Lock Screen Clock Time Format - Change in Windows 8

How to Change Lock Screen Clock Time Format in Windows 8 and 8.1


information   Information
In Windows 8 and 8.1 there are two "Lock" screens.

  • The user lock screen is the one that displays when a user locks the PC while still signed in to Windows, and when the user is selected on the sign in screen, times out, and returns to the lock screen. Each user is able to change their lock screen background image to an image of their choice.
  • The default Lock screen image is the one that displays when there are no users currently signed in to Windows or selected on the sign in screen.
This tutorial will show you how to change the time format of the clock on the lock screen for users in Windows 8 and 8.1.


EXAMPLE: Clock on Lock Screen

(Default 1:20 PM)

Lock_Screen_12_Hour_Clock_default.jpg


(12 hour clock with leading zero 01:17 PM)

Lock_Screen_12_Hour_Clock_leading_zero.jpg


(24 hour clock military time "13:14" for 1:14 PM)

Lock_Screen_24_Hour_Clock.jpg




Here's How:

1. If you have not already, enable the built-in elevated "Administrator" account.

2. Sign in (ex: switch user) to the built-in elevated Administrator account.

NOTE: We are using the built-in Administrator account to avoid having to mess with taking ownership and setting permissions of the registry keys below.

3. Press the :winkey: +R keys to open the Run dialog, type regedit, and click/tap on OK.

4. In Registry Editor, navigate to the location below. (see screenshot below)

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows\CurrentVersion\SystemProtectedUserData
Change_Lock_Screen_Clock_Time_Format-1.jpg

5. Expand open SystemProtectedUserData, and expand open the long S-1-5-21... subkey for the user account that you want to change their lock screen clock time format. (see screenshot above)

Tip   Tip
You can see what user account each S-1-5-21... subkey belongs to at the registry location below.

HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE\SOFTWARE\Microsoft\Windows NT\CurrentVersion\ProfileList

The Data for the ProfileImagePath value in the right pane of the selected S-1-5-21... subkey shows you the C:\Users\(user-name) user profile folder path to see what user account it belongs to.

For example: S-1-5-21-2398252893-3971982811-3240108950-1001 = C:\Users\Shawn


ProfileList.jpg



6. Under the long S-1-5-21... subkey for the user in the left pane, expand open AnyoneRead, and select LocaleInfo. (see screenshot below step 4)

7. In the right pane of LocaleInfo, double click on the TimeFormat string value to modify it. (see screenshot below step 4)

8. Type in the time format from the table below you want to display on the lock screen clock for the user, and click/tap on OK. (see screenshot below)

Time Format

Description

h:mm tt

Default. 12 hour clock without a leading zero for the hour. Displays 1:20 for 1:20 PM.

hh:mm tt

12 hour clock with a leading zero for the hour. Displays 01:17 for 1:17 PM.

HH:mm

24 hour clock. Displays 13:14 for 1:14 PM.

Change_Lock_Screen_Clock_Time_Format-2.jpg

9. Repeat steps 5 to 8 for any other user account's long S-1-5-21... subkey that you want to change their lock screen clock time format.

10. When finished, close Registry Editor, and sign out of the built-in Administrator account from step 2.

11. To test, sign in to the user account (step 5) that you changed their lock screen clock time format, and lock:)winkey: + L) the computer to see the lock screen with the clock's new time format.

12. If you like, you can disable the built-in elevated "Administrator" account from step 1.



That's it,
Shawn


 

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24h format incorrect


Time FormatDescription
h:mm ttDefault. 12 hour clock without a leading zero for the hour. Displays 1:20 for 1:20 PM.
hh:mm tt12 hour clock with a leading zero for the hour. Displays 01:17 for 1:17 PM.
HH:mm tt24 hour clock. Displays 13:14 for 1:14 PM.


The 24 hour format is "HH:mm", not "HH:mm tt". (Although the trailing " tt" does no harm.)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
:thumbsup:
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
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Thanks. :)

Thought I'd just throw in my 2 (Euro) cents -- I started with Windoze 8.1 just yesterday... ;-)
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    Windows 8.1
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
Hi
My Windows 8 logon screen is not recognizing my settings.
For example if I use HH:mm:ss tt it just shows the 24hour clock
but only because I changed the other setting with the name:
Clock to 24HourClock.
Anybody knows what's wrong?
Best, Jan
 

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    None of your business

My Computer

System One

  • OS
    64-bit Windows 10
    Computer type
    PC/Desktop
    System Manufacturer/Model
    Custom self built
    CPU
    Intel i7-8700K OC'd to 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
    Sound Card
    Integrated Digital Audio (S/PDIF)
    Monitor(s) Displays
    2 x Samsung Odyssey G7 27"
    Screen Resolution
    2560x1440
    Hard Drives
    1TB Samsung 990 PRO M.2,
    4TB Samsung 990 PRO PRO M.2,
    8TB WD MyCloudEX2Ultra NAS
    PSU
    OCZ Series Gold OCZZ1000M 1000W
    Case
    Thermaltake Core P3
    Cooling
    Corsair Hydro H115i
    Keyboard
    Logitech wireless K800
    Mouse
    Logitech MX Master 3
    Internet Speed
    1 Gb/s Download and 35 Mb/s Upload
    Browser
    Internet Explorer 11
    Antivirus
    Malwarebyte Anti-Malware Premium
    Other Info
    Logitech Z625 speaker system,
    Logitech BRIO 4K Pro webcam,
    HP Color LaserJet Pro MFP M477fdn,
    APC SMART-UPS RT 1000 XL - SURT1000XLI,
    Galaxy S23 Plus phone
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