How to make a digital advent calendar
A digital advent calendar is a web page with 24 doors, one for each day from 1 to 24 December, each hiding a small surprise. With Little Doors you can make one for free in about five minutes and send it as a single short link. No app or account is needed, on your side or theirs.
What you need
- About five minutes (or longer if you write every door yourself).
- The name of the person it's for.
- Optional: links to songs, videos or photo albums you'd like to hide behind some doors.
Step by step
Choose who it's for
Open Little Doors and pick partner, friend, kids, family or colleague. This sets the ideas you can use. Add their name and yours.
Fill the 24 doors
Write a short message behind each door: a note, a joke, a coupon or a small challenge. Tap "Fill empty doors with ideas" to start from ready-made ideas and change them to make them personal.
Add links if you like
Each door can hold a link, for example to a song, a video, a shared photo album or a voucher.
Pick a house and the dates
Choose one of four houses. Door 1 opens on 1 December and the front door on 24 December, or change the dates to count down to a birthday, trip or wedding.
Preview it
Press "Preview as them" and move the date slider to see exactly what they will see on each day.
Send one link
Press "Create my link" and send the short link by WhatsApp, Messages or email, or print the QR code in a card. They open one door a day, in order.
Free, no sign-up, ready in 5 minutes. One short link, a new door every day.Start your calendar
What to put behind the doors
Short notes, coupons for small favours, jokes, little challenges, fun facts and links all work well. Ready-made lists of 24: for a partner, for a friend, for kids, for family and for colleagues.
Digital or paper advent calendar?
| What matters | Digital (Little Doors) | Paper or chocolate |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Free | From a few euros or dollars, more for filled ones |
| Long distance | Send a link anywhere in the world | Needs posting before December |
| Personal messages | 24 of your own, editable after sending | Usually printed or store-bought |
| Links, songs, photos | Yes, one link per door | No |
| Something to hold | No, but you can print the QR code in a card | Yes |
Questions
Is a digital advent calendar free to make?
Yes. Little Doors is free, needs no account and has no ads.
Does the person need an app?
No. The calendar opens in any web browser on a phone, tablet or computer.
Can I make one in December?
Yes. Doors whose day has passed can be opened straight away, one after the other, so they can catch up.
Can I change it after sending?
Yes. Edit it on the device where you made it, or with your private edit link, and press Save changes. The link stays the same.