How to bring back the classic Clock to the system tray on Windows 10

If you prefer the classic Clock experience in Windows 10, then use these steps to bring back the old analog-style clock to the system tray.

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Classic Clock on Windows 10

Windows 10 brings a lot of new features and improves many of the shortcomings from previous version. However, not all changes Microsoft is introducing in the new operating system will suit everyone.

If you enjoyed the old analog-style clock from Windows 8 and Windows 7, then you can use a very simple registry change to replace the new digital-style clock in Windows 10 for the old clock.

This guide will walk you through the steps to bring back the classic Clock experience to Windows 10.

Bring back the classic Clock experience

  1. Open the Start menu, do a search for regedit, and press Enter.

  2. Browse the following path:

    HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell

  3. On the right pane, right-click, select New, DWORD (32-bit) Value, and name it UseWin32TrayClockExperience.

  4. Double-click the new entry and set its value from 0 to 1.

    Classic Clock UseWin32TrayClockExperience registry key in Windows 10

There you have it. Now, click the time on the system tray and you should see the classic Clock back in Windows 10.

Important: Modifying the registry is always risky, as it can cause serious problems to your current installation. You should only proceed if you know what you are doing. It’s always recommended to make a backup of your system before making changes. You have been warned!

In the case you want to revert to the new Clock experience, simply follow the same instructions mentioned above, but instead of creating a new entry, you’ll need to select the UseWin32TrayClockExperience DWORD, and press Delete.