The easiest way to show a clock on your Mac’s desktop is to add the built-in Clock widget: Control-click (or right-click) an empty spot on the desktop, choose Edit Widgets, search for “Clock,” and drag the style you like onto the desktop. Desktop widgets need macOS Sonoma 14 or later.
Your Mac also already shows the time in the menu bar at the top right of the screen, and you can change that clock to show seconds, the date, or an analog face. Below are the steps for each option, plus how to get a large clock on the screen saver and Lock Screen and when to use the Clock app instead.
Quick Answer
- Control-click the desktop wallpaper and choose Edit Widgets.
- Type Clock in the search field of the widget gallery.
- Pick a clock style and size, then drag it to where you want it (or click it to place it automatically).
- Click Done.
In This Guide
- Your options and what you need
- Add a Clock widget to the desktop
- Customize the menu bar clock
- Show a large clock on the screen saver and Lock Screen
- Use the Clock app
- Which option should you use?
- Troubleshooting
- Frequently Asked Questions
Your Options and What You Need
This guide covers macOS Sonoma 14, Sequoia 15, Tahoe 26, and later, as of September 2026. Apple’s overview page, Intro to clocks on Mac, lists the built-in ways to see the time:
- A Clock widget on the desktop. A small window-like tile that sits on your wallpaper and shows the time, in analog or digital styles, and optionally other cities. Requires macOS Sonoma or later.
- The menu bar clock. Always on by default, at the top right of the screen. You can change its format.
- A large clock on the screen saver and Lock Screen. Useful when your Mac is idle or locked.
- The Clock app. For world clocks, alarms, timers, and a stopwatch.
To find your macOS version, choose the Apple menu > About This Mac. If you’re on an older version, such as Ventura, widgets live in Notification Center instead of on the desktop. Our comparison of macOS Sonoma vs. Ventura explains what changed, including desktop widgets.
How to Add a Clock Widget to Your Mac Desktop
- Open the widget gallery. Control-click (or two-finger click on a trackpad) an empty part of the desktop wallpaper, then choose Edit Widgets. Expected result: The widget gallery opens at the bottom of the screen.
- Search for Clock. Type Clock in the search field, or select Clock in the list of apps on the left.
- Choose a style and size. Scroll through the options. The Clock app’s widgets typically include a single analog clock, a digital clock, and a world clock that shows several cities. Many come in small, medium, and large sizes.
- Place it. Drag the widget to any spot on the desktop, or click it to have macOS place it automatically. Expected result: The clock appears on your desktop and shows the current time.
- Finish. Click Done in the lower-right corner of the gallery.
Apple’s full instructions are on Add and customize widgets on Mac.
Resize, move, or remove the clock
- Resize: Control-click the widget and choose a different size.
- Move: Drag it to a new spot. Widgets snap into a tidy layout near other widgets.
- Change the city: Some Clock widgets let you pick the city. Control-click the widget and look for an Edit option; if you see one, choose your city there.
- Remove: Control-click the desktop, choose Edit Widgets, and click the remove button (a minus sign) on the widget, or Control-click the widget and choose Remove Widget if that option appears.
Make the clock easier to see
By default, desktop widgets fade into a dimmed, monochrome look when you’re working in an app, so they don’t distract you. To change that, open System Settings > Desktop & Dock and go to the Widgets section. Use the Dim widgets on desktop menu (in some versions labeled Widget style) and choose Never to keep full color, or Always for monochrome. The exact wording can vary by macOS version.
In the same section you’ll find Show Widgets with checkboxes for On Desktop and In Stage Manager. Both control where widgets appear.
Seeing the clock when windows cover the desktop
Widgets sit on the wallpaper, so open app windows can hide them. Clicking the wallpaper moves windows aside to reveal the desktop in recent macOS versions. You can also hide all windows quickly; see our guide on how to minimize all windows on Mac.
Use your iPhone’s clock widgets
If you have an iPhone with iOS 17 or later signed in to the same Apple Account, and it’s nearby or on the same Wi-Fi network, you can add iPhone widgets to your Mac’s desktop too. Turn on Use iPhone widgets in System Settings > Desktop & Dock, then look for them in the widget gallery.
How to Customize the Menu Bar Clock
The menu bar clock is always visible, even when apps are full-screen (move the pointer to the top of the screen to reveal the menu bar). Where its settings live depends on your macOS version.
macOS Tahoe 26 and later
- Open System Settings.
- Click Menu Bar in the sidebar (you may need to scroll down).
- Under Menu Bar Controls, click Clock Options.
macOS Sonoma 14 and Sequoia 15
- Choose Apple menu > System Settings.
- Click Control Center in the sidebar.
- Scroll to Menu Bar Only and click Clock Options.
Clock options you can change
- Show date: When Space Allows, Always, or Never.
- Show the day of the week.
- Style: Digital or Analog. Analog shows a small clock face in the menu bar.
- Show AM/PM.
- Flash the time separators: blinks the colon every second.
- Display the time with seconds.
- Announce the time: your Mac speaks the time on the hour, half hour, or quarter hour, with a choice of voice.
To switch to a 24-hour clock, Apple points you to Date & Time settings (in System Settings > General) rather than Clock Options. Apple’s reference page is Change the menu bar clock format on Mac.
Show a Large Clock on the Screen Saver and Lock Screen
Apple lists showing “a large clock on the screen saver and Lock Screen” as one of the Mac’s built-in clock options, controlled from Lock Screen settings.
- Open System Settings and click Lock Screen in the sidebar.
- Look for a setting to show a large clock, such as Show large clock. If you see a menu, choose whether it appears on the screen saver and Lock Screen, only on the Lock Screen, or never. The label can vary by macOS version.
- To choose the screen saver itself, go to System Settings > Wallpaper and click Screen Saver.
The screen saver starts after your Mac sits idle for the time you choose, and you can start it right away by choosing Lock Screen from the Apple menu. This turns an idle Mac into a large desk clock, which is handy on a desktop Mac or an external display.
Use the Clock App
Recent versions of macOS include a Clock app with four sections: World Clock, Alarms, Stopwatch, and Timers. Open it from Launchpad, Spotlight (press Command + Space and type “Clock”), or the Applications folder.
- To see the time in other cities, click World Clock at the top of the window (or choose View > World Clock), then click the Add button to add a city.
- For several time zones on the desktop, add a world clock widget. If a widget shows the wrong cities, Control-click it and look for an Edit option to choose different ones.
The Clock app isn’t a floating desktop clock by itself; it’s a regular window. For an always-visible clock, use the widget or menu bar. Apple’s Clock User Guide for Mac covers alarms and timers.
Third-party desktop clocks
If you want a clock that floats above all windows, a flip-clock look, or custom fonts and colors, the Mac App Store has dedicated desktop clock apps. Check recent reviews, the price, and what permissions an app asks for before installing. The built-in options above cover most needs without extra software.
Which Option Should You Use?
| You want… | Use |
|---|---|
| A larger clock you can glance at on the desktop | Clock widget (medium or large size) |
| The time visible at all times, even in apps | Menu bar clock with seconds or date turned on |
| Several time zones at once | World clock widget, or World Clock in the Clock app |
| A big clock when the Mac is idle or locked | Large clock on the screen saver and Lock Screen |
| Alarms, timers, or a stopwatch | Clock app |
| A clock that floats above every window | A third-party desktop clock app |
Related: How to Remove the Note in the Bottom-Right Corner on Mac.
Troubleshooting
I don’t see Edit Widgets when I Control-click the desktop
Your Mac is probably running macOS Ventura or earlier, where widgets live only in Notification Center. Click the date and time in the menu bar, then click Edit Widgets at the bottom to add a clock there, or update macOS if your Mac supports a newer version. Also make sure you’re clicking the wallpaper itself, not a window or a file icon.
The clock widget disappeared
Check System Settings > Desktop & Dock and make sure Show Widgets > On Desktop is turned on. If you use Stage Manager, turn on In Stage Manager too. Widgets are also hidden behind open windows until you click the wallpaper.
The widget looks gray or faded
That’s the dimmed style macOS uses when another app is active. Change Dim widgets on desktop to Never in Desktop & Dock settings.
The menu bar clock is missing
Open Clock Options (see the menu bar section) and check the settings. If the date or time still doesn’t show, the menu bar may be hidden: some settings hide it automatically, so move your pointer to the top of the screen. On a Mac with a notch, many menu bar icons can crowd the space.
The time is wrong
Go to System Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on the option to set the time and date automatically, then confirm your time zone.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I put a clock on my Mac desktop without an app?
Yes. On macOS Sonoma or later, the built-in Clock widget sits on the desktop. No download is needed.
Can the desktop clock show seconds?
The analog Clock widget has a moving second hand in some styles. For a digital readout with seconds, turn on Display the time with seconds in the menu bar Clock Options.
How do I show the date next to the time?
In Clock Options, set Show date to Always and turn on Show the day of the week if you want it.
Can I show clocks for different time zones?
Yes. Add a world clock widget to the desktop, or add cities in the Clock app’s World Clock section. Menu bar Clock Options show only your local time.
Can I make the menu bar clock bigger?
There’s no separate size setting for the menu bar clock. For a bigger clock, use a medium or large Clock widget or the large clock on the Lock Screen.
Can I switch to a 24-hour clock?
Yes. Apple places that option in Date & Time settings rather than in Clock Options.
Summary
- Control-click the desktop and choose Edit Widgets (macOS Sonoma or later).
- Search for Clock, pick a style and size, and drag it onto the desktop.
- Set Dim widgets on desktop to Never if you want the clock in full color.
- Use Clock Options to add seconds, the date, or an analog face to the menu bar clock.
- Use the Lock Screen’s large clock or the Clock app for idle-screen time, alarms, and world clocks.
Next step: Control-click your wallpaper, choose Edit Widgets, and add a medium Clock widget to see if it’s the size you want.
Kermit Matthews is a freelance writer based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania with more than a decade of experience writing technology guides. He has a Bachelor’s and Master’s degree in Computer Science and has spent much of his professional career in IT management.
He specializes in writing content about iPhones, Android devices, Microsoft Office, and many other popular applications and devices.