Date and time missing in menu bar

From time to time the date and time disappear from the menu bar. Other times most of the items disappear from the menu bar. What causes this? Yes, a reboot puts them back but a reboot should not be necessary. Any thoughts?

Might be corrupted preferences ...
Type or copy and paste the following:
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
Click Go then move the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file to the Trash.
Restart your Mac.
Then monitor the time and date in the menu bar.

Similar Messages

Suggested edit to hint: Tip - Date and Time in the Menu Bar

The user tip, located here, massively overcomplicates the procedure for showing the date and time in the menu bar.
The simpler way is to do:
1. Click >System Preferences...>International>Formats.
2. Next to "Dates", click the "Customize" button.
3. Arrange the date the way you want it to appear in the menu bar (don't worry about time at this point).
4. Select everything in the date format box and copy it (⌘C).
5. Next to "Times", click the "Customize" button.
6. Select the "Medium" format.
7. Paste the time format into the box (⌘V), and customize it to appear as you wish.
8. Click OK.
That's it. No Terminal, nothing complicated.

Any chance you figured out how to do this for Snow Leopard?
I did this before, and when i migrated i could see that the change i made in Tiger, carried over, (that is there was a date in my medium clock setting) but it doesn't show in the clock in my menu bar...
Is there a fix?
Maybe Lion will bring this back... or better still offer the ability to put what we want with less complication?

I have checked the box "display date and time on the Menu Bar" and it does not work. Using OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 Anybody have a fix?

I have checked the box "display date and time on the Menu Bar" and it does not work. Using OS X Yosemite 10.10.2 Anybody have a fix?

Please read this whole message before doing anything.
This procedure is a test, not a solution. Don’t be disappointed when you find that nothing has changed after you complete it.
Step 1
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is localized to your user account.
Enable guest logins* and log in as Guest. Don't use the Safari-only “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac.”
While logged in as Guest, you won’t have access to any of your documents or settings. Applications will behave as if you were running them for the first time. Don’t be alarmed by this behavior; it’s normal. If you need any passwords or other personal data in order to complete the test, memorize, print, or write them down before you begin.
Test while logged in as Guest. Same problem?
After testing, log out of the guest account and, in your own account, disable it if you wish. Any files you created in the guest account will be deleted automatically when you log out of it.
*Note: If you’ve activated “Find My Mac” or FileVault, then you can’t enable the Guest account. The “Guest User” login created by “Find My Mac” is not the same. Create a new account in which to test, and delete it, including its home folder, after testing.
Step 2
The purpose of this step is to determine whether the problem is caused by third-party system modifications that load automatically at startup or login, by a peripheral device, by a font conflict, or by corruption of the file system or of certain system caches.
Please take this step regardless of the results of Step 1.
Disconnect all wired peripherals except those needed for the test, and remove all aftermarket expansion cards, if applicable. Start up in safe mode and log in to the account with the problem. You must hold down the shift key twice: once when you turn on the computer, and again when you log in.
Note: If FileVault is enabled in OS X 10.9 or earlier, or if a firmware password is set, or if the startup volume is a software RAID, you can’t do this. Ask for further instructions.
Safe mode is much slower to start up and run than normal, with limited graphics performance, and some things won’t work at all, including sound output and Wi-Fi on certain models. The next normal startup may also be somewhat slow.
The login screen appears even if you usually log in automatically. You must know your login password in order to log in. If you’ve forgotten the password, you will need to reset it before you begin.
Test while in safe mode. Same problem?
After testing, restart as usual (not in safe mode) and verify that you still have the problem. Post the results of Steps 1 and 2.

Re: suggested edit to hint: Tip - Date and Time in the Menu Bar

Hi Josh
Funnily enough I had to set up a new machine for my daughter a month ago, and used precisely this (GUI) method.
I haven't tried it in Tiger, but am assured by several people it also works there. I believe some people were able to do something similar with 10.3, at least with later versions, but I and many others (on another forum) could not get it to stick.
That led to us investigating which preference files were involved, and the discovery that two were involved: hence the need for the killall SystemUIServer. The Terminal method turned out to be the only reliable method for early versions of 10.3.
Things have moved on, and while the Tip still works I do not think it warrants being a "Featured Tip", at least in the Tiger and Leopard forums. So maybe your new version should appear there.

I haven't tried it in Tiger, but am assured by several people it also works there.
Yes, I did it originally in Tiger.
I believe some people were able to do something similar with 10.3, at least with later versions, but I and many others (on another forum) could not get it to stick.
That led to us investigating which preference files were involved, and the discovery that two were involved: hence the need for the killall SystemUIServer. The Terminal method turned out to be the only reliable method for early versions of 10.3.
OK, so I guess we should put it in the 10.3 forum-or maybe not-I think people who use 10.3 and would be on the forums would either be people supporting, who probably already know how to do this-or how to find out, or users who don't really want to mess with Terminal--but we should probably remove it from the Leopard and Tiger forums.
Things have moved on, and while the Tip still works I do not think it warrants being a "Featured Tip", at least in the Tiger and Leopard forums. So maybe your new version should appear there.
Sounds good!

Date and time missing from menubar

The date, time, battery, wifi, and spotlight icons have all disappeared from my menubar. I went into my preferences and found that the "show date and time in menu bar" was unchecked so I tried to check it, but it would automatically uncheck itself instantly. I tried rebooting but that didn't change anything

Triple-click anywhere in the line below on this page to select it:
~/Library/Preferences/com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
Right-click or control-click the highlighted line and select
Services ▹ Show Info in Finder
from the contextual menu.* An Info dialog should open.
Does the dialog show "You can read and write" in the Sharing & Permissions section?
In the General section, is the box labeled Locked checked?
What is the Modified date?
If you don't have read and write access to the item, change the settings as directed here. Note, however, that if one file has wrong access settings, most likely others do as well.
*If you don't see the contextual menu item, copy the selected text to the Clipboard by pressing the key combination command-C. Open a TextEdit window and paste into it (command-V). Select the line you just pasted and continue as above.

Getting Date and Time to Show in the Menu Bar

I have the OS setup to set the date and time automatically and the clock set to "show date and time in the Menu Bar. I have the international set up for the Day of Week, Month, Date and Year, but the menu bar only shows "Fri X:XX:XX PM" is there any way to get it to show me Fri May XX, 2008 X:XX:XX PM"?
Thanks for any help.
John

I use iClock too. It is much more customizable than the Time & Date clock provided with the system. I have used it for several years and it has been very stable for a third-party application.
Although I have only used it for a couple of months, I also really like another third-party application you may like, to put weather conditions on the menubar called WeatherDock (freeware). It accesses Weather.com to provide the current temperature (of course) but it can include several other weather conditions (depending on how much space you have on your menubar). In addition to temperature, I have it show the weather condition (currently partly cloudy, typical in Houston), wind direction and speed (I ride a bike to the office and this tells me if I’ll be fighting it or aided), and humidity (also a Houston favorite). It will also speak the weather conditions when they change.

How can i change date and time after importing a file

hello
i'm importing AVI files first in iMovie because Final doesn't support (other question i put in) but when i see the scenes form 1993 they have the date 2004.
i believe 2004 is the date i put them on the computer.
Now i looked in the help files Final Cut Pro but cant find anything to adjust the date and time.
it works well in iMovie using the help files:
Right-click the clip you wish to edit and click Adjust Clip Date and Time from the menu that appears. Or click on Archive and than adjust date and time
But as i said i cant import the files in FCP have to import them to iMovie files adjust the date and than import to Final Cut Pro but than de changes i made to the date and time are gone and in FCP 2004 is again the date of the file!!!
Question how can i Change in Final Cut Pro the date and time in a same way as iMovie does?
Jemajoro

OK, I think I understand what you are saying but it still does not look like it is doing it as you describe.
Here is another screen shot.
Note that all clips in "2007 August" event have the date of Aug x, 2007.
Yet, the event "2007 August" still shows up under the 2012 "folder" (is that the right terminology?).
The newest clip in this event is Aug 31, 2007 so shouldn't it be categorized as 2007 and not 2012?
I think you know this but I am using the following feature:
Go to the sprocket icon under the events.
Select "Group events by date" and then by "group events by year and month"
Thanks again for all the help

Adjust Date and time for all Photos in an event?

Would some one tell me how to adjust the date and time for all photos in an event. For some reason when I change the date, it only changes the first photo in the event and I am left with a range of dates in the event, but I would rather they all have the same date in the event. Any thoughts or ideas?

How are you selecting the photos and changing them? How much of a change are you trying to make? A total change of date and time or just a delta change either plus or minus?
Using the Photos->Adjust Date and Time... menu option will apply the time/date difference to all of the photos in the Event if you click on the Event icon in the Photos mode or the Event mode.

HT2473 How can I get the date and time back on the menu bar?

Several items disappeared from my menu bar for no reason known to me. I miss the date and time and want it back. Please . I have gone to System Preferences and clicked "date and Time" but it will not allow me to check anything on the page even though there is a box "Show date and time in Menu bar".
What should be my next move?

One more thing might help us
In the Finder > Date & Time Preferences > Take a Full ScreenShot of the entire display showing the "absence" of the check box (or whatever) to Show in Menu Bar
⌘ Command + ⇧ Shift > Press ' 3 ' > release all three
Use the camera tool > locate the screenshot in the Desktop (not sure whether it will say "Picture 1.png" or have a TimeDateStamp as a title.
ÇÇÇ

Get date AND time to show in the menu bar

What is that technique to get date AND time to show in the menu bar please?

Install iStat Menu
System Preferences -> iStat Menus -> Date & Time
\[X] Show Date & Time
Format .... \[Edit]
(*) Custom (drag tokens to build a custom format)
Drag a light blue token into the edit line below the token selections. If you want a space a colon a dash, etc... just type that character(s) before after draging a token into place.
I created: 9:35 PM Sat 1-Aug-2009
You can create anything you like in any order you like.
The other alternative (if you happen to be a fan of the Unix strftime() function) would be to use the % formatting characters in the Expert time format expression box. Use the Terminal "man strftime" to find out all the available % formatting codes.
But I think the Custom Drag & Drop section is the easiest to use.
However, if this doesn't work for you, then I guess it is just a case of "Your Mileage May Vary".

Date and time in menu bar

Hi everyone,
I'm having a very silly problem that is driving me crazy. I found similar problems on this forum but not exactly the answer to them.
The "Show date and time in menu bar" checkbox System Preferences will not remain checked. I have checked it 50 times but every time I close it and go back it's unchecked.
Based on some suggestions on the forum I check the SystemUIServer in Activity Monitor and it's hanging (i.e. Not Responding). I tried force quitting and restarting but it doesn't get it going. Somehow I think these two problems are related.
I also tried deleting the com.apple.systemuiserver.plist file under ~/Library/Preferences and logging out and back in to go back to system defaults on the menu bar but that didn't work either.
Alot of people solved similar problems by installing OS X 10.5.2 but I'm already running 10.5.2! I'm running out of ideas here.
Any help is appreciated.

Excuse me, my interface is in Dutch and I literally translated the name.
Desktop and Screen saver I believe, select the menu for the screen saver.
There is a box you can tick, it will display the time when the screen saver is running.
It could be displayed like 3553 instead of the correct time.
If that is the case check in another user account, or make a new user account in Apple menu>System preferences>Accounts. Does the problem occur in the new account as well?

Menu bar date and time is flashing and spotlight doesn't work

Help! My menu bar date and time in top right corner suddenly started flashing and Spotlight doesn't seem to work. It would normally appear just below the date and time. Is this a known issue? 10.4.7 on a 1 GHz G4 (eMac).
Any ideas - I tried restarting with no difference.

Create a new account, name it "test" and see how your Finder and Spotlight work in that User acct? (That will tell if your problem is systemwide or limited to your User acct.) This account is just for test, do nothing further with it.
Open System Preferences >> Accounts >> "+" make it an admin account.
Let us know and we'll troubleshoot this further.
-mj
[email protected]

Date and Time on Menu Bar

Up until now the date and time has been displayed on the menu bar as...
Tuesday, November 28, 2006 8:09 AM
Now, for some reason, it's being displayed as...
Tue 8:09 AM
Here's what I've tried in trying to restore the format...
1) System Preferences > Menu Bar Clock > Show Date and Time in Menu Bar
2) Deleted the following preference files:
com.apple.MenuBarClock.plist
com.apple.systempreferences.plist
com.apple.systemuiserver.plist
Does anyone know how I can restore the format?
Thanks!
eMac Mac OS X (10.2.x) 128 MB, 700 MHz PowerPC G4

It looks like there can be as little
as 6 or so characters between the two sets of
icons
That sounds low, especially in
the Finder, even at the lower screen resolutions. I
just played with stepping down resolutions on this
Mac, and various right-side icons (the CoreServices
eject.menu, Display, Classic, and sound icons, plus
those from MenuMeters) disappeared
before the date and time (shown as "Tue 28 Nov, 04:00
PM" were affected (right-side menu items are
truncated from left to right).
In my case, just the date disappeared. So instead of seeing...
Tue November 28, 2006 5:43 PM
...I was seeing...
Tue 5:43 PM
The icons to the left (on the right side icons) were still there and unaffected.
What Display
resolution do you normally use?
It's set at 1024 X 768.
Does the time&date
format go back to the expected form if you increase
resolution to maximum as a test? If the format
affected by starting up in Safe Mode?
After trying the remedy you reference in your previous post, the format is back to where it was so I won't be able to test it. But I guess you suspect that the Date and Time was truncated because there wasn't enough space between the left side and right side icons, is this right? It would seem like a logical explanation...

How do you fix the date (day number only) in menu bar to match correct Date and Time Preferences?

My date and time preferences all show up as correct and I get "Sun 10:54 AM" in the menu bar (correct), but when I click that to quickly get the day's date, I get "Sunday, August 5, 2011". The '5' is the only thing that is wrong, and it has remained '5' for the last 3 days, even thought the Date & Time Preferences are correct. Is there any easy fix for this? I don't know if August will change to September, but the day of the week has kept up with time!

I know how to get the full date and time, etc. to show up on the menu bar (and it shows up correctly), so it's just a little 'glitchy' thing that when you click on the date/time in the menu bar, the greyed date remains on the '5th' of August - sort of like that Groundhog Day movie!

Why won't the date and time stay in the menu bar?

I just installed 10.6.2 and even when I use System Preferences to check the box in the Date/Time panel they flicker and disappear from the menu bar. Why won't the Date and Time stay in the Menu Bar? Any suggestions? Thanks.
Frank B

Doesn't any bring up the fact that Apple has so many customers with problems that the refuse to help unless you pay them cash? They update you and screw you over and then offer no useful troubleshooting scenarioius to help their millions of customers. It is because they want millions of our dollars. I hate Apple.

Date and time missing in menu bar

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