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Asked: 2024-09-26T02:06:43+05:30 In:

How can I change the time display format between 12-hour and 24-hour styles using the command line in Ubuntu?

I’ve been diving into some system settings on my Ubuntu setup, and I stumbled upon this little hurdle that I could use some help with. So, I’ve noticed that the time on my system is set to the 24-hour format by default, which is cool and all, but I’ve grown a bit nostalgic for the good ol’ 12-hour format with the AM and PM tags. It feels a little more user-friendly to me, you know?

I tried to find the settings in the graphical interface, but honestly, I’m more of a command line person. I like the idea of doing things straight from the terminal since it gives off those cool tech vibes. Plus, it’s usually quicker! But here’s the catch: every time I search for how to switch between these formats using the command line, I’m met with a bunch of confusing tutorials and complicated steps. I could really use some guidance here!

I’ve fiddled around with commands like `date` and even poked into the `/etc/locale` settings, but it feels like I’m just going in circles. I get that there’s a way to change the time display format; it’s just that the resources I’ve found don’t really cut through the clutter for me. And while I’m not a complete newbie, I wouldn’t consider myself an expert either, so a little detailed guidance would be super appreciated!

If anyone out there could break it down for me—like, what exact commands do I need to use? Do I need to modify any specific files? How do I make sure the change sticks after I reboot? Any pitfalls I should be aware of?

I know it might seem like a simple switch for some of you pros, but I’m genuinely looking for a clear and straightforward way to get this done. Would love to hear your thoughts or methods if you’ve successfully made the jump between the two formats! Thanks in advance, I’m really looking forward to your input!

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    2 Answers



    1. Change Time Format in Ubuntu

      Switching to 12-Hour Format in Ubuntu

      So, you’re diving into the world of Ubuntu and want to change your time format to that cozy 12-hour style with AM and PM? No worries, I got you covered! Here’s a straightforward way to do this using the command line.

      1. Open Your Terminal

      First off, you’ll want to fire up your terminal. You can usually do this by pressing Ctrl + Alt + T.

      2. Check Your Current Format

      Just to see what you’ve got right now, you can type:

      date

      This will show you the current date and time format.

      3. Changing the Time Format

      Now, to switch to the 12-hour format, you’ll probably want to update your locale settings. Type this command:

      sudo update-locale LC_TIME=en_US.UTF-8

      What this does is it set the locale for time display to American English, which uses the 12-hour format.

      4. Check the Change

      Now, check if the change took effect:

      date

      If you see something like “2:30 PM” instead of “14:30”, then congratulations, you’ve made the switch!

      5. Making Sure It Sticks

      This change should stick after you reboot. But if your settings go back to 24-hour after a restart, make sure there are no overriding settings in your /etc/default/locale file.

      6. Edit Locale File (If Necessary)

      If you need to check or edit that file, you can do so by typing:

      sudo nano /etc/default/locale

      Just make sure you have the line LC_TIME=en_US.UTF-8 in there. If it’s not, go ahead and add it!

      7. Logout and Login

      Once you’ve made those changes, it might help to log out and log back in, or even reboot your system just to be safe.

      Final Thoughts

      You might face a few hiccups here and there, but this should cover most of what you need to know! Don’t hesitate to jump back into the terminal and get your hands dirty—it’s all part of the fun. Happy coding!




    2. Changing Time Format in Ubuntu

      To change your time format from 24-hour to 12-hour in Ubuntu using the command line, you will need to modify your locale settings. The first step is to check your current localization configuration by executing the command: locale. If you don’t see a setting for LC_TIME, you can set it by running: sudo update-locale LC_TIME=en_US.UTF-8. This command specifies the U.S. format, which uses the 12-hour clock. Alternatively, if you’re interested in a different locale, you can replace en_US.UTF-8 with the appropriate locale string that represents the 12-hour format in your language.

      After updating your locale, you need to restart your session for the changes to take effect. You can log out and then back in, or simply reboot your machine. To ensure that the changes have stuck, run the date command again after logging back on. If you want your system to maintain this setting after reboots, ensure that the locale is set properly in /etc/default/locale. You can check this file with cat /etc/default/locale to see if LC_TIME is configured as intended. In case you encounter any issues with applications not adhering to the new time format, you may need to restart those applications or clear their caches. This simple modification will have your time displayed in the familiar 12-hour format with AM and PM tags!


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