How to Display Seconds on Ubuntu Top Menu Clock
The Ubuntu top bar clock shows only hours and minutes by default. On Ubuntu 24.04 LTS and other recent releases, the easiest way to add seconds is a free app called Extension Manager, which installs a small GNOME extension for the job. The whole process takes a few clicks.
Install the “Extension Manager” app from the Ubuntu Software store, then search for and install the “Clock Seconds” extension within Extension Manager. The seconds will immediately appear on your top menu bar clock.
Why add seconds to your clock?
Precise timing helps when you need to join a meeting right on time, check how long a task has been running, or line up your system clock with another device. A clock that ticks in seconds makes that easy to see at a glance.
Show seconds with the clock on the top menu bar
You can show seconds on the top menu bar clock by installing a small extension through the Extension Manager app. Ubuntu removed the old built-in switch for this feature, so Extension Manager is now the simplest route. It needs no terminal commands.
You need three things before you start:
- A working internet connection, since the extension downloads from the GNOME extensions catalog.
- Ubuntu 24.04 LTS or another recent release with the standard GNOME desktop.
- No admin rights for the extension itself. You may need your password only if you have to install Extension Manager first.
Extension Manager is the app you use to browse, install, turn on, turn off and remove GNOME desktop extensions. Everything below happens inside it.
- Open the app launcher and search for Extension Manager. If it is not in the results, the app is not installed yet. Open the Ubuntu Software store (called App Center on newer releases such as 24.04), search for Extension Manager, and install it from there. Then search for it in the launcher again.
- Launch the app and click the Browse tab. You should see a searchable list of extensions available for download.
- Search for the extension named Clock Seconds. It should appear in the results. If the list is empty, check your internet connection and try the search again.
- Click the Install button next to the extension. If a confirmation prompt appears, accept it.
The seconds should appear on the top menu bar right after the installation finishes. You do not need to restart your computer.
If the clock still shows only hours and minutes, open Extension Manager, go to the Installed tab, and make sure the switch next to the extension is turned on. If it is on and nothing changes, log out and log back in so the desktop reloads its extensions.
To go back to the original clock, turn the extension off in the Installed tab, or remove it there. The change takes effect straight away.
A note on Dconf Editor
Dconf Editor is a low-level configuration tool. Many older online guides suggest it, or terminal commands, for adding seconds to the clock. Those methods did not work reliably for this guide on current releases, which is why it uses Extension Manager.
If you have followed an older guide and nothing changed, you have not broken anything. Go back to the steps above and use the extension instead.
If you are coming from Windows, Dconf Editor is the closest thing to the Registry Editor. It lets you change hidden settings directly, and a wrong edit can cause odd desktop behavior. Extension Manager is the safer choice for a change like this, because you can undo it with one switch.
Conclusion
Restoring seconds on the Ubuntu clock takes a couple of minutes once Extension Manager is installed. Ubuntu removed the direct switch from the default settings menu, but the extension puts seconds back on the top bar. You can turn it off or remove it at any time from the Installed tab.
Have a question about this guide?
Answered by AI from this guide. Good questions may be added to this page — please don't include personal details.
Did this guide fix your problem?
About the Author
Richard
Tech Writer, IT Professional
Richard is a writer at Geek Rewind who turns complex IT tasks into clear, step-by-step guides. He draws on years of hands-on experience in system administration and enterprise IT operations, focusing on Windows, Linux and WordPress: the problems people actually run into, and the fixes that work. His server and WordPress guides come from systems he runs himself. Richard builds and maintains the platform behind Geek Rewind, from its Ubuntu servers and Nginx configuration to its custom WordPress plugins. Many new tutorials start with readers' questions, and he's always glad to answer them in the comments.
[…] previously wrote an article on how to show the seconds on the clock in Ubuntu. That post provided detailed steps to show the seconds on the clock. It’s not the easiest or […]