How to Change Time Format in Windows 11

Why Change Your Time Format?

Windows lets you pick how you want to see the time. You might want 12-hour format (with AM/PM) or 24-hour format. You can also customize it to show the time the way you prefer.

What Happens When You Change It?

Once you change your time format, Windows updates how the time appears everywhere on your computer. The clock on your taskbar will show your new format right away.

Where Windows Stores This Information

Windows stores your time format settings in the registry, a special database. You can find these settings under the Control Panel’s International section, specifically looking at values like sShortTime and sTimeFormat.

HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International

The specific settings are stored in these values:

• sShortTime
• sTimeFormat

Change the Windows regional settings to modify the appearance of some data types in Access databases. – Microsoft Support

Format dates and times – Globalization

Option 1Change Time Format in Settings

1. ⚙️ Open Settings by pressing Win+I on your keyboard.
2. Click on Time & language on the left side.
3. Click on Language & region on the right side.
4. Look for Regional format and click it to expand the options.
5. Click on Date & time format (or Change formats on older Windows 11 versions).
6. In the dropdown menus, select the time format you want for Short time and Long time.
7. Close Settings when you’re done.

Changing the Windows 11 time format is easy using ⚙️ the Settings app. Just press ⊞ Win+I to ⚙️ open Settings, then go to Time & language, and then Language & region to find the regional format options.

Option 2Change Time Format in Region 🎛️ Control Panel

1. Admin privileges required. Open the 🎛️ Control Panel and switch to icons view.
2. Click on the Region icon.
3. Go to the Formats tab.
4. Use the dropdown menus to select your preferred format for Short time and Long time.
5. Click OK to save your changes.

Option 3Change Time Format with Custom Settings

1. Admin privileges required. Open the 🎛️ Control Panel and switch to icons view.
2. Click on the Region icon.
3. Go to the Formats tab.
4. Click on Additional settings.
5. Click on the Time tab.
6. In the dropdown menus, select a format for Short time and Long time. You can also type a custom format in the text boxes if you want something different.
7. Click OK.
8. Click OK again to close the Region window.

Summary

Changing your Windows 11 time format is straightforward, with options in Settings or the 🎛️ Control Panel.