Where to find the time settings

The time settings live in different places depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. On all of them, the setting is usually buried one or two levels deep in a preferences menu rather than sitting on the main screen. The reason: once you set it, most people never touch it again, so manufacturers hide it to avoid accidental changes.

Your device may already be set to update the time automatically using the internet. If that is the case, you will see a toggle or checkbox labeled "Set time automatically" or "Automatic date and time". If it is turned on, your device syncs with a time server whenever it connects to the internet, and you do not need to do anything. If you want to set the time manually instead, you turn that toggle off first.

Key Takeaways

  • Most devices default to automatic time updates, which sync with internet time servers and require no action from you.
  • To set the time manually, you must first turn off automatic time updates in the settings menu.
  • On Windows, the time settings are in Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time; on Mac, they are in System Settings > General > Date & Time.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time; on Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time or Settings > About Phone > Date & Time depending on your manufacturer.
  • After you change the time manually, check the clock on your home screen or lock screen to confirm the change took effect.

Adjusting time on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click "Time & Language" on the left side. Then click "Date & Time" in the submenu. You will see a toggle labeled "Set time automatically" — if it is already on (the switch is blue and pushed to the right), your device is updating on its own and you can stop here.

If you want to change the time manually, click that toggle to turn it off. A new option will appear below it labeled "Set the time manually". Click that option, and a small window will pop up showing the current time broken into hours, minutes, and seconds. Click in each field and type the correct numbers. When you are done, click "Change" to save it. The clock on your taskbar will update within a few seconds.

Adjusting time on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings". Click "General" in the left sidebar, then scroll down and click "Date & Time". You will see a checkbox labeled "Set date and time automatically" — if it is checked, your Mac is syncing with the internet and you can stop here.

To set the time manually, uncheck that box. The date and time fields will become editable. Click on the time field (it shows hours, minutes, and AM or PM) and type the correct time. Click outside the field or press Enter to save. Your Mac will update the clock when ready. If you also need to change the date, click the date field and enter it in the same way.

Adjusting time on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap "General". Scroll down and tap "Date & Time". You will see a toggle labeled "Set Automatically" — if it is already on (the switch is green), your iPhone is updating from the network and you can stop here.

To set the time manually, tap the toggle to turn it off. The time and date fields will become editable. Tap the time field and use the scroll wheels to set the hours and minutes. Tap the date field and scroll to set the month, day, and year. When you are done, tap "Back" to return to the previous screen. The lock screen will show the new time within a few seconds.

Adjusting time on Android

Open Settings and look for "System" or "About Phone" — the exact location varies by manufacturer (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others place it differently). Once you find it, tap "Date & Time" or "Date and time". You will see a toggle labeled "Automatic date and time" or "Use network-provided time" — if it is on, your phone is syncing with the network and you can stop here.

To set the time manually, tap that toggle to turn it off. New fields will appear for "Set date" and "Set time". Tap "Set time" and a clock picker will appear — you can either type the hours and minutes directly or use the on-screen controls to adjust them. Tap "Set date" and select the correct month, day, and year. When you are done, tap "OK" or "Confirm". The system clock will update when ready.

Why your time might be wrong after you change it

If you set the time manually and it changes back on its own a few minutes later, automatic time updates are still turned on. Go back to the time settings and make sure the "Set automatically" or "Automatic date and time" toggle is actually off — sometimes it takes a moment to register, or you may have accidentally tapped it twice. If it is off and the time still changes, restart your device and try again.

Another reason the time might revert: your device connected to the internet after you changed it. If automatic updates are on, the device will sync with a time server as soon as it gets a connection. This is actually the safer default, because it prevents your device from drifting out of sync over time. If you need the time to stay at a specific value for testing or troubleshooting purposes, make sure automatic updates are off and your device is not connected to Wi-Fi or mobile data.

When you might need to adjust the time manually

Most of the time, you should leave automatic time updates on. Your device will stay accurate without any work from you, and it will adjust automatically when daylight saving time changes. The main reasons to set the time manually are testing (if you are troubleshooting an app or feature that depends on the time), traveling to a place where the automatic update is not working correctly, or temporarily changing the time for a specific reason.

If you are traveling and your device did not update to the local time zone automatically, you can change the time manually as a temporary fix. However, the better solution is to check your time zone settings — on most devices, there is a separate "Time zone" option near the date and time controls. Changing the time zone will adjust the clock to match your location without requiring you to set the time by hand.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the time affect my alarms or scheduled tasks?

Yes. If you set the time backward, alarms that were supposed to go off will trigger when ready or be skipped entirely. If you set the time forward, alarms may be delayed. Scheduled tasks like backups or app updates may also run at unexpected times. Change the time only when necessary and check your alarms afterward.

What if I cannot find the date and time settings on my Android phone?

Android manufacturers customize the settings menu, so the location varies. Try opening Settings and searching for "date" or "time" using the search box at the top. If your phone does not have a search box, look under "System", "About Phone", or "Advanced" settings. If you still cannot find it, search your phone model name plus "how to change time" online.

Can I set different times on different apps?

No. The system time is global — every app on your device reads the same clock. If you change the system time, all apps will see the new time. Some apps may have their own time zone or display settings, but those are separate from the actual device time.

Why does my device keep changing the time zone automatically?

Your device is probably set to update the time zone automatically based on your location. On iPhone, this is the "Set Automatically" toggle under Settings > General > Date & Time. On Android, it is usually "Automatic time zone" under Settings > System > Date & Time. Turn it off if you want to keep a specific time zone even when you travel.