The Distracting Clock Updates
By default, the digital clock located in the top-right corner of the macOS menu bar displays the current hour and minute. However, there is a hidden setting that allows you to display the time with seconds as well (e.g., 10:45:32). While this is incredibly useful for developers monitoring exact timestamp logs, or users trying to snag concert tickets at the precise moment they go on sale, the constant ticking can be highly distracting.
Having a number rapidly change every single second in your peripheral vision draws the eye and can break your concentration while reading or writing. Furthermore, continuously updating the screen to render the new second drains a tiny (but measurable) amount of battery life on MacBooks. If you previously enabled this feature and now want a calmer menu bar experience, you should disable the seconds display.
How to Hide the Seconds from the Menu Bar Clock
You can adjust the clock formatting in the Control Center preferences.
- Click the Apple Logo in the top-left corner of the menu bar and select System Settings… (or System Preferences).
- In the left-hand sidebar, click on Control Center (In macOS Monterey or earlier, click on “Dock & Menu Bar”).
- Scroll all the way down to the bottom of the right-hand pane until you find the Menu Bar Only section.
- Click on the Clock Options… button.
- Look down the list of formatting checkboxes for the option labelled Display the time with seconds.
- Click the checkbox to remove the checkmark.
- Click the Done button.
The menu bar clock will instantly update, removing the rapidly changing seconds counter and returning to the calmer, slower-moving hour and minute display.