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On Ubuntu’s default GNOME desktop, run this command in Terminal to show seconds in the top-bar clock:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds trueThe change normally appears immediately and does not require sudo. This GNOME setting applies to Ubuntu editions using GNOME Shell; other Ubuntu flavors may use a different clock and panel.
Show seconds from Terminal
- Open Terminal with Ctrl+Alt+T.
- Run:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds true - Check the top bar. A clock such as
10:42should change to something like10:42:37.
To confirm the preference, run:
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-secondsThe expected output is true. The setting controls whether GNOME displays seconds; it does not change the system time, time zone, or synchronization.
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1Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errors2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problemsThis is a user-level preference, so run it as your normal logged-in user, not with sudo. GNOME’s shared settings schema includes the clock-show-seconds key; see the GNOME schema history and the Ask Ubuntu command reference.
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Hide seconds or restore the default
To explicitly turn seconds off, run:
gsettings set org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-seconds falseTo remove your override and return the key to its schema default, run:
gsettings reset org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-secondsThe schema default has historically been false, so resetting normally hides seconds. Setting false and resetting have the same visible result in that case, but resetting restores the default rather than storing an explicit off value.
Can you use Settings or GNOME Tweaks?
Possibly, but the graphical controls vary by Ubuntu and GNOME version. On some recent installations, look under Settings → System → Date & Time. Older instructions may say to open GNOME Tweaks → Top Bar → Show seconds; that section or option may be absent on newer releases. The terminal command is the more consistent route. For details on the changing interface, see this version discussion.
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Ubuntu 22.04 LTS, 24.04 LTS, and later GNOME-based desktop releases use GNOME clock preferences, but that does not guarantee an identical graphical toggle in every release or customized installation. Canonical documents related clock preferences in its Ubuntu desktop clock policy reference.
Change it with Dconf Editor
Dconf Editor offers a graphical way to edit the underlying preference. Install it if needed:
sudo apt install dconf-editorOpen Dconf Editor and navigate to:
/org/gnome/desktop/interface/Find clock-show-seconds and enable it. Dconf Editor exposes many desktop preferences, so change only the key you intend to modify. For simply showing seconds, the gsettings command is shorter and less error-prone.
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Troubleshooting
“No such schema” or “No such key”
Check whether the key is available:
gsettings range org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-secondsYou can also inspect related keys:
gsettings list-recursively org.gnome.desktop.interface | grep clockIf the schema or key is missing, you may not be using GNOME Shell, or the installation may be old, incomplete, or customized. Ubuntu includes desktop flavors such as Kubuntu (KDE Plasma), Xubuntu (Xfce), Lubuntu (LXQt), and Ubuntu MATE; their panel clocks may have their own settings and may not use this GNOME preference.
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Check the desktop environment with:
echo "$XDG_CURRENT_DESKTOP"The command reports a D-Bus or display error
Run the command in a terminal opened inside your active graphical Ubuntu session. A bare SSH login, service shell, or command run outside the desktop session may lack the session’s D-Bus or display environment. Avoid sudo, which can run the command as a different user and fail to change your desktop preference. An Ask Ubuntu troubleshooting discussion describes this kind of session-related failure.
The value is true, but the clock still has no seconds
First confirm the value:
gsettings get org.gnome.desktop.interface clock-show-secondsIf it returns true, check that you are looking at GNOME’s top bar rather than a different panel or an extension-provided clock. Temporarily disable clock-customization extensions, then log out and back in if needed. To identify the session type, run:
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echo "$XDG_SESSION_TYPE"The change normally applies live, so wait a moment or close and reopen the clock menu first. Logging out and back in is a reasonable fallback. Avoid relying on an X11-only GNOME Shell restart shortcut: Ubuntu may be using Wayland.
Do you need a clock extension?
Not for the basic task. The native setting adds seconds without extra software. An extension may make sense if you want a custom clock layout, a larger clock, or other formatting features, but it adds compatibility and maintenance considerations. For example, Numeric Clock offers configurable display options; check its listed GNOME Shell compatibility against your installed version before using it.
Showing seconds makes the displayed clock update once per second. No quantified battery or performance penalty is established here; for ordinary desktop use, the practical impact is expected to be small, but it is not necessary to claim it is zero.
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