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Stream Countdown Overlay
Design a "starting soon" screen with a live countdown for your stream and use it in OBS, Streamlabs or any app with a browser source. Count down a few minutes, or to a set start time, choose colors, fonts, progress style and animation, then copy one URL that holds all your settings. No account and no downloads.
Last updated:
Presets:
- In OBS, add a Browser source and paste the URL.
- Set Width 1920 and Height 1080.
- For duration timers, tick Refresh browser when scene becomes active so the countdown restarts each time you switch to the scene.
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How to use the Stream Countdown Overlay
- Choose the countdown type: a duration such as 5 minutes, a daily start time, or an exact date and time.
- Write your text: a heading, a subtitle and the message shown when the timer ends.
- Style it with a preset or your own background, font, colors, animation and layout. The preview updates instantly.
- Press Copy URL and add a Browser source in OBS with that URL, width 1920 and height 1080.
- For duration timers, enable Refresh browser when scene becomes active so the countdown restarts whenever you switch to the scene.
Which countdown type should you use?
| Type | Counts down to | Best for | Restart |
|---|---|---|---|
| Duration | A fixed time (for example 5:00) from when the source loads | A short buffer before every stream, regardless of the start time | Refresh the browser source, or enable refresh when the scene becomes active |
| Time of day | A clock time on the OBS computer, every day | Streams on a regular schedule, such as weekdays at 19:30 | Automatic, every day |
| Date & time | One exact moment (stored as a UTC timestamp) | A special event, premiere or charity stream; sharing one link with co-hosts in other time zones | Make a new URL for the next event |
URL settings reference
Everything is encoded in the query string, so you can also tweak a URL by hand. Only values that differ from the defaults are included.
| Parameter | Meaning | Values |
|---|---|---|
m | Countdown type | d duration, t time of day, a date & time |
d / t / at | Seconds / HH:MM / Unix time in milliseconds | e.g. d=300, t=19:30 |
h, s, e | Heading, subtitle, end message | Any text (URL-encoded) |
bg | Background | an moving gradient, gr gradient, so solid, tr transparent |
c1, c2, tc, ac | Background, text and accent colors | 6-digit hex without # |
f, an, pos, pb, sz | Font, animation, layout, progress, text size | As in the generator; sz 60-150 |
Tips for a better starting soon screen
- Add music in OBS with a separate Media or audio source, so viewers know the stream is working.
- Keep important text away from the edges. The corner layouts leave 90 pixels of margin, which stays visible on TVs and phone players.
- Use the transparent preset over a looping video or your channel artwork for a branded look without editing a video.
- Check contrast: light text on a dark background, or dark text on a light one, stays readable after stream compression.
Frequently asked questions
How do I add the countdown to OBS Studio?
Copy the URL, then in OBS click + under Sources, choose Browser, paste the URL into the URL field and set Width to 1920 and Height to 1080. The overlay scales itself to fit, so it also works at 1280×720. Streamlabs Desktop and other apps with a browser or web source work the same way.
When does a duration countdown start?
A duration timer starts when the page loads. In OBS that happens when the browser source is created or refreshed, so tick Refresh browser when scene becomes active in the source properties to restart the countdown every time you switch to your starting soon scene.
What is the difference between time of day and date and time?
Time of day counts down to a clock time, like 20:00, using the clock of the computer running OBS, and works again every day, which suits a regular schedule. Date and time counts down to one exact moment stored as a universal timestamp, so the same link shows the correct countdown in any time zone.
Can the overlay have a transparent background?
Yes. Choose Transparent as the background and the overlay shows only the text, timer and progress over your scene. OBS browser sources are transparent by default, so your webcam, gameplay or artwork shows through.
Are my settings saved anywhere?
All settings are stored in the URL itself, after the question mark, so nothing is saved on a server and no account is needed. To change the overlay, edit it here and paste the new URL into the browser source. The generator also remembers your last design in this browser.
Does the overlay need an internet connection while streaming?
The page loads once when OBS opens the browser source. After that, the countdown and animations run locally inside OBS, using system fonts, so a brief network hiccup does not stop the timer.
What happens when the countdown reaches zero?
The clock is replaced by your end message, such as Starting now!, and the progress bar or ring fills completely. If you tick the fade-out option, the whole overlay fades away 10 seconds later.
Are all the tools on FreeToolCabin tested for quality and accuracy?
Yes! Every tool on our site undergoes automated Q/A testing in real browser environments to ensure high precision, correct output, and zero errors. If you happen to spot a bug or have a suggestion, please contact us at [email protected] and our team will review it right away.
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