How to show seconds in Taskbar clock on Windows 11

Windows 11 now shows seconds in the clock, and here's how to enable the feature.

Windows 11 Taskbar with seconds in clock
Windows 11 Taskbar with seconds in clock
  • To show seconds in the clock for Windows 11, open Settings > Personalization > Taskbar > Taskbar behaviors, and check the “Show seconds in system tray clock” option.
  • This is the only option that works, the Registry workaround doesn’t work anymore. 
  • You may be able to find third-party tools, but you shouldn’t use them.

On Windows 11, you can show seconds in the System Tray clock available from the Taskbar.

Although the ability to show seconds has always been present in some form through the System Tray and Notification Center, on Windows 11, Microsoft introduced a redesigned version of Taskbar that removed many of the classic functionalities, including the option to show seconds. 

However, starting on build 25247 and higher releases, Windows 11 is reverting some of the original changes for the Taskbar, and it’s now bringing back seconds to clock, among other classic functionalities.

This guide will show you the steps to show seconds in the clock available in the Taskbar’s System Tray on Windows 11.

Show seconds for clock in Taskbar on Windows 11

To show seconds in the Taskbar clock of Windows 11, use these steps:

  1. Open Settings on Windows 11.

  2. Click on Personalization.

  3. Click the Taskbar page.

  4. Click the “Taskbar behaviors” setting.

  5. Check the “Show seconds in system tray clock” option to enable the feature.

    Show seconds in system tray clock

  6. (Optional) Clear the “Show seconds in system tray clock” option to disable the feature.

Once you complete the steps, the System Tray clock will show seconds next to the minutes and hours on Windows 11.

If the option is not present in the Taskbar settings, it’s because you’re not in the version that supports the feature, or the feature isn’t available for your device at this time.

Update March 23, 2023: The option is now available for devices enrolled in the Dev Channel starting with build 23419.

About the author

Mauro Huculak is a Windows How-To Expert who started Pureinfotech in 2010 as an independent online publication. He has also been a Windows Central contributor for nearly a decade. Mauro has over 14 years of experience writing comprehensive guides and creating professional videos about Windows and software, including Android and Linux. Before becoming a technology writer, he was an IT administrator for seven years. In total, Mauro has over 20 years of combined experience in technology. Throughout his career, he achieved different professional certifications from Microsoft (MSCA), Cisco (CCNP), VMware (VCP), and CompTIA (A+ and Network+), and he has been recognized as a Microsoft MVP for many years. You can follow him on X (Twitter), YouTube, LinkedIn and About.me.