A countdown on a pixel display does not just track time — it turns waiting into something you can see, customize, and share. Instead of burying the days inside a phone app that only opens when you remember to check, a Divoom display puts the countdown on your desk, your bedside table, or your shelf, where it glows quietly until the day arrives.
Here is how to build one. You have two paths: the Times Gate, which has a built-in countdown timer and works the moment you plug it in, and the Pixoo-64, which gives you a 64x64 pixel canvas to design your own countdown art. One is fast and structured, the other is creative and personal. Both turn the wait into part of the event.
Why a Physical Countdown Display Feels Different
A phone countdown is efficient but invisible. You check it when you think to look, and then the screen turns off and the countdown disappears from your day. A wooden block calendar from Etsy has warmth and craft, but someone has to flip the numbers every morning, and once the event passes the block becomes shelf decoration.
A pixel display sits in between. It stays on, glowing softly on a shelf or desk, so the countdown is always in your peripheral vision. The numbers update themselves. And because it is a screen — not carved wood or printed paper — you can change what it shows: a wedding date in elegant pixel typography one week, a tiny pixel airplane counting down to a trip the next, and a family house before a reunion.
The difference is not about accuracy. Every countdown method counts the same days. The difference is about whether waiting feels like something you are doing or something that is happening to you. A display that is always there makes it feel like something you are doing.
What You Need Before You Start
Before you design anything, pick the device that matches how much control you want. The Times Gate is the countdown that works out of the box — five LCD screens, a built-in timer function, and RGB ambient lighting. You set a date in the app and the countdown starts. It is the faster path, and it works especially well when you want multiple pieces of information visible at once: the countdown, the date, the weather, a short message.
The Pixoo-64 takes the opposite approach. There is no built-in countdown timer — instead, you get a 64x64 LED panel that is effectively a blank canvas. You design the countdown yourself in the Divoom app, using the pixel editor or community templates, and upload it to the device. It takes more effort, but the result is entirely yours: a hand-drawn pixel landmark, a custom monogram, a tiny scene that no one else has.
Both devices connect over WiFi and are controlled through the Divoom app on iPhone or Android. Once a design or timer is uploaded, the device runs independently — you do not need to keep your phone nearby. For app download and device-specific setup guides, visit the Divoom product manual page.
If you want the countdown running within ten minutes of unboxing, go with Times Gate. If you already have a picture in your head of what the countdown should look like — a pixel Eiffel Tower, a pair of wedding rings, a family house — go with Pixoo-64.
The short clip above gives you a quick look at how Divoom devices handle time displays — useful context before you start setting up your own countdown.
Step-by-Step: Set Up Your Countdown on Times Gate
The Times Gate has a built-in countdown timer, which means you do not need to design anything. The app does the work. Here is the flow:
- Plug it in and connect to WiFi. Power on the Times Gate, open the Divoom app, and follow the pairing prompt. The app will ask you to connect the device to your WiFi network. Once paired, the device appears in your app dashboard.
- Set the date and time. The app syncs the current time automatically once WiFi is connected. Confirm the time zone is correct so your countdown stays accurate.
- Open the countdown timer widget. In the app, navigate to the Times Gate's device settings and look for the countdown timer function. Select it, then enter your target date — the wedding day, the flight departure, the reunion Saturday.
- Choose which screens show what. The Times Gate has five independent LCD screens. You can assign the countdown to the center screen, put the event date on another, the weather on a third, and a short text label like "Until Forever" or "See You in Tokyo" on the remaining two. The multi-screen layout is what makes Times Gate especially good for events where you want more than a single number visible.
- Save and let it run. Once you confirm the layout, the countdown starts ticking on the device. It updates automatically — no daily flipping, no manual adjustment. The RGB ambient light can be set to a color that matches your event theme.
Setup tip
Set up the Times Gate through the app before you place it on a bedside table or shelf. WiFi pairing and screen testing are much easier when the device is right next to your phone.
If you want to change the countdown later — say, the event date moved — just open the app, edit the target date, and the display updates within seconds. You can also swap the screen layout at any time without resetting the countdown itself.
For full setup details, including clock faces, weather widgets, and widget configuration, visit the Divoom product manual page.
Times Gate — $119.99
Five-screen countdown that works the moment you plug it in. Best for weddings and reunions where you want the date, weather, and a message visible alongside the number.
View Times GateStep-by-Step: Design a Custom Pixel Countdown on Pixoo-64
The Pixoo-64 does not have a built-in countdown timer, so you build the countdown as a piece of pixel art. This is more work, but it is also the point — you are designing something no app can auto-generate. Here is how to do it:
- Plug in and connect to WiFi. Power on the Pixoo-64, open the Divoom app, and pair the device. The Pixoo-64 supports dual-band WiFi (2.4GHz and 5GHz), so it connects to most home networks without issues.
- Open the pixel editor or browse community templates. In the Divoom app, you will find a pixel art editor where you can draw on a 64x64 grid. If you do not want to start from scratch, browse the community gallery — there are thousands of community designs, including event countdowns, holiday art, and animated scenes that you can use as-is or modify.
- Design your countdown screen. This is where the Pixoo-64 shines. Draw the elements that matter to your event: a pixel wedding ring, a tiny airplane, a family house, a heart. Add the countdown number — you can update it daily, or use an animated frame that cycles through numbers. The 64x64 grid is large enough for recognizable art with enough detail to feel personal.
- Add text or a date. Use the text tool to add the event date, a short message, or the destination name. Keep text short — pixel typography works best with five to seven characters per line.
- Upload to the device. Once your design is ready, push it to the Pixoo-64 from the app. The display shows your art immediately. To update the countdown number each day, either edit the design in the app and re-upload, or set up an animation with multiple frames that you cycle through manually.
Design tip
If updating the number every day feels like too much, design a single "days until" screen with a static number and update it once a week. The anticipation does not need to be daily to work — it just needs to be visible.
The trade-off is honest: the Pixoo-64 gives you more creative freedom than the Times Gate, but the countdown is not automatic. You are designing and maintaining it. For some people that is the fun part. For others, it is a chore. Know which one you are before you choose.
For app features, community gallery access, and device-specific guides, check the Divoom product manual page.
Pixoo-64 — $149.99
A 64x64 pixel canvas for countdowns you design yourself. Best for trips and personal milestones where the art matters as much as the number.
View Pixoo-64Three Scene Ideas: Wedding, Trip, Reunion
Here are three specific ways to design a countdown for each event type. Use these as starting points — the pixel canvas and multi-screen layout are flexible enough to adapt to your own story.
Wedding: Elegant Multi-Screen Countdown
The Times Gate is a natural fit for a wedding countdown because you can split information across five screens. Put the countdown number on the center screen, the wedding date on the left, the weather forecast on the right, and a short message like "Almost Forever" or your initials on the remaining two. Set the RGB ambient light to your wedding colors. Place it on a bedside table or a shelf in the entryway where you and your partner see it every morning. The multi-screen layout means you get the countdown plus the context — date, weather, a word — without opening an app.
If you prefer the Pixoo-64 for a wedding, design a pixel version of your wedding monogram, a pair of interlocking rings, or a small chapel scene. Keep the palette to two or three colors — gold and white, or blush and sage — so it feels elegant rather than busy. Add the countdown number below the art in a clean pixel font.
Trip: Custom Destination Pixel Art
The Pixoo-64 is the better choice for a trip countdown because the destination itself becomes the art. Draw a pixel Eiffel Tower for Paris, a tiny Mount Fuji for Tokyo, a palm tree and wave for a beach trip. Put the countdown number next to or below the landmark. Each time you update the number, you are reminded of where you are going, not just how long until you leave. Place it on your desk at work — the pixel landmark is a small daily reward for showing up.
With the Times Gate, you can dedicate one screen to a pixel travel icon, another to the departure date, and a third to the local weather at your destination. It is less custom but more informative — useful if you are counting down to a multi-stop trip and want flight info visible too.
Reunion: Warm Multi-Screen Welcome
A reunion benefits from the Times Gate's multi-screen layout. Use the center screen for the countdown, and the surrounding screens for things that build anticipation: the date, the location, a rotating set of old photos (if you have them on the device), or a welcome message like "Family Together Again." The five-screen format lets you show warmth and information at the same time, which suits a gathering where logistics matter as much as sentiment.
For a Pixoo-64 reunion countdown, design a pixel version of the family home, a dinner table, or a group silhouette. Use warm colors — orange, red, soft yellow — to make it feel inviting. If the reunion is annual, you can reuse the same design each year and just change the date.
Keep It Going After the Event
The most common worry about buying a device for a single event is what happens after. Both the Times Gate and the Pixoo-64 are designed for daily use, not one-off occasions.
After the countdown hits zero, the Times Gate becomes a desk dashboard: world clock, weather, calendar, social media stats, and pixel art animations. It keeps doing useful work on your desk or shelf indefinitely. The five-screen layout that made it good for a wedding countdown also makes it good for a morning glance at the day ahead.
The Pixoo-64 becomes a pixel art display and social media counter. You can cycle through community art, display your own animations, or use it as a live follower counter for a creative channel. The 64x64 canvas that held your trip countdown can hold a different piece of art every week.
Neither device is single-use. The countdown is just the first thing you do with it.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are Divoom devices easy to set up?
Yes. Both the Times Gate and Pixoo-64 pair with the Divoom app over WiFi within a few minutes of unboxing. The Times Gate's countdown timer is a built-in widget — you just enter a date. The Pixoo-64 requires you to design or select pixel art, which takes a bit more time but does not require any technical skill.
Do Divoom products work with iPhone and Android?
Yes. The Divoom app is available on both the App Store and Google Play. Both the Times Gate and Pixoo-64 connect to the app over WiFi, and the pairing process is the same on iOS and Android.
Can I use a Divoom device without the app?
You need the app for initial setup, WiFi pairing, and uploading designs. Once a countdown or pixel art design is uploaded to the device, it runs independently — your phone does not need to stay connected. You only need the app again when you want to change what is displayed.
Can I gift a Divoom device with a countdown already set up?
Yes, and it makes a strong gift. Set up the Times Gate with the event date and screen layout before wrapping it, so the recipient opens the box and sees the countdown already running. For the Pixoo-64, design a custom countdown screen and upload it before gifting. The recipient can keep it as-is or modify it through the app. If you are looking for more gift-ready ideas, browse the Divoom creative gifts collection.
What is Divoom's return policy?
Divoom accepts returns within a specified window from the delivery date. The exact terms — return period, condition requirements, and refund processing time — vary by region. Before placing an order, review the current policy on the Divoom refund policy page or contact Divoom customer service for details specific to your location.
The best countdown is not the one that counts the most days — it is the one that makes each day feel closer. Whether you pick the Times Gate because you want the countdown running in five minutes, or the Pixoo-64 because you want to draw it yourself, the point is the same: waiting stops being something that happens to you and becomes something you can see.
Both devices will outlast the event. The countdown is just the beginning. After the wedding, the trip, or the reunion, the same screen becomes a clock, a weather station, a piece of pixel art, or the start of the next countdown.
