For over two decades, the Windows taskbar has displayed the current time and date in the bottom-right corner of the screen. While most users find this convenient, it can be highly distracting during focused work sessions, live presentations, or when recording screencast tutorials where you do not want to reveal exactly when the video was recorded.
Previously, hiding the clock in Windows 11 required complex registry edits or third-party software. However, following a recent major update, Microsoft finally built a simple toggle directly into the system settings to disable the clock entirely.
How to Hide the Time and Date
Ensure your PC is fully updated (at least Windows 11 version 23H2 or newer) before attempting these steps, as the toggle did not exist in older builds.
- Right-click anywhere on the empty space of your Taskbar.
- Select Taskbar settings from the small pop-up menu.
- In the Settings window that opens, scroll down and click to expand the Taskbar behaviors section at the very bottom.
- Look for a checkbox labeled “Show time and date in the System tray”.
- Uncheck the box.
The moment you uncheck the box, the clock and date will instantly vanish from the corner of your screen, leaving only your network, volume, and battery icons.
Accessing the Calendar While the Clock is Hidden
Normally, you click on the clock to open the Windows 11 calendar flyout and view your upcoming notifications. When the clock is hidden, you lose this clickable target.
To check your calendar or notifications while the clock remains hidden from the taskbar, you must use a keyboard shortcut. Press Windows Key + N at any time to instantly trigger the notification center and calendar flyout.
If you ever need the persistent clock back, simply return to the Taskbar settings menu and re-check the box to instantly restore it.