Time and Language Change Time Format in Windows 11

  • Thread starter Thread starter Brink
  • Start date Published: Start date Updated Updated:

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This tutorial will show you how to change the time format used for your account in Windows 11.

Your regional format settings will influence how your date/time, numeric, and currency data types appear when you apply formatting options. Windows supports a variety of languages, plus currency and date/time formats for the countries/regions that use those languages.

You can change the short time and long time to a custom format you want used and displayed in Windows.

The time on the taskbar uses the short time format.

References:

Time formats for the current user are saved to the string values (REG_SZ) in the registry key below:

(Registry key)
HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Control Panel\International

(String values)
sShortTime
sTimeFormat



Contents





Option One

Change Time Format in Settings


1 Open Settings (Win+I).

2 Click/tap on Time & language on the left side, and click/tap on Language & region on the right side. (see screenshot below)

Starting with Windows 11 build 26200.5742 (Dev 25H2), build 26120.5742 (Beta 24H2), build 27928 (Canary), and build 2610.5061 (RP 24H2), the formatting settings for date and time have moved from Settings > Time & language > Language & region to Settings > Time & language > Date & time, and you can now change your AM/PM symbol from here as well (along with other existing formatting settings).



time_format_Settings-1.png

3 Click/tap on Regional format to expand it open, and perform an available action below: (see screenshots below)
  • (OLD) Click/tap on the Change formats button.
  • [NEW) Click/tap on Date & time format.
time_format_Settings-2.png
Regional_Format_Settings.webp

4 Select the format you want in the Short time and Long time drop menus. (see screenshot below)

time_format_Settings-3.png

5 You can now close Settings if you like.




Option Two

Change Time Format in Region Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Region icon.

2 In the Formats tab, select the format you want in the Short time and Long time drop menus, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

time_format_Control_Panel-1.png





Option Three

Change Time Format in Customize Format Control Panel


1 Open the Control Panel (icons view), and click/tap on the Region icon.

2 In the Formats tab, click/tap on Additional settings. (see screenshot below)

time_format_Control_Panel-2.png

3 Perform the following actions: (see screenshot below)
  1. Click/tap on the Time tab.
  2. Select the format you want in the Short time and Long time drop menus, or type the custom format you want in the Short time and Long time boxes.
  3. Click/tap on OK.
time_format_Control_Panel-3.png

4 Click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

time_format_Control_Panel-4.png


That's it,
Shawn Brink


 
Last edited:
I am looking for a way to have a custom format in the taskbar. i.e. Mon/Oct-14 or whatever.
There used to be an app back in about the win 7 days where you could totally have it any way you wanted. I was hoping you might know a way Shawn
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyber PC
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-14700KF
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI (MS-7E06) (U3E1) Version 2.0
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL S2721QS
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Internet Speed
    cable
    Browser
    Edge/Chrome
    Antivirus
    Win Defender
I am looking for a way to have a custom format in the taskbar. i.e. Mon/Oct-14 or whatever.
There used to be an app back in about the win 7 days where you could totally have it any way you wanted. I was hoping you might know a way Shawn

Hello,

Other than some 3rd party app, I'm not aware of a way natively. :(
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
Actually just found a way...
Control Panel/Region/Additional Settings/Time
You can type in that box without just a drop down menu.
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Cyber PC
    CPU
    Intel Core i7-14700KF
    Motherboard
    MSI PRO Z790-P WIFI (MS-7E06) (U3E1) Version 2.0
    Memory
    32gb
    Graphics Card(s)
    GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER
    Sound Card
    NVIDIA High Definition Audio
    Monitor(s) Displays
    DELL S2721QS
    Screen Resolution
    3840x2160
    Internet Speed
    cable
    Browser
    Edge/Chrome
    Antivirus
    Win Defender
Actually just found a way...
Control Panel/Region/Additional Settings/Time
You can type in that box without just a drop down menu.
Ah, forgot about option 3.
 

My Computers

System One System Two

  • OS
    Windows 11 Pro for Workstations
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self build
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K 5 GHz
    Motherboard
    ASUS ROG Maximus XI Formula Z390
    Memory
    64 GB (4x16GB) G.SKILL TridentZ RGB DDR4 3600 MHz (F4-3600C18D-32GTZR)
    Graphics Card(s)
    ASUS ROG-STRIX-GTX1080TI-O11G-GAMING (11GB GDDR5X)
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G75 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    TerraMaster F8 SSD Plus NAS
    PSU
    Seasonic Prime Titanium 850W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3 wall mounted
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Amazon Basics Wired Full Keyboard MD005
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 4
    Internet Speed
    2 Gbps Download and 100 Mbps Upload
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    CyberPower CP1500PFCLCD
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
  • Operating System
    Windows 11 Pro
    Computer type
    Laptop
    Manufacturer/Model
    Surface Laptop 7 Copilot+ PC
    CPU
    Snapdragon X Elite (12 core) 3.42 GHz
    Memory
    16 GB LPDDR5x-7467 MHz
    Monitor(s) Displays
    15" HDR
    Screen Resolution
    2496 x 1664
    Hard Drives
    1 TB SSD
    Internet Speed
    Wi-Fi 7 and Bluetooth 5.4
    Browser
    Chrome and Edge
    Antivirus
    Microsoft Defender

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