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Hide Clock on Mac — The Truth About macOS (Sonoma 2026)

No, you cannot hide the clock.

Want to hide the clock on Mac? The menu bar clock can be hidden, but the lock screen shows a GIANT clock with no option to disable. Here's the full truth.

Last updated: 2026-01-26 • OS Version: macOS Sonoma

Available Workarounds

Menu Bar Clock Options

Limited effectiveness Easy difficulty

You can change clock style or switch to analog, but you can't completely remove the time from the menu bar.

Steps:

  1. Open System Settings
  2. Go to Control Center
  3. Scroll to Clock
  4. Choose between digital/analog display
⚠️ This only changes the FORMAT, not actually hides the clock. Time is still visible.

Bartender/Hidden Bar (App)

Partial effectiveness Easy difficulty

Third-party apps can hide menu bar items including the clock, but only in the menu bar - not on the lock screen.

Steps:

  1. Install Bartender from the App Store or website
  2. Configure to hide the clock
⚠️ Only works in the menu bar. Lock screen clock remains visible with NO workaround.

The Truth About macOS and Clocks

Many guides claim macOS lets you hide the clock. This is misleading.

Here’s the reality:

You can:

  • Switch between digital and analog display
  • Hide the clock using third-party apps like Bartender

You cannot:

  • Completely remove time awareness from your Mac
  • Hide the lock screen clock

Lock Screen: NO OPTIONS AT ALL

This is the biggest problem. When you:

  • Wake your Mac from sleep
  • Lock your screen
  • Start up your Mac

You’re greeted with a GIANT time display. It’s prominent, unavoidable, and there is absolutely no way to disable it.

Apple designed it this way. There’s no setting, no workaround, no hack. If you don’t want to see the time when you wake your Mac? Too bad.

Why This Matters

  • Morning anxiety: First thing you see is how “late” it is
  • Work breaks: Can’t take a screen break without seeing time
  • Evening guilt: The late hour stares at you when you return
  • Flow disruption: Any lock/unlock cycle reminds you of time

What Apple Could Do

A simple toggle in System Settings → Lock Screen:

  • Show time on lock screen
  • Show date on lock screen

That’s it. That’s all we’re asking for.

The Inconsistency

Apple provides extensive customization:

  • Custom wallpapers
  • Widget layouts
  • Focus modes
  • Do Not Disturb
  • Screen time controls

But hide the lock screen clock? Impossible. It doesn’t make sense.

Compared to iOS

If you think Mac is bad, iPhone is worse:

  • Status bar clock: Always visible, no option to hide
  • Lock screen: Giant clock, no option to hide
  • At least Mac lets you hide the menu bar clock with third-party apps

But neither platform offers true clock-hiding options for the lock screen.

What You Can Do

  1. Submit feedback to Apple - apple.com/feedback
  2. Sign the petition - Join our movement
  3. Spread awareness - Let others know this option should exist

The fact that the lock screen clock can’t be hidden on Mac proves this isn’t about user choice - it’s about Apple deciding what we “need” to see.

Want this to change?

Join the movement demanding the right to hide the clock on all devices.

Sign the Petition

Related Guides

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