Live Time Now — Ticking Clock with Milliseconds

Live time, redrawn on every animation frame rather than once a second, so the milliseconds actually move rather than stepping. The time comes from your device's own clock, which means this page is exactly as accurate as your computer is — and if your computer syncs to a time server, that is accurate to a few milliseconds.

Where the time actually comes from

A web page has no clock of its own. It reads the operating system's clock, which is kept in step by the Network Time Protocol against far more accurate reference clocks upstream. So "live" here means "as live as your machine" — covered in how accurate is a browser clock and NTP vs browser time.

Why milliseconds need animation frames

A timer set to fire every 250 ms drifts, and browsers throttle timers hard in background tabs. Redrawing on the display's own refresh cycle keeps the readout smooth and honest. The mechanics are in millisecond precision in the browser.

Guides about Live Clock

How it works How Accurate Is A Browser Clock? Browser Clock Accuracy Explained A browser clock is exactly as accurate as the device it runs on. Here is what it inherits from the system clock, how far hardware drifts without NTP, and how to check your own. 6 min read How it works NTP vs Browser Time: Where Your Clock Really Gets The Time Time reaches your screen through a hierarchy: atomic clocks, NTP servers, your operating system, then the browser. Here is what each layer does and where accuracy is won or lost. 6 min read How it works What Is Live Time? How A Live Clock Actually Works Live time is a clock that keeps advancing rather than a timestamp frozen at page load. Here is where the time comes from, how the browser keeps it moving, and what it can and cannot guarantee. 6 min read

More livetime.now pages

Seconds Counter A precision readout for when the seconds are the point. Fullscreen Clock A big clock for a second monitor, a lobby screen or a stream — with a wake lock so it stays on. Countdown Timer Set minutes, start, and get a clear countdown with an alert at zero. Stopwatch Start, stop, lap — elapsed time measured properly.

Frequently asked questions

How accurate is this live clock?

As accurate as your device's clock. If your operating system syncs with a time server, that is typically within a few tens of milliseconds.

Why do the milliseconds look smooth?

The display is redrawn on each animation frame rather than on a fixed timer, so it updates with the screen rather than against it.

Does it keep running in a background tab?

The clock keeps correct time, but browsers throttle updates in hidden tabs to save power. It catches up instantly when you return.

Can I show this fullscreen?

Yes — the fullscreen display page is built for exactly that, with a wake lock so the screen stays on.