How to Set a 24-Hour Clock on Windows 11 Lock Screen

This guide explains how to switch your clock to a 24-hour format on the lock screen in Windows 11.

The lock screen is the image you see when you first turn on your computer or when you lock your session. You see this before you enter your password to reach your desktop.

Why use a 24-hour clock?

Using a 24-hour clock, often called military time, helps remove confusion between morning and afternoon hours. It is a simple way to keep your schedule clear. Many professionals prefer this format to avoid errors in time-sensitive tasks.

What happens when done?

Once you complete these steps and restart your PC, your lock screen will display time using the 24-hour format (for example, 14:00 instead of 2:00 PM). This change applies system-wide to your user profile.

Method 1: Using the Settings App

You can change this setting using the Windows Settings app. Note that you must have administrative privileges to change system-wide regional settings.

1. Open the Settings app by pressing the Windows key + I on your keyboard, or click Start > Settings.

2. In the Settings menu, click on Time & language on the left side, then select Language & region.

3. Look for the Region section and click the Regional format tile to open more options.

4. Click the Change formats button.

5. Find the Long time option. Use the dropdown menu to choose your preferred format:

• Choose 9:40:07 AM or 09:40:07 AM for a 12-hour clock.
• Choose 9:40:07 or 09:40:07 for a 24-hour clock.

6. Close the Settings app.

7. Restart your computer to apply the new time format to your lock screen.

Method 2: Using Control Panel

For more granular control, use the classic Control Panel.

1. Press Windows key + R, type control, and hit Enter.

2. Click Clock and Region, then Region.

3. Under the Formats tab, click Additional settings.

4. Go to the Time tab and change the Short time to HH:mm.

Method 3: Registry Editor (Advanced)

Warning: Requires administrative privileges. Incorrect changes can harm your system.

1. Press Windows key + R, type regedit, and press Enter.

2. Navigate to: HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International

3. Double-click sShortTime and change the value to HH:mm.

Method 4: PowerShell for Deployment

Use this for bulk updates. Requires administrative privileges.

Set-Culture -CultureInfo en-GB

Summary

You can quickly switch your Windows 11 lock screen to a 24-hour clock through the Settings menu or advanced tools like the Registry Editor. Simply navigate to Time & language > Language & region > Regional format and adjust the Long time setting. Remember to restart your computer to see the changes take effect across your entire system.