Some people prefer reading digital clocks in the 24-hour “military” format. However, a lot of people instead prefer 12-hour clocks. Windows 10 defaults to using the 24-hour format. This guide will cover how to change the clock to use the 12-hour format.
You can configure the time format settings in the Settings app. The easiest way to get to the right page is to right-click on the clock in the taskbar and then click “Adjust date/time”. This option will be near the top of the drop-down box.
This will open the Settings app on the “Data & time” page. Here you can set what time zone you’re in, but annoyingly you can’t choose between the 12- and 24-hour clocks. To get to the right page, you can click “Date, time & regional formatting” under “Related settings” in the top right. Alternatively, you can click on the “Region” tab. Both will take you to the same place.
In the Region settings, click the link at the bottom of the page, “Change data formats”.
Here you can change the short and the long time displays to be in the 12-hour format. To do so, click on their respective drop-down boxes and select the short format you prefer. The clock options are the 24-hour and 12-hour clocks, both with and without leading 0’s.
sathya says
so helpful, thank you
Skee6 says
Thank you very much because this was annoying me so much. Great explanation and very simple to follow.🙏🏾
Rohit Roy says
Can’t imagine I still struggle without a 24h clock lol. It is pathetic but thanks a lot anyway.
Eura Grey says
Thank you so much!
Ranjani Rajendran says
Excellent guidelines. You gave step by step instructions clearly.
Fatima says
thank youuuu !!
prabha says
wow daebak ! it works . thanks for making it easy . i was so annoyed by the 24hr format . thanks a ton!
zach says
Thank you so much!!
Yossi says
Thanks, i tried so long to do it and i didn’t find it till i saw your photos big thanks
Singrai Nirmal Mardi says
Thank you sir, your accurate perfect guideline helps me go to the right path. It’s really very helpful resource you arranged here. May the Almighty Glorify All Efforts.
Thankfully
Singrai Nirmal Mardi
Bangladesh.
Akshay says
It is not working in current windows update. Go to Control panel choose date and time. There will be a button
” Change date and time” click it anew window will open. In that window bottom left corner there is a “Change calendar setting” click on it. In new window there are date and time formats. Under that change short time and long time from HH:mm to hh:mm from dropdown list. Click apply button. Time will change to 12 hrs format.
Mani Kandan says
Thank you so much. It has useful to me
Anonymous says
I didn’t see the related settings when you right-click on the taskbar, so I had to look up “”region settings” in the search menu at the bottom. Then, I just followed the instructions as normal. Thanks!
alex says
this doesnt work you have to go to more detailed settings then click time then change HH: to hh:
Tharun Balaji VIII-C says
Thanks for the steps to change the time format !
jayeshgiri says
Change to a 12-hour Clock
Thank you so much – how to connect with you life time..
SUBHASH says
Thanks for the explanation.
Divyesh Yeluri says
Thanks for the guidance!
xyz says
Thank You