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How to Make SharePoint Countdown Timer Count Up for Accident-Free Days

Rana Garcia Sep 28, 2026 869 views

Question details

The user wants to configure the SharePoint Countdown Timer web part to count up (e.g., to display accident-free days) since there is no obvious setting to enable this behavior.

How to Make the SharePoint Countdown Timer Count Up

Product: Microsoft SharePoint
Device & OS: not provided
Scenario: Displaying the number of days elapsed since a specific past event on a SharePoint page.
Observed behavior: The standard SharePoint Countdown Timer web part lacks an explicit 'Count Up' option, causing confusion on how to track elapsed days.

Before you start

Ensure you have 'Edit' permissions for the SharePoint site page where you want to add or modify the Countdown Timer web part.

Solution 1Recommended

Set a Target Date in the Past

Setting the countdown target to a date that has already occurred forces the timer to automatically count up, displaying the elapsed days.

The SharePoint Countdown Timer is designed to automatically detect whether a date is in the future or the past. Without needing a specific toggle button, simply selecting a past date will change the timer's behavior from counting down to counting up.

Edit the SharePoint Page

Navigate to the page where you want to display the timer and click the 'Edit' button in the top right corner.

Open Web Part Properties

Select the Countdown Timer web part on your page and click the pencil icon to open the property pane on the right side of the screen.

Select a Past Date

In the 'Date and time' picker, select the specific past date you want to track from (e.g., the exact date of the last accident).

Save and Republish

Close the property pane and click 'Republish' to make your changes visible. The timer will now continuously count up the elapsed days.

Stopping at Zero: The default web part will continuously count up from a past date. It does not natively support stopping at a specific number (like zero) once a certain threshold is reached.

Solution 2

Create a Custom Power Apps Canvas App

If you need advanced behavior, such as capping the timer at a specific number, a custom Power App is a flexible alternative.

Free Microsoft Office alternative

Need a simpler way to track team metrics? Try WPS Office.

While SharePoint offers robust web parts for intranet sites, you might find tracking project metrics, timelines, or accident-free days much simpler in a dedicated spreadsheet. WPS Office is a lightweight, free alternative to Microsoft Office that offers full compatibility with standard file formats.

1. Download and Install: Get WPS Office for free from the official website and install it on your device.
2. Open WPS Spreadsheet: Launch WPS Spreadsheet to create a new tracking document for your team's metrics.
3. Calculate Elapsed Time: Use simple formulas like =TODAY() - DATE(YYYY,MM,DD) to calculate days instantly without complex web part configurations.

Fully compatible with Microsoft Excel (.xlsx), Word, and PowerPoint formats.Easily track 'accident-free days' using simple Date functions like =TODAY() in WPS Spreadsheet.Lightweight software that runs smoothly on Windows, Mac, and Linux.Familiar user interface makes migration seamless for your whole team.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Is there a specific 'Count Up' button in the SharePoint timer settings?

No, there is no explicit 'Count Up' toggle. The web part automatically determines whether to count down or up based on whether the target date you select is in the future or the past.

Can the SharePoint Countdown Timer stop at zero once the date passes?

The standard SharePoint Countdown Timer web part does not natively support stopping at zero. Once a future date passes, it automatically transitions into counting up to show the elapsed time instead.

How do I submit a feature request for the timer to stop at zero?

If the current behavior does not meet your needs, you can submit feedback directly to Microsoft through the Microsoft Tech Community forums or the feedback portal.

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