How do I get AM and PM suffixes on my Mac's clock?

[Will Cheyney]

I would very much like for my Mac's clock to have AM and PM suffixes, like so:

However, I can't seem to turn the option to have such a feature. It is greyed out in my System preferences, even when I uncheck the 'Use 24-hour clock' option':

Can anyone explain why this might be, and how I can enable such a feature?

 

[mad jew]

AM and PM do not apply on a 24 hour clock.

 

[Will Cheyney]

...It is greyed out in my System preferences, even when I uncheck the 'Use 24-hour clock' option'...

I realise that!

 

[WildCowboy]

I think there are some International settings that can override your Date/Time settings. From the "Date & Time" panel of "Date & Time," click on "Open International." Check to see that things under "Times" look like they'll let you display AM and PM.

 

[mad jew]

Sorry I missed that. You won't get it back until you uncheck the 24 hour clock box though. Maybe uncheck it, restart and see if you get it back.

 

[WildCowboy]

I can display AM/PM for 24-hour time. I know it shouldn't be allowed, but the OS will let you do it.

 

[mad jew]

Okay, coolness. I always thought we couldn't. I guess a permission repair would be a nice start then.

 

[WildCowboy]

I still think it's simply an International preference overriding the Date & Time preference pane. No real need to repair permissions just yet.

 

[mad jew]

You're probably right but I'm not finding anything that could turn this off yet... Well, at least nothing to turn off the option of AM/PM.

 

[Will Cheyney]

Haha, it's a UK thing. If the region is set to the UK in the International preference pane you can't seem to have AM/PM suffixes... well, not that I have managed anyway! Anyone else had better luck?

 

[mad jew]

You guys always were a bit behind.

That's a bizarre fault though.

 

[Will Cheyney]

Ah ha!
Cracked it! You need to customise the clocks format with the International preference pane!