Every time we boot up or awaken our Windows 11/10 PC, the first interface that greets us is the Lock Screen. A dynamic feature, it’s more than just a protective barrier preventing unauthorized access. At a glance, it offers the date and time, consolidated from your PC’s timezone settings. This digital display of time can be in the familiar 12-hour format with AM/PM notations or the more concise 24-hour (often referred to as the military) format. While the default setting might align with the majority’s preference, there are instances where users may want the time displayed as “20:20” rather than “8:20 PM” or vice versa. Fortunately, Windows 11 offers flexibility in this regard. Through simple tweaks in the Windows Settings or the Control Panel, you can adjust the clock format on your Lock Screen. An added bonus? The changes will reflect on your Taskbar’s time display as well. In this guide, we’ll walk you through the steps to change the Windows 11 Lock Screen clock format from the Settings App.
How to Change Windows 11 Lock Screen Clock Format from Settings App?
To change the Lock Screen Clock format using the Settings app, do the following:-
Step 1. First, open the Settings app (keyboard shortcut Windows + I).
Step 2. When the Settings window appears on your computer, select the Time & language category on the left side.
Step 3. Next, click on Language & region to access settings related to time formats.
Step 4. Under the Region section, click the Regional format option to expand it.
Step 5. Now, click on the Change formats button to change the time format.
Step 6. After that, click on the dropdown list Long time and pick the option with AM to use the 12-hour format or choose one without AM to go with the 24-hour lock screen format.
Step 7. Restart your PC.
Once you complete the above steps, the clock will appear on the lock screen depending on your chosen clock format, 24-hour or 12-hour clock format.
How to Change Windows 11 or 10 Lock Screen Clock Format through Control Panel?
To change the Lock Screen clock format through the Control Panel, do the following:-
Step 1. Open Control Panel.
Step 2. Under “Clock and Region,” click on Change date, time, or number formats to change the lock screen date format.
Step 3. After that, switch to the Formats tab. Then, click on the dropdown menu Long time and select HH:mm:ss or HH:mm:ss to apply a 24-hour clock. On the other hand, you can use hh:mm:ss tt or hh:mm:ss for a 12-hour clock.
Step 4. Click Apply.
Step 5. Click OK.
Step 6. Restart your computer.
How to Change Windows 10 Lock Screen Clock Format from Settings App?
To change the Windows 10 Lock Screen clock format through the Settings app, do the following:-
Step 1. First, open Settings.
Step 2. Then, click the Time & language option.
Step 3. Under “Time & language,” select the Date & time option.
Step 4. On the right-sidebar of “Date & time,” click the link Date, time & regional format under the “Related settings” section.
Step 5. In the following screen, select Region in the left sidebar.
Step 6. On the right side of “Region,” click the link Change data formats.
Step 7. Then, click on the dropdown menu Long time and select H:mm:ss or HH:mm:ss to apply a 24-hour clock. On the other hand, you can use H:mm:ss tt or HH:mm:ss for a 12-hour clock.
Conclusion
In today’s guide, we’ve explored the steps to change the lock screen clock format on both Windows 11 and Windows 10. Whether you’re inclined to the 12-hour format or the concise 24-hour format, Windows offers the flexibility to adjust as per your preference. By following the above steps through either the Settings app or the Control Panel, you can easily customize the clock display on your lock screen and taskbar.
