How to show seconds in Taskbar clock on Windows 11

• (Option 1) 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.
• (Option 2) To enable seconds in the Taskbar clock, open Settings > Date & time, click on “Show time and date in the System tray,” and check the “Show seconds in system tray clock” option.
• 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, the company has reverted some of the original changes for the Taskbar, and it’s now bringing back seconds to the clock, among other classic functionalities, by placing an option in the “Taskbar” settings page. However, it’s important to note that Windows 11 will be relocating this option to the “Date & time” page in future updates.

In this guide, I 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

On Windows 11, depending on the release of the operating system, the option to show seconds can be in a different place.

From the Taskbar settings page (old)

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.

   

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 isn’t available, you’re not running the latest operating system or the device has the latest version (Windows 11 build 22635.3930 or higher release), but it has the update that moves the option to the new location.

From the Date & time settings page (new)

To enable seconds in the Taskbar, use these steps:

1. Open Settings.

2. Click on Time & language.

3. Click the Date & time page.

4. Click the “Show time and date in the System tray” setting.

5. Check the “Show seconds in system tray clock (use more power)” option to enable the feature.

   

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

After you complete the steps, the Taskbar will show seconds for the clock on Windows 11.

Update July 15, 2024: This guide has been updated to ensure accuracy and reflect changes to the process.