Enable new clock experience in Windows 10

Martin Brinkmann
Jan 26, 2015
Updated • Jul 5, 2017
Tutorials, Windows 10
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21

Whenever a new Windows 10 build gets released, new tricks and tweaks come to light shortly thereafter that reveal additional features that are not available by default.

The most recent build of Windows 10 that Microsoft released a couple of days ago shipped with many changes including the personal assistant Cortana (limited to English) and the new Start Menu that is a design iteration of the previous start menu integrated in the operating system.

Neowin reports that the build ships with a new clock experience that users can enable. The clock, integral part of all versions of Windows, has not changed much since the release of Windows Vista.

It displays one or multiple clocks by default and a basic calendar that cannot be linked to data sources.

The new clock and calendar that you can enable does not change the functionality at all; only the design is modified.

The screenshot below shows the old clock and calendar and the new design next to each other.

windows clock calendar comparison

As you can see, the new clock and calendar use larger characters and more whitespace than the old. The current iteration does not display multiple clocks even though that is defined on the system. This is likely a bug though.

You need to enable the new design before it becomes available. For that, it is necessary to edit the Windows Registry which you can do manually or by running commands.

 

  • Tap on the Windows-key, type regedit.exe and hit enter. This opens the Registry Editor on the system.
  • Accept the UAC prompt if it is displayed.
  • Navigate to HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell
  • Right-click on ImmersiveShell, select New > Dword (32-bit) Value.
  • Type UseWin32TrayClockExperience. The value is set to 0 automatically which is the correct value.

The new clock is available right away after you have created the new Dword. Click on the clock in the lower right corner to test the change.

You can undo it at any time by deleting the Dword again that you have created or by setting the value to 1. A restart of the system is not necessary for the change to take effect either way.

If you prefer to run commands, you can use the following ones:

  • From the command line: reg add HKLM\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell /v UseWin32TrayClockExperience /t REG_DWORD /d 0
  • Using Powershell: new-itemproperty -Path "HKLM:\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\ImmersiveShell" -Name "UseWin32TrayClockExperience" -Type DWORD -Value 0

Now You: Do you like the new clock and calendar?

Summary
Enable new clock experience in Windows 10
Article Name
Enable new clock experience in Windows 10
Description
An easy to follow tutorial that explains how to enable the new clock and calendar in recent builds of Microsoft's Windows 10 operating system.
Author
Publisher
Ghacks Technology News
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Comments

  1. Vettewine said on November 24, 2015 at 7:10 pm
    Reply

    Works great but only when I set the value to “1”… Love it…!

  2. PhoneyVirus said on January 31, 2015 at 1:34 am
    Reply

    Thanks for the PowerShell command, it’s been awhile since I added a reg tweak from the command prompt, I usually export the reg file and have two for “0” an “1” along with a VB Scrip that controls both of them, not the .reg file itself of course, hears a example to Toggle Hidden files and folders Copy and Paste the below script in notepad and rename it .vbs.

    ‘ Script to toggle Windows Explorer Hidden files and folders

    Option Explicit
    Dim dblHiddenData, strHiddenKey
    Dim strKey, WshShell

    On Error Resume Next

    strKey = “HKEY_CURRENT_USER\Software\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\Explorer\Advanced”
    strHiddenKey = strKey & “\Hidden”

    Set WshShell = WScript.CreateObject(“WScript.Shell”)
    dblHiddenData = WshShell.RegRead(strHiddenKey)

    If dblHiddenData = 2 Then
    WshShell.RegWrite strHiddenKey, 1, “REG_DWORD”
    WScript.Echo “Windows Explorer will show hidden files and folders. ” & _
    “You might need to change to another folder or ” & _
    “press F5 to refresh the view for the change to take effect.”

    Else
    WshShell.RegWrite strHiddenKey, 2, “REG_DWORD”
    WScript.Echo “Windows Explorer will not show hidden files or folders. ” & _
    “(These are the default settings.) You might ” & _
    “need to change to another folder or press F5 to refresh the ” & _
    “view for the change to take effect.”

    End If

    Thanks for the Tutorial Martin

  3. george kinbote said on January 26, 2015 at 8:29 pm
    Reply

    in my opinion, you are responsible for one of the most well-informed and rational tech sites on the Internet

    however, your latest post has 9 topics, 4 of which are dedicated to win 10, demonstrating that unfortunately you too have fallen victim to the hype and hysteria prevalent on the Web

    I believe that most of your adult readers would prefer articles which deal with actual programs and real-world issues, rather than daydreaming about win 10

    1. anon said on January 27, 2015 at 9:37 am
      Reply

      What you believe isn’t necessary the reality. Topic about the new Windows always generate page view, and lots of them since people do care about it in a lot of way.

    2. Robert Palmar said on January 26, 2015 at 10:57 pm
      Reply

      There is no bigger or important “program”
      than the Windows Operating System itself.

      Windows 10 is very much a “real world issue” and
      its testing and pending release is indeed a major event.

      Since all Windows 7 and Windows 8/8.1 users will
      be able to get it free this year all “adults” are
      quite interested and hardly “daydreaming”.

      1. Robert Palmar said on January 29, 2015 at 1:05 am
        Reply

        Martin, I ask that you clarify your statement.
        It seems you hold both parties equally responsible.

        My initial reply was a defense of the integrity of this site.
        My other replies were defending my integrity from insults.

        I was not the party put of order here, and
        I would like to know of you think I was.

        For the record, I was not out of order.
        And there is no point in posting any
        replies if that is how I’m judged.

      2. Martin Brinkmann said on January 29, 2015 at 9:04 am
        Reply

        Robert, I did not judge. I just think that it leads to nowhere. I understand your position though.

      3. george kinbote said on January 29, 2015 at 12:04 am
        Reply

        thank you, Hr. Brinkmann

      4. Robert Palmar said on January 28, 2015 at 4:49 pm
        Reply

        Sorry, georgie. You cannot escape
        by complimenting, a troll technique.

        You trolled this site polluting it with
        insults starting with insulting Martin.

        You have proved yourself the perfect pseud.
        You are as in the dark that you have exposed
        yourself as you are over Windows 10 importance.

      5. Martin Brinkmann said on January 28, 2015 at 5:02 pm
        Reply

        I think this leads nowhere so how about we stop this here. Please ;)

      6. george kinbote said on January 28, 2015 at 1:25 pm
        Reply

        you are a real class act

        your delightful posts are a welcome respite from the trolls and lowlife scum who occupy far too much bandwidth

      7. Robert Palmar said on January 27, 2015 at 9:03 pm
        Reply

        “sweaty musings re win 10”

        Good God, what pretentious drivel.
        Go back to watching online porn.

      8. george kinbote said on January 27, 2015 at 8:40 pm
        Reply

        your impressive skills as a psychological profiler are evidence of your creativity and vivid imagination, qualities which are somewhat lacking in your sweaty musings re win 10

        can it be that IT is not your cup of tea?

      9. Robert Palmar said on January 27, 2015 at 3:58 pm
        Reply

        Spare me the condescending wish of luck, Georgie.

        And not one misunderstood your “simple” post.
        Your post was more simpleminded than simple
        and It is you who are clueless to what I said.

        I expect you to delude yourself to the contrary to
        do whatever you need to feel good about yourself.

      10. george kinbote said on January 27, 2015 at 1:54 pm
        Reply

        you have managed to completely misunderstand/misinterpret a rather simple and straightforward post

        it behooves me to wish you better luck (and more success) with win 10, once it is available

      11. Robert Palmar said on January 27, 2015 at 3:19 am
        Reply

        I don’t watch online porn.

        Clearly your watching online
        porn has perverted your thinking.
        You can’t tell what’s real from fake.

      12. george kinbote said on January 27, 2015 at 2:53 am
        Reply

        all the excitement about and defense of win 10 hoopla is not unlike watching online porn

        it provides the illusion that it is somehow “real”, that you’re participating in an “important” project and that it will result in an “interesting” personal experience

        it isn’t, you aren’t and it won’t

  4. Robert Palmar said on January 26, 2015 at 6:55 pm
    Reply

    It seems that as seen with folder (other icons) things are changed
    with every new Windows version and not necessarily for the better.

    I too prefer the analog clock as realized in Windows 8
    which is a classic design along with the calender.

    Now the ability to customize the clock
    on the taskbar is something I would
    like to see rather than having
    to use a third party utility.

  5. Uhtred said on January 26, 2015 at 5:55 pm
    Reply

    1. agree the analogue clock should be kept – I use it when calculating time periods
    2. Seems silly microsoft couldn’t give you a free text field for each date, even something like 140 characters space per day would be handy, even if it doesn’t have a reminder/alarm service.
    3. no forward / back in time arrows?

  6. anon said on January 26, 2015 at 5:49 pm
    Reply

    That digital clock time need to be bigger or adjustable, otherwise it’s a welcome change for me. Easier to read too since it’s logically placed up to down unlike the current one where you have to travel your eyes all around.

  7. pekikuubik said on January 26, 2015 at 4:43 pm
    Reply

    But… I like my analog clock. :(

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