# Show a countdown timer

> Add a countdown to a form opening, a donation campaign, an event or a landing page, and choose when it ends.
>
> Source: https://docs.bcl.my/countdown-timer/

BCL has a countdown timer in four places: before a payment form opens, on a donation campaign, on an event page and as a block on a landing page. Each one counts down to a date you set, in Malaysia time. Pick the one that matches what you are selling.

## Before a payment form opens

Use this to launch a sale at a set time. Until then, buyers see **Opening Soon**, the opening date and a countdown instead of the form. To set it:

1. Go to **Payments** → **Forms** and click **Edit** on the form.
2. Open the **Form Configuration** tab. Under **Schedule**, pick the date and time in **Available From**.

   *(Screenshot: The Schedule section with the Available From field highlighted)*

3. Click **Update Form**.

Until then, the buyer sees the opening date and time and a countdown in days, hours, minutes and seconds:

*(Screenshot: The Opening Soon page with the opening date and a countdown of days, hours, minutes and seconds)*

The form opens by itself at that time. To close it on a date too, set **Available Until**: see [Close or unpublish a form](/close-form/).

## On a donation campaign

A donation form can count down to the end of the campaign. To turn it on:

1. Edit the form. On the **Payment Details** tab, **Type of Form** must be **Donation**.
2. Open the **Donation** tab. Under **Campaign Timer**, pick the **End Date** and turn on **Show countdown on form**.
3. Optional: turn on **Close form when expired** so the form stops taking donations at the end date.

   *(Screenshot: The Campaign Timer section with Show countdown on form highlighted)*

4. Click **Update Form**.

## On an event page

An event form shows **Event Starts In** with a countdown to the event's start, without any setup:

*(Screenshot: The Event Starts In countdown on an event page, with days, hours, minutes and seconds)*

To count down to something else, such as the end of early-bird sales:

1. Go to **Events** → **Events**, click **Edit** on the event and open the **Event Configuration** tab.
2. Under **Countdown Timer**, turn on **Customize Countdown**.
3. Enter a **Timer Title**, such as Registration Closes In, and pick the **Countdown End Date & Time**.

   *(Screenshot: The Countdown Timer section with Customize Countdown on, and the Timer Title and Countdown End Date & Time fields highlighted)*

4. Click **Update Event**.

With a custom countdown, registration closes when it reaches zero, unless **Allow Late Registration** is on. To hide the countdown, turn on **Disable Countdown Timer** under **Event Status**.

## On a landing page

A form with **Type of Form** set to **Landing Pages** can have a **Countdown** block anywhere on the page. To add one:

1. Edit the form and click **Edit Landing Page** on the **Payment Details** tab.
2. Under **Blocks**, click **Countdown**. The block appears on the page and its settings open on the right.
3. Under **Target Settings**, pick the **Target Date** and **Target Time**. Under **Display Units**, choose which of days, hours, minutes and seconds to show, and change the labels if you like.

   *(Screenshot: The landing page builder with the Countdown block highlighted, and its Target Date and Target Time settings)*

4. Click **Save Now**.

This countdown is for display only. It does not open or close the form.

## Tips

- **Match the countdown to a real deadline.** If the timer says an offer ends, also set **Available Until** or **Close form when expired** so the form really closes then.
- **Enter every date in Malaysia time.** The countdowns use Malaysia time (MYT), even for buyers in another country.

## Common issues

### Can I put a countdown timer on my form?

Yes, in four places: Available From on a payment form shows an Opening Soon countdown until it opens, a donation form's Campaign Timer counts down to its end date, an event counts down to its start, and a landing page can have a Countdown block.

### Can the event countdown show when registration closes instead of when the event starts?

Yes. On the Event Configuration tab, turn on Customize Countdown, then set Timer Title (for example Registration Closes In) and Countdown End Date & Time. Registration closes when that countdown ends, unless Allow Late Registration is on.

### Does the countdown close my payment form when it reaches zero?

Only some do. The Opening Soon countdown opens the form, a donation form closes at the end only with Close form when expired, and a landing page Countdown block is display only. To close a payment form on a date, set Available Until.