By default, Windows 10’s taskbar clock only shows hours and minutes. But if you want more precision—say, for productivity, timing events, or just personal preference—you can make it show seconds as well. The feature is built-in, but you have to enable it manually through the Registry.

Here’s how to do it safely and easily.

⚠️ Before You Start

This method involves editing the Windows Registry. It’s safe if you follow the steps exactly, but it’s a good idea to back up the Registry just in case.

To back up the Registry:
Open regedit, then go to File > Export, and save a copy.

🛠️ Step-by-Step: Show Seconds on the Taskbar Clock

1. Open the Registry Editor

• Press Windows + R to open the Run box
• Type regedit and press Enter
• If prompted by User Account Control, click Yes

2. Navigate to the Right Location

In the Registry Editor, go to this path:

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

3. Create a New DWORD Value

• In the right-hand pane, right-click and choose:
  New > DWORD (32-bit) Value
• Name it:
  ShowSecondsInSystemClock

4. Set the Value

• Double-click the new entry
• In the Value data field, type: 1
• Click OK

5. Restart Windows Explorer

To apply the change, restart File Explorer:

• Press Ctrl + Shift + Esc to open Task Manager
• Scroll down to Windows Explorer, right-click it, and choose Restart

Or just restart your computer.

✅ That’s It

Your taskbar clock should now show hours, minutes and seconds—live and updating every second.

🗑️ Want to Revert the Change?

If you change your mind:

• Go back to the same Registry path
• Delete the ShowSecondsInSystemClock entry or set its value back to 0
• Restart Explorer again

💡 Bonus Tip

If you’re using Windows 11, this setting is available directly in the Settings menu as of recent updates—no Registry hack required.

Final Thoughts

Seeing seconds on your taskbar clock may seem like a small tweak, but it can make a big difference for people who need precision. With just a minute of effort, you can make Windows 10 show the time exactly the way you want.

Need help applying this or want more Windows customization tips? Drop a comment or get in touch!