How to Change the Clock in Windows From Military to Standard

Many of us rely on our computer clock for accurate date and time information. But what do you do when your computer's clock time is suddenly expressed in military time? Many people do not know how to convert military time to standard time and it can be frustrating when you need to know the time immediately. Some software will actually change the time expressed by Windows to military time upon installation. Thankfully, for those of us who prefer standard time, Windows allows you to easily go in and change your time format from military time to standard time.

Instructions

1. Click "Start" at the bottom left corner of your screen.

2. Select "Control Panel" from the right hand menu bar. When the Control Panel opens, click "Classic View" in the left hand menu bar near the top. If using XP it will be labeled "Switch to Classic View." If you are already in classic view, you will have a large set of icons with a white background.

3. Double-click the icon labeled "Regional and Language Options."

4. Click "Customize" when the settings window opens. If using Vista, it will be labeled "Customize this format."

5. Click the "Time" tab at the top of the Regional Settings window.

6. Select your time format from the drop-down menu labeled "time format." To select standard time use the h or the hh format. The h format will not have the preceding zero, it will be 7:00 a.m. The hh format will have the preceding zero, it will be 07:00 a.m..

7. Click "OK" at the bottom of the window, and click "OK" at the bottom of the Regional and Language Options window. Close your control panel. Your Windows time is now expressed in standard time.

Tips & Warnings

• Browse the other tabs in the Regional Settings window and see what other settings can be changed from here.

References

• Adjusting Date and Time in Windows