Change the time directly on your watch or through your iPhone
You can adjust your Apple Watch time in two ways: through the watch itself using the Settings app, or through the Watch app on your paired iPhone. The iPhone method is faster if you have your phone nearby. The watch method works if you only have the watch with you. Both change the same time setting — whichever you use, the time updates everywhere.
Most of the time, your Apple Watch sets itself automatically based on your location and the time zone your iPhone reports. If automatic time is on, manual changes won't stick — the watch will reset to the automatic time within a few minutes. So before you change the time manually, you need to turn off automatic time first.
Key Takeaways
- Automatic time is usually on by default, so you must turn it off before any manual time change will stay in place.
- On the watch itself, open Settings, tap Time, toggle off Set Automatically, then tap the time to adjust hours and minutes.
- On your iPhone, open the Watch app, go to Time, toggle off Set Automatically, then tap Edit next to the time zone to change it.
- If you travel across time zones and want the watch to update automatically again, turn Set Automatically back on.
Turn off automatic time on your Apple Watch
Open the Settings app on your watch — it looks like a gray gear icon. Scroll down and tap Time. You will see a toggle next to "Set Automatically." Tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, meaning automatic time is now disabled.
Once automatic time is off, any manual time change you make will stay until you turn automatic time back on or restart the watch. If you do not turn off automatic time first, the watch will override your manual change within moments.
Adjust the time on your watch
With automatic time turned off, tap the time display at the top of the Time settings screen. A dial will appear showing the current hour and minute. Tap the hour field and use the digital crown (the rotating dial on the side of your watch) to scroll up or down to the correct hour. Then tap the minute field and adjust the minutes the same way.
When the time is correct, tap the back arrow or swipe left to return to the Time settings screen. The new time is now set. Check the watch face to confirm the time has changed.
Change the time using your iPhone instead
Open the Watch app on your iPhone — it has a blue icon with a white watch outline. Tap the Time tab at the bottom of the screen. You will see "Set Automatically" with a toggle next to it. Tap the toggle to turn it off.
Once automatic time is off, tap Edit next to your time zone. A list of time zones will appear. Scroll to find your time zone and tap it. The watch will update to the time in that zone. If you need to set a time that does not match any standard time zone (for example, a custom time for testing), you must use the watch itself, not the iPhone app.
When automatic time turns itself back on
If you restart your Apple Watch, automatic time may turn back on even if you had turned it off. This happens because restarting resets some settings to their defaults. After a restart, check the Time settings and turn off automatic time again if you need manual control.
If you travel and want the watch to update automatically to your new time zone, turn automatic time back on in Settings or the Watch app. The watch will then detect your location and adjust the time without you doing anything.
Troubleshooting: the time keeps changing back
If you set the time manually but it keeps reverting to a different time, automatic time is still on. Go back to Settings > Time and confirm the "Set Automatically" toggle is gray (off). If it is already off but the time still changes, restart the watch: press and hold the side button until you see the power-off slider, swipe to power off, wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears.
If the time still will not stay where you set it after a restart, your watch may be having trouble connecting to your iPhone. Make sure Bluetooth is on on both devices and they are within range. Open the Watch app on your iPhone and check that your watch appears in the Devices list at the top.
Why you might need to change the time manually
Most people never need to change the time manually — automatic time handles it. But if you are testing an app that depends on a specific time, developing software, or troubleshooting a time-related problem, manual control is necessary. Turning off automatic time lets you set any time you need without the watch fighting you.
Once you are done testing or troubleshooting, turn automatic time back on so your watch stays accurate as you move through your day.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the time on my Apple Watch change the time on my iPhone?
No. Your Apple Watch and iPhone have separate time settings. Changing one does not affect the other. However, if automatic time is on for both devices, they will both set themselves to the same time based on your location.
What happens if I turn off automatic time and then travel to a different time zone?
Your watch will keep showing the time you set manually, even if you cross into a new time zone. To make the watch update automatically to your new location, turn automatic time back on in Settings or the Watch app.
Can I set my Apple Watch to a time that does not match any real time zone?
Yes, but only through the watch itself. Turn off automatic time, tap the time display in Settings, and use the digital crown to set any hour and minute combination you want. The iPhone Watch app only lets you choose from standard time zones.
Does changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?
Yes. If you set an alarm for 7 a.m. and then manually change the time to 5 p.m., the alarm will go off at what the watch thinks is 7 a.m. — which is now actually 5 p.m. in the real world. Be careful when testing with manual time changes.