How to count people coming through a door

Why the usual way fails

Door counts happen while you are doing other things: greeting people, checking names, pointing to the coat rack. Mental counting breaks the first time you get distracted, and you rarely notice when it does. Paper tally marks need a pen, a clipboard and a free hand. Phone counter apps are fine until the screen locks, the phone goes back in a pocket and you have to unlock it again for the next person. And when the count matters for a fire limit or a catering order, you want something you trust at the end of the night, not a number you are half sure about.

How Tally Counter App for Wear OS helps

Tally Counter puts the count on your Wear OS watch, so it stays on your wrist while your hands are busy. You tap the screen or turn the crown for each person, and you can add straight from the Tile without opening the app. Name the counter for the event, and set a target if there is a room limit you need to watch. If someone leaves, tap to decrement. When the night is busy, lock the counter so a sleeve or a handshake does not change the number by accident. A reset asks for confirmation, and the last reset can be undone, so a slip at the end does not erase the evening. It works without a phone connection, an account or network access, and the counts stay on the watch. You can keep up to eight counters, which is handy if you want to count adults and children separately or track two doors at once.

Step by step

1. Open Tally Counter on your watch and create a counter named for the event.
2. Set a target if there is a room or ticket limit.
3. Add the Tile so you can count without opening the app.
4. Tap or turn the crown once for each person who comes in.
5. Decrement when someone leaves, if you are tracking people inside.
6. Lock the counter when you step away from the door.

Tips

• Agree with any co-host on what counts as one person, for example whether children or staff are included, before the doors open.
• Use a second counter for a separate group, such as walk-ins without a ticket.
• Turn on haptics so you feel each count register without looking at the watch.
• Write the final number somewhere outside the watch at the end of the night, so you have it for next time.

Questions