Apple has updated its Invites app with a new Home Screen widget that lets users count down to their next event. The feature is part of the latest app update and adds another way to keep track of upcoming plans directly from the iPhone Home Screen.
The Invites app was introduced earlier this year as Apple’s dedicated tool for creating custom event invitations. Since launch, it has received several improvements, and the addition of a countdown widget makes it more useful for users who want quick access to their event details without opening the app each time.
The new widget comes in three sizes – small, medium, and large. Regardless of size, the widget displays the number of days remaining until the upcoming event. Tapping on the widget opens the Invites app, where users can view more detailed information about their event. This keeps the experience consistent while providing flexibility in how much screen space users dedicate to the widget.
Apple Invites itself offers several customization options, allowing users to design invitations with different backgrounds, fonts, and essential information such as directions and weather. However, while the app is free to download, creating events requires an iCloud+ subscription. Plans for iCloud+ start at $0.99 per month, making the service part of Apple’s broader ecosystem of paid cloud features.
By adding a countdown widget, Apple is continuing to refine Invites into more than just a simple event planning tool. It now integrates better with iOS by using the Home Screen as a glanceable hub, much like other Apple apps with widget support. However, the app still does not have an iPad version even though the iPhone version of the app, and its new widgets, work just fine on iPadOS 26. Perhaps iPad support should be next on Apple’s roadmap for the app.
Download Apple Invites from App Store
