Add Seconds to the Clock

Introduction

Who wouldn’t love to restore the display of seconds in your system tray clock.

By default, the system tray clock on the right side of the Windows taskbar only displays hours and minutes. Although many users find this digital clock format convenient, there are some who prefer to have the clock show seconds as well.

If you wish to have the system tray clock display seconds, you have come to the right place. In this article, we will explore three methods to configure the system tray clock and enable the display of seconds.

By Changing the System Settings

One of the easiest and most commonly preferred methods to add seconds to the system tray clock is by modifying the system settings. Follow these steps:

1. Press the Win + I hotkeys to open the Settings menu.
2. Select “Personalization” from the left pane, and then choose “Taskbar” in the subsequent window.
3. Click the drop-down icon next to “Taskbar behaviors”.
4. Scroll down and check the box labeled “Show seconds in the system tray clock”.
5. Verify that the “Show seconds in the system tray clock” option is enabled in the Settings menu.
6. Close the settings menu and restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

Please note that this method specifically applies to Windows 11. If you are using Windows 10 or 8, kindly refer to the alternative methods provided below.

Adding Seconds to the System Clock

Using Command Prompt

If you consider yourself a power user, you can utilize Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell to configure the system tray clock and enable the display of seconds. To do so using Command Prompt, follow these steps:

1. Press the Win key to open the Start menu.
2. In the search bar, type “CMD” and select “Run as administrator” from the right pane.
3. In the elevated Command Prompt window, enter the following command:

powershell.exe Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced -Name ShowSecondsInSystemClock -Value 1 -Force

Press Enter to execute the command.

Using Windows Powershell

1. In the Start menu search bar, type “PowerShell” and select “Run as administrator” from the right pane.
2. In the elevated PowerShell window, enter the following command and press Enter:

Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced -Name ShowSecondsInSystemClock -Value 1 -Force

By following these steps, you will now have the system tray clock displaying seconds.

Using Registry Editor

Configuring the system tray clock to display seconds can also be achieved by editing the Windows Registry. However, it is important to back up the registry before proceeding, as any incorrect modification can potentially destabilize your computer.

1. Follow these steps carefully:
2. Press the Win + R hotkeys to open the Run dialog box.
3. In the search bar, type “regedit” and press Enter. This will open the Windows Registry Editor.
4. Paste the following location in the address bar of the Registry Editor and press Enter:

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced

5. In the left pane of the Registry Editor, search for and double-click on the value named “ShowSecondsInSystemClock”. If this value does not exist, you can create it by right-clicking on the “Advanced” key in the left pane, selecting “New”, then choosing “DWORD (32-bit) Value”. Name the value “ShowSecondsInSystemClock” and press Enter.

6. In the “Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value” dialog box, enter “1” in the “Value data” field and click OK.

You may need to restart your computer for the changes to take effect.

If you wish to remove seconds from the system tray clock uising the registry, follow these steps:

1. Repeat steps 1-4 above to navigate to the “ShowSecondsInSystemClock” value in the Registry Editor.
2. In the “Edit DWORD (32-bit) Value” dialog box, enter “0” in the “Value data” field and click OK.
3. Alternatively, you can delete the “ShowSecondsInSystemClock” entry altogether.

Please exercise caution while editing the Windows Registry, as improper modifications can cause instability.

How about removing the seconds!?

To remove seconds from the system tray clock, you can use either Command Prompt or PowerShell. Follow these instructions based on your preferred method:

Using Command Prompt:

1. Open an elevated Command Prompt window.
2. Execute the following command:

powershell.exe Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced -Name ShowSecondsInSystemClock -Value 0 -Force

Using PowerShell:

1. Open an elevated PowerShell window.
2. Run the following command:

Set-ItemProperty -Path HKCU:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced -Name ShowSecondsInSystemClock -Value 0 -Force

Conclusion

If you prefer to have seconds displayed in the system tray clock on your Windows taskbar, there are multiple methods available to configure this setting. You can easily enable seconds by changing the system settings through the Windows Settings menu. For power users, running commands in Command Prompt or Windows PowerShell offers a convenient way to modify the system tray clock. Additionally, editing the Windows Registry provides further customization options, but it is crucial to exercise caution and backup the registry beforehand due to the potential risks involved. Choose the method that suits your needs and enjoy the enhanced time display in your system tray clock.