhone, so you can answer right from the Lock Screen.

![Countdown X Siri request on the iPhone Lock Screen with Siri asking "What's the event called?"](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-siri-event-name.rgqFIpne.png)

*Siri asks for the event's name first. You can answer right from the Lock Screen.*

Next, Siri asks when the event is. You can say an exact date, like "December 24", or a relative one, like "next Friday". Siri turns it into a date for you, so there's no calendar to scroll through.

![Countdown X Siri request on the iPhone Lock Screen with Siri asking "When is the event?"](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-siri-event-date.CCF06BgW.png)

*Next, Siri asks for the date. Say it the way you normally would, such as "next Friday" or "December 24".*

Once Siri has both answers, it creates the event and confirms it by name. The new countdown appears in Countdown X and in any widget set to show it the next time it updates.

![Countdown X Siri confirmation on the iPhone Lock Screen reading Created "Birthday", with the Countdown X app name below it](https://countdownx.app/_astro/countdown-x-siri-event-created.pwhWZRaC.png)

*Siri confirms the new event, and the countdown is ready in the app and your widgets.*

## Phrases You Can Use

Siri recognizes these phrases for Countdown X:

- "Create an event in Countdown X"
- "Add an event to Countdown X"
- "New Countdown X event"

You can also type these phrases when you use Type to Siri, or search for "Create Event" in Spotlight to start the same flow.

## What Siri Creates

Siri creates an all-day event with the name and date you gave it. It uses the first color template, the same one a new event starts with in the app. The event counts down to the start of that day.

To change anything else, such as the color, a reminder, Repeat or [Live Countdown](/blog/live-countdown-lock-screen-dynamic-island), open the event in Countdown X and choose Edit. The changes show up in your [Home Screen](/blog/home-screen-widgets-countdown-app) and [Lock Screen](/blog/lock-screen-widgets-countdown-app) widgets too.

## Tips for Using Siri with Countdown X

Keep event names short and easy to say, like "Paris trip" or "Mom's birthday". Short names also fit better in widgets and in the Dynamic Island.

If you create events often, add the same action to the Shortcuts app or to the Action button. Our guides on [Countdown X shortcuts](/blog/countdown-shortcuts-iphone) and on [adding events from Control Center and the Action button](/blog/add-countdown-event-control-center-action-button) show how.

## Troubleshooting

If Siri doesn't create the event, check these common causes:

- You've reached the free event limit: Siri says "You've reached the free event limit." Delete an event you no longer need, or upgrade to Premium for unlimited events.
- Siri doesn't recognize the phrase: say the app name exactly, "Countdown X", and use one of the phrases above.
- The name was empty: Siri asks for the name again until you give one.

## Need Help or Have Feedback?

If you encounter any issues, have questions about Siri, 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.