Adding an extra clock to Windows 10 might seem straightforward, but in practice, it can be kinda weird. Sometimes the clocks don’t show up immediately, or you get stuck trying to find the right settings. It’s a handy feature if you’re doing business or keeping tabs on family across different time zones, but not always as smooth as you’d hope. This guide covers the best way to get those clocks working reliably, so you can just glance at your taskbar and see multiple times without messing around in settings every five minutes.
How to Add Additional Clocks in Windows 10
Access Date & Time Settings – The First Step
Start by right-clicking on the time in your taskbar — yeah, the lower right corner where it shows the current time — and select “Adjust date/time”. Here’s where Windows keeps all the magic…or chaos. Sometimes the setting doesn’t open up immediately, and you might have to click around a bit or restart the Explorer process if things look wonky. Once you’re in, look for a link or button that says “Additional Clocks” — on some setups, you’ll find it as a tab on the left panel, in others, you might need to scroll or click through a few options.
This is where you get to choose what clocks appear, but be warned — some people have reported that this section isn’t super reliable. If you don’t see the options show up, try toggling your settings off and on, or a quick reboot might help. On some machines, the clocks can be buggy, but generally, this is the right place to start.
Enable and Configure Extra Clocks
- In the Additional Clocks window, check the box for “Show this clock”.
- Pick your preferred time zone from the dropdown. Places like London, Tokyo, or Sydney? Whatever works for your workflow or curiosity.
- Type a descriptive name — like “Work, ” “Asia, ” or “Family” — to differentiate them later.
Adding multiple clocks isn’t tricky, but it’s kind of weird how the interface behaves sometimes. A good trick is to try things in order, then refresh your taskbar or restart explorer if clocks don’t show. Also, keep in mind that changing time zones here only affects the little clocks, not your system clock.
Expectations and Real-World Snags
Once the clocks are set, hovering over the time in your taskbar should show the extra times—assuming everything loads right. If not, a restart of your system or Windows Explorer process (taskkill /f /im explorer.exe then start explorer.exe) can sometimes fix it. And, yes, I’ve seen it take a couple of tries before it sticks—Windows can be weird about these things.
Extra Tips & Tricks
- Make sure to pick familiar time zones so you don’t get confused later.
- If you regularly check certain times, name your clocks accordingly; it saves guessing.
- Keep your Windows updated — I’ve seen bugs in older versions that mess with taskbar clocks.
- If the clocks stop showing, double-check you didn’t accidentally disable them in the settings or toggle your system clock incorrectly.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I add more than two clocks?
Nope, Windows only lets you add up to two extra clocks. Picks, because honestly, anything more just clutters the display and defeats the purpose.
Will adding extra clocks mess with my main system clock?
Nah, the main clock stays intact. Extra clocks are just visual references—no system time changes.
Can I change the format, like 12-hour versus 24-hour?
Yes, that’s controlled in Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time. You can tweak the format there, and it applies to all clocks, including the extra ones.
Does this need internet? Because sometimes I wonder if the clocks refresh or sync.
Not really. The clocks you set are static references, so once configured, they don’t need an internet connection. They’re just showing the time zone you picked.
How do I remove a clock I no longer need?
Go back to Additional Clocks, uncheck the box for “Show this clock”. Done. No fuss, no drama.
Summary
- Open Adjust date/time from the taskbar menu.
- Find and click on “Additional Clocks”.
- Enable the clocks you want, pick time zones, and name them.
- Save, then hover over your taskbar clock to see the extra times.
Wrap-up
Yeah, adding extra clocks isn’t perfect — Windows can behave, sometimes, as if it’s fighting you. But with a bit of patience, it’s totally doable, and once set up, it’s pretty useful. Especially if you deal with folks around the world or just want to keep an eye on different time zones without opening another app.
Just remember: it’s not as seamless as it looks, so don’t get frustrated if it takes a couple of tries. Hopefully, this shaves off a few hours for someone struggling with the same issue. Good luck, and may your clocks always stay accurate!