Taskbar how-to
Show seconds in the taskbar clock on Windows 11
Windows 11 can show seconds in its taskbar clock, but the setting has moved since it was added. Here is where it is now, and how to get seconds in RetroBar's classic clock.
On this page 5 sections
Short answer
How do I show seconds on the Windows 11 taskbar clock?
Open Settings › Time & language › Date & time, make sure “Show time and date in the System tray” is on, and tick Show seconds in system tray clock. Microsoft notes that it uses more power. In RetroBar: Properties › Notification area › Show seconds in the clock.
Windows 11's own setting
Microsoft added seconds to the Windows 11 clock in May 2023, at first under Settings › Personalization › Taskbar › Taskbar behaviors (release notes). In current versions the option sits with the other time settings: Settings › Time & language › Date & time › Show seconds in system tray clock (uses more power) (Microsoft). If you cannot find it in one place, look in the other.
In RetroBar
RetroBar draws its own clock in the style of the theme, so Windows' setting does not affect it. It has its own:
Open RetroBar's Properties
Right-click the clock › Properties.
Turn on seconds
On the Notification area tab, tick Show seconds in the clock. The clock changes at once.
With seconds on, RetroBar switches to your Windows long time format, so the seconds follow your regional settings (12- or 24-hour). In settings.json the option is "ShowClockSeconds": true. Windows 95 to XP never showed seconds; this is an addition.
The date
RetroBar's clock shows the time, like Windows 95 to Vista did. Hover over it for the full date. With the taskbar on the left or right of the screen, RetroBar shows the day and date under the time.
A custom clock format: in the next version
RetroBar's development version already has a “Custom clock format” option (for example 24-hour time, or the date next to the time) and custom AM/PM text. They are not in 1.22.122; see coming in the next release.
Questions
Does showing seconds use more battery?
Microsoft labels its own option “uses more power”, because the taskbar redraws every second. RetroBar's clock also redraws every second when seconds are on, a small extra cost on a laptop. (Our idle CPU measurements were taken with seconds off.)
My RetroBar clock stops during games. Why?
Users report it on some laptops during full-screen games; turning on “Use software rendering” in Properties › Advanced fixed it for them (details).
Keep going
Found something out of date or wrong? Tell us at hello@retrobar.dev and we will fix it.