Where to find the time settings on your phone

The time on your phone updates automatically most of the time, but you can change it manually if it drifts or if you need to set it for a different timezone. On both Android and iPhone, the setting lives in the main Settings app — not in the clock app itself.

Open Settings (the gear icon on your home screen or in your app drawer). The exact path differs slightly between phones, but the principle is the same: you are looking for a section called Date and Time, System, or General. Once you find it, you will see options to turn automatic time on or off, and to set the time yourself if automatic is disabled.

Key Takeaways

  • Automatic time is usually on by default and pulls the correct time from your carrier or internet connection, so you rarely need to change it manually.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date and Time and toggle off Set Automatically to change the time by hand.
  • On Android, go to Settings > System > Date and Time (or Settings > Date and Time depending on your phone maker) and toggle off Automatic Date and Time to set it yourself.
  • Changing the time manually can affect alarms, reminders, and apps that depend on the correct time, so only do it if you have a specific reason.
  • If you change timezones while traveling, turn automatic time back on so your phone stays correct without manual adjustment.

Changing the time on iPhone

On iPhone, open Settings and tap General. Scroll down to Date and Time. You will see a toggle labeled Set Automatically — this is normally on. Tap it to turn it off.

Once Set Automatically is off, two new fields appear: Time Zone and the time itself. Tap on the time field and a picker wheel appears. Scroll the hours and minutes to the time you want, then tap outside the picker to close it. The phone stores your change when ready.

If you only need to change the timezone (for example, because you traveled), you can leave Set Automatically on and just change the Time Zone field. The phone will then pull the correct time for that zone from the network.

Changing the time on Android

On Android, open Settings and look for System or Date and Time — the exact name depends on your phone maker (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, etc.). Tap it to open the time settings.

You will see a toggle labeled Automatic Date and Time or Set Automatically. Turn it off. Below that, two new fields appear: Date and Time. Tap on the Time field and a number picker appears. Use the plus and minus buttons or type directly into the field to set the hours and minutes you want. Tap OK or the checkmark to save.

If you only need to change the timezone, tap the Time Zone field instead. A list of timezones appears — scroll to find yours and tap it. Leave Automatic Date and Time on so the phone stays correct for that zone.

Why automatic time is usually the right choice

Your phone normally gets the time from your cellular carrier or from the internet (via WiFi or data). This automatic sync is accurate to within a second and requires no action from you. Turning it off and setting the time manually means your phone will not correct itself if it drifts, and it can cause problems with alarms, reminders, and apps that depend on the correct time.

The only common reason to turn automatic off is if you are testing something, troubleshooting a time-related problem, or if your phone is stuck on the wrong time and the automatic setting is not fixing it. In that case, set it manually once, then turn automatic back on.

What happens if the time is wrong

A phone with the wrong time can cause real problems. Alarms may go off at the wrong moment. Two-factor authentication codes (the six-digit codes some apps send you) may not work because they are time-sensitive. Calendar events and reminders may appear at the wrong time or not trigger at all. Some apps refuse to open if they detect the time is too far off.

If your phone's time is consistently wrong even with automatic on, restart the phone first — that often fixes it. If it still does not work, check that you have a strong cellular or WiFi connection, because the phone cannot sync without one. If the problem persists, you may need to contact your carrier or reset the phone's network settings.

Changing the time when you travel

When you cross into a new timezone, your phone should update automatically if automatic time is on. This usually happens within a few minutes of connecting to the local network. If it does not, you can manually change the timezone in Date and Time settings without turning off automatic — just tap the Time Zone field and select the new one.

If you turn off automatic time to set a specific time, remember to turn it back on before you leave the timezone, or your phone will stay on the old time. A common mistake is setting the time manually for a specific reason, forgetting about it, and then being confused when the phone does not update on its own later.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my phone keep changing the time back?

Your phone is set to automatic time, which means it pulls the correct time from your carrier or internet connection. If you manually changed the time but left automatic on, the phone will overwrite your change within a few minutes. To keep a manual time change, you must turn off automatic time first.

Can I set a different time for different apps?

No. The time on your phone is a system-wide setting — all apps see the same time. If you need a different time for a specific purpose, you would need to change the phone's time itself, which affects everything. Most apps that need a different time (like a world clock) show it as a display only, not as the actual system time.

What if I set the time wrong and now my alarms are broken?

Turn automatic time back on and let your phone sync to the correct time. Your alarms will then trigger at the right moment going forward. If an alarm was set for a specific time while the phone was on the wrong time, you may need to delete it and create it again after the time is corrected.

Does changing the time affect my data or passwords?

Changing the time itself does not delete data or passwords. However, if the time is very wrong, some apps may not work correctly, and two-factor authentication codes may fail. Once the time is corrected, these problems go away. Your actual data and passwords remain untouched.