Counting Down to Your Next Trip (and Sharing It with Friends)

May 2026 · 1 min read

A trip is more fun before it starts than during it. The anticipation is half of the thing. A countdown widget extends that period — and a shared one extends it for everyone going.

Step 1 — Make the Ahead date

1. Open Left → Ahead tab → +.
2. Title: "Tokyo." Date: when you fly out. Pick a color and a symbol (airplane works).
3. Save.

Step 2 — Put it on your Home Screen

1. Touch and hold the Home Screen → + → search Left.
2. Pick an Ahead widget size that fits your Home Screen.
3. Long-press → Edit Widget → pick Tokyo.

Step 3 — Turn it into a Joint Ahead

If you're traveling with someone, add them in Friends first (by username). Then back in the Ahead date's edit screen, tap Share and pick them. The date becomes a Joint Ahead — they get the same countdown on their own Home Screen, synced through your Left accounts.

Step 4 — The final hours

When you're inside the final countdown window, Left can promote the date to a Live Activity on the Dynamic Island and Lock Screen.

After the trip

Delete the date or archive it. You can also turn the same workflow into a Since counter ("days since Tokyo") if you want to keep counting on the other side.

Get Left and try a Joint Ahead with someone.