How to Display Seconds on Your Android and iPhone Clock

Do you find it frustrating that your Android or iPhone clock only displays hours and minutes? Sometimes, you need to keep track of seconds for various reasons, such as timing a recipe or monitoring time-sensitive tasks. Luckily, it's possible to configure your Android or iPhone clock to show seconds with just a few simple steps. Let's dive into how you can do it.

How to Show Seconds on the Android Clock App

The default Clock app on Android by Google doesn't display seconds by default. However, you can easily change this with the following steps:

1. Open the Clock app on your Android device.
2. Tap the three dots menu (kebab menu) in the top right corner and select “Settings.”

3. Enable the toggle next to “Display time with seconds.”

Please note that if you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, the Clock app from Samsung already shows time with seconds by default.

How to Show Seconds on the Android Status Bar

While the above method allows you to see seconds in the Clock app, a more convenient way is to display seconds on the status bar itself. The status bar is always visible, unlike the Clock app. To achieve this, you can use a third-party app called System UI Tuner.

1. Download and install the System UI Tuner app from the Play Store.
2. Open the app and select the “Status bar” option. Scroll down and tap on “Time,” then select “Show hours, minutes, and seconds.”

Once you've completed these steps, your Android phone will display seconds on the status bar clock.

Please note that apps like System UI Tuner may not be compatible with all Android phones. If you have a Samsung Galaxy phone, you can use the Good Lock app to see seconds on the status bar.

How to Show Seconds on the iPhone Home Screen

If you own an iPhone, you can easily check the time in seconds without opening the Clock app. Simply look at the Clock app icon in the App Library. The orange hand on the icon moves in real-time, allowing you to see the seconds.

Alternatively, you can add a Clock app widget to your iPhone's Home Screen or Today View screen for a more convenient way to see the seconds. Follow these steps:

1. Touch and hold anywhere on the home screen and tap the plus (+) icon in the top left corner.
2. Select “Clock” from the list, choose your preferred widget, and tap the “Add Widget” button at the bottom.

The Clock app widget will then appear on your iPhone home screen.

How to Show Seconds on the iPhone Lock Screen

The default Clock app widget on your iPhone allows you to see seconds, but it offers limited widget styles. If you want more options, you can use a third-party app called Flip Clock to add a widget that displays the seconds on your iPhone's home screen and lock screen.

Here's how you can do it:

1. Download the Flip Clock app on your iPhone.
2. Touch and hold anywhere on the home screen and tap the plus (+) icon in the top left corner.
3. Select “FlipClock” from the list and choose your preferred widget. Then, tap the “Add Widget” button at the bottom.

4. By default, the Flip Clock app widget will only show the clock in HH:MM format. To enable seconds, open the Flip Clock app, tap the gear icon at the top, select “Desktop widget,” and enable the toggle next to “Display seconds.”

Once you've added the Flip Clock widget to your home screen, you'll also have the option to set Live Activities from the Flip Clock app. If you want to see the seconds on your iPhone lock screen, simply tap “Allow.”

When Every Second Counts

By default, both Android and iPhone clocks only display hours and minutes. However, by following the methods mentioned above, you can easily configure your Android or iPhone clock to show seconds. Whether you need to time a recipe or keep a close eye on passing moments, displaying seconds on your mobile device's clock will provide the accuracy you need.