Windows ’s New Clock with Seconds: A Small Feature Making a Big Return

In a subtle yet meaningful update, Microsoft is bringing back a feature that many users didn’t realize they missed—until it was gone. Windows 11 is finally introducing a full-fledged clock with seconds in the Notification Center, a tool that might seem minor but serves a precise purpose in everyday computing. Whether you’re syncing a digital clock, timing a process, or just prefer more detailed time tracking, having access to the exact second can be incredibly useful.

Interestingly, this feature was removed with the arrival of Windows 11 and has remained absent until now. However, the upcoming Windows 11 23H2 and 24H2 updates are set to reintroduce it. Not only will users be able to view the hour, minutes, and seconds in the Notification Center, but they’ll also have the option to turn this feature on or off through system settings.

But

Windows 11 Gets a Clock Upgrade: Key Highlights

Microsoft is testing a new feature for Windows 11 versions 23H2 and 24H2 that adds a “Clock with seconds” to the Notification Center.
This detailed clock can be accessed by clicking the notifications icon or the time/date in the system tray.
Users can toggle this feature via Settings > Date & Time > Show time in the Notification Center.
The clock shows hours, minutes, and seconds (HH:MM:SS) and includes the full date and day.
This feature has been missing since the launch of Windows 11 in 2021.
The taskbar and Notification Center were rebuilt from scratch in Windows 11, resulting in the loss of several features—including time with seconds.
While the taskbar’s design changed, the underlying code became more modern and efficient, though initially feature-limited.
The feature is already available in preview builds (build 22635.5240+) and is expected to roll out broadly in the coming months.
Users who don’t need this functionality can simply disable it from system settings.
The clock with seconds is especially useful in tasks that require precise timekeeping, such as resetting watches or clocks.
Ironically, Windows 10 is losing its version of the full clock in the Calendar Flyout due to A/B testing changes seen in the April 2025 update.
Microsoft has yet to provide a clear explanation for removing the clock from Windows 10 while adding it to Windows 11.
This shift further signals Microsoft’s intent to make Windows 11 the priority operating system going forward.
The change appears to be part of a broader user interface and functionality refinement across the Windows ecosystem.
The move reflects a trend of migrating small but important features from legacy platforms to modern ones.
Many power users and digital professionals have advocated for the return of the clock with seconds, citing accuracy as a core need.
This isn’t the first time Microsoft has removed a feature only to reintroduce it later—sometimes with small adjustments.
The company continues to gather user feedback and A/B test features before committing to a final implementation.
Adding this level of time granularity is a niche but welcome improvement for certain professional environments.
Windows 11 now appears to be catching up to features that users had come to rely on in Windows 10 and previous editions.
This could also be seen as a sign that Microsoft is starting to listen more to its community of developers, testers, and IT admins.
While this may seem like a minor update, it’s a quality-of-life change that adds depth to the Notification Center experience.
For those nostalgic for older Windows features, it’s a small nod to functionality that once defined the OS.
The reintroduction also aligns with Microsoft’s goal to gradually unify and modernize the Windows experience.
More customization options in Windows 11 may continue to surface as part of future updates.
This update illustrates how operating systems evolve not just through innovation, but also through restoration.

What Undercode Say:

The reintroduction of the clock with seconds into Windows 11’s Notification Center isn’t just a cosmetic or convenience-based upgrade—it’s a signal of deeper trends within Microsoft’s development ecosystem. First, it highlights the fragmentation and inconsistencies that have plagued Windows over the past few years, especially between Windows 10 and Windows 11.

When Windows 11 was launched, it was marketed as a modern reboot—leaner, faster, and more elegant. But under the hood, many foundational features were stripped away. Microsoft prioritized modern codebases over legacy functionality, resulting in what many users saw as “downgrades” in utility. Drag-and-drop? Gone. Taskbar flexibility? Limited. Time with seconds? Removed. It felt less like innovation and more like a reset.

Now, we’re seeing a slow reintroduction of these features. Why? Because user feedback still matters. The presence of seconds on a digital clock might seem insignificant until you’re trying to perform time-sensitive operations—such as coding, timing trades, or even syncing an external timepiece.

What’s particularly revealing is the timing. Microsoft is taking this moment to restore the clock in Windows 11 while simultaneously removing it in Windows 10. This contradiction suggests that the company is gently nudging users toward upgrading, using small quality-of-life enhancements as incentives. It’s a subtle marketing tactic masked as innovation.

It also hints at Microsoft’s strategy of feature compartmentalization. Rather than rolling out features across all active OS versions, the company is now reserving certain functionalities for newer versions. This not only entices upgrades but also helps streamline legacy support.

Moreover, Microsoft’s use of A/B testing to determine the fate of core features, like the calendar clock in Windows 10, can be both enlightening and frustrating. It allows Microsoft to experiment, but it often leaves users confused or inconvenienced.

So, what does this tell us about the current state of Windows? It’s in flux. With Windows 11 still carving out its identity, small updates like this offer more than just utility—they offer insight into the OS’s evolving philosophy. Features once deemed obsolete are now being rebranded as “new,” showing how the software lifecycle often comes full circle.

For professionals who rely on precision, every second counts—literally. In that light, this is more than a clock. It’s a symbol of Microsoft gradually finding its balance between modernity and functionality. The “Clock with seconds” feature is a perfect metaphor for the OS itself—trying to keep pace, one tick at a time.

Fact Checker Results:

Microsoft is indeed testing a full clock with seconds in Windows 11 23H2/24H2 builds.
The feature is absent in Windows 10’s latest updates, confirming a phased removal.
Feature rollout aligns with Microsoft’s roadmap for system feature differentiation between OS versions.