How to put a clock on the Windows 11 desktop
Windows 11 shows the time only in the taskbar. To put a clock on the desktop itself, add Spacedash's free Clock widget and place it where you like.
It comes in five styles, from a dot-matrix display to an analog face, and can sit over your own wallpaper.
What you need
- Windows 10 or 11
- Spacedash (free)
Steps
1. Install Spacedash
Download Spacedash and run the installer. It's free and needs no account.
2. Choose the screen
Open Settings and find Screens. Switch on the monitor you want. Under Show, “Desktop only” keeps Spacedash on your desktop behind your apps, and “Always” keeps it over every window.
3. Add the Clock
Open Layout and pick your monitor under Screen. Tap an empty cell and choose Clock.
4. Size and place it
Drag it into position and pull a corner to resize. The digits grow with the tile, so it can be a small corner clock or fill the screen.
5. Choose a style
Right-click the clock and choose “Customize…”. Under Options, pick Classic, Dot matrix, Seven-segment, Flip cards or Analog, then set seconds, 12 or 24 hours and the date format.
6. Show only the clock over your wallpaper
In Settings → Screens, set the monitor's Background to “Transparent”. Your wallpaper shows around the clock, and clicks beside it reach your desktop icons.
Checked against the app on 15 Nov 2026.
Tips
- For a second time zone, add another Clock and set its Time zone to a city, or use World Clocks for up to six zones in one tile.
- The Clock works offline: it reads your PC's time.
- Add a caption such as “Home” when you show more than one clock.
Widgets in this guide
Questions
Does Windows 11 have a built-in desktop clock?
No. The clock is in the taskbar, and the Widgets board is a panel that opens over the desktop. A desktop clock needs an app such as Spacedash.
Will the clock cover my desktop icons?
With the monitor's Background set to “Transparent”, only the clock itself is drawn, and you can still click everything around it.
Is it free?
Yes. The Clock and every one of its styles are part of Spacedash Free.
More how-to guides
How to show CPU and GPU temperature on your Windows desktop
Put live CPU and GPU temperatures on your Windows 11 or 10 desktop with Spacedash's free Sensors widget, using the NVIDIA driver or HWiNFO.
How to show the current song on a second monitor
Show the song playing in Spotify or your browser on a second monitor in Windows, with artwork and controls, using Spacedash's free Now Playing widget.
Make your desktop yours.
Free for Windows 11 and 10. No account needed.