This article explains the steps to display seconds on the clock on the Top menu bar on Ubuntu Linux desktop.
By default, Ubuntu Linux displays the system time in a 24-hour or military time format on the top menu bar. The only information on the top menu bar is the clock, and it does not show seconds.
Not only can you display the clock, but you can also choose to display the day of the week on the top menu bar.
So, you can display the clock in military format, show the day of the week, and also show seconds with the clock on the top bar, and the steps below will show you.
Show seconds with the clock on the top menu bar on Ubuntu Linux
As described above, users can change the system clock format, and display the day of the week on the top menu bar to get information quickly.
Here’s how to also display seconds with the clock on the top menu bar as well.
First, open the Terminal app in Ubuntu Linux.
You can do that by pressing the Super key (or Windows key) to show the Overview screen. Then use the search box to search for ‘Terminal‘.
Select the Terminal app to launch.
Alternatively, press the keyboard shortcut (CTRL + ALT + T) on your keyboard to launch the Terminal app.
When the Terminal app opens, type the commands below to display the days of the week on the top menu bar.
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds
To reverse and not show seconds with the clock, run the commands below.
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds
Show seconds with the clock on the top menu bar using the Dconf Editor
You can also use Dconf Editor to make common system changes if you can’t use the command Terminal app.
If you are familiar with Windows, then you know about Windows Registry Editor.
Ubuntu Linux doesn’t have a registry database to configure hidden system settings. Howerver, Ubuntu Linux uses the Dconf Editor tool to change low-level system configurations and settings.
You can call it a Ubuntu Linux Registry Editor because it provides similar functionality, but without a massive database that is in the Windows system.
To use Dconf Editor, you must first install it since it doesn’t come with Ubuntu Linux.
Read the post below to learn how to install software on Ubuntu Linux.
How to add or remove software on Ubuntu Linux
In the Ubuntu Software app, search for Dconf Editor to install.
After installing and launching the Dconf Editor app, navigate to the path below:
org -> gnome -> desktop -> interface -> clock-show-seconds
On the clock-show-seconds Dconf settings on the list, toggle the button to the On position to enable.
To disable it, simply toggle the button back to the Off position.
Once enabled, you should see the day of the week on the top bar as highlighted below.
That should do it!
Conclusion:
This post showed you how to show or hide show clock seconds on the top menu bar on Ubuntu Linux. If you find any error above or have something to add, please use the comment form below.
