While the ELC Countdown plugin comes with a fully-featured Gutenberg block, you might want to place the timer using a page builder (like Elementor or Divi) or directly inside a classic text widget. You can easily do this using the plugin’s native shortcode.
The Basic Shortcode #
To display the timer using your default Global Settings, simply paste this shortcode anywhere on your site:
[elc_countdown]Customizing with Parameters (Attributes) #
You can customize almost every aspect of an individual timer by adding parameters directly into the shortcode. Any parameter you do not include will simply fall back to your Global Settings.
1. Core Settings #
| Parameter | What it does | Example Values |
timer_mode | Sets the type of countdown. | learndash, evergreen, certificate |
evergreen_hours | (Evergreen only) Hours to run the timer. | 24, 48, 72 |
evergreen_reset_days | (Evergreen only) Days until the timer resets for a returning user. | 0 (never reset), 30 |
cert_course_id | (Certificate only) Targets a specific course certificate if placed outside a course page. | 125, 402 |
2. Messaging & Actions #
| Parameter | What it does | Example Values |
pre_message | Text shown above the ticking timer. | "Hurry! Sale ends in:" |
expired_message | Text shown when the timer hits zero. | "Registration Closed" |
redirect_url | URL to send the user to when time expires. | "https://yoursite.com/full-price" |
3. Styling & Colors #
| Parameter | What it does | Example Values |
color_background | Main background behind the whole timer. | "#f2f2f2", "transparent" |
color_numbers | Color of the ticking numbers. | "#ffffff", "#000000" |
color_labels | Color of the text (Days, Hours, etc.). | "#aaaaaa", "#555555" |
box_background | Background color of the individual time boxes. | "#333333", "#ffffff" |
box_border_color | Color of the border around the boxes. | "#00ffcc", "#e0e0e0" |
box_border_width | Thickness of the box borders. | "1px", "2px" |
box_border_radius | Roundness of the box corners. | "8px", "50%" |
animation_style | Adds motion to the ticking numbers. | "none", "pulse", "flip" |
4. Sizes & Visibility #
| Parameter | What it does | Example Values |
size_desktop | Font size of numbers on desktop. | "32px" |
size_tablet | Font size of numbers on tablet. | "28px" |
size_mobile | Font size of numbers on mobile. | "24px" |
hide_days | Hides the “Days” box. | "1" (hide), "0" (show) |
hide_hours | Hides the “Hours” box. | "1" (hide), "0" (show) |
hide_minutes | Hides the “Minutes” box. | "1" (hide), "0" (show) |
hide_seconds | Hides the “Seconds” box. | "1" (hide), "0" (show) |
Examples in Action #
Example 1: A 48-Hour Evergreen Flash Sale This creates an evergreen timer that runs for 48 hours, features a custom pre-message, uses the 3D flip animation, and redirects the user to a checkout page when time runs out.
[elc_countdown timer_mode="evergreen" evergreen_hours="48" pre_message="Flash Sale Ends In:" animation_style="flip" redirect_url="https://yoursite.com/checkout"]Example 2: A Minimalist LearnDash Expiration Timer This enforces LearnDash course access but hides the seconds box so the timer feels less “frantic”, while changing the numbers to red.
[elc_countdown timer_mode="learndash" hide_seconds="1" color_numbers="#ff0000"]Example 3: Certificate Tracker Override This checks the specific expiration date for the certificate attached to Course ID 502, regardless of what page the shortcode is placed on.
[elc_countdown timer_mode="certificate" cert_course_id="502"]