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 time settings live in the main Settings app — not in a clock app or widget.
The exact path depends on which phone you have, but the setting is always called something like "Date and Time" or "Date & Time". You will not need to restart your phone or use any special mode to make the change stick.
Key Takeaways
- Your phone normally sets the time automatically using your network or GPS, so manual changes are rarely needed unless the automatic setting is turned off.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle off "Set Automatically" before you can change the time by hand.
- On Android, the path is Settings > System > Date & Time (or Settings > Date and Time on older versions), and you may need to turn off automatic time first.
- If you change the time manually and then turn automatic time back on, your phone will override your change and return to the network time.
- Changing the time can affect reminders, alarms, and the timestamps on photos and messages, so only do this if you have a specific reason.
How to change the time on an iPhone
Open the Settings app and tap General. Scroll down and tap Date & Time. You will see a toggle labeled "Set Automatically" — this is normally on, which means your iPhone pulls the correct time from your cellular network or Wi-Fi.
Tap the toggle to turn off "Set Automatically". Once it is off, two new fields appear: one for the date and one for the time. Tap on the time field and use the scroll wheels to set the hour and minutes you want. Tap on the date field the same way to change the date if needed.
When you are done, you can leave "Set Automatically" off if you want the time to stay as you set it. If you turn it back on later, your iPhone will fetch the correct time from the network and override whatever you set manually.
How to change the time on Android
Open the Settings app. Look for a section called System or About Phone — this varies by manufacturer. Tap System, then scroll down to find Date & Time. On some older Android phones, this option is under Settings > Date and Time directly, without the System folder.
You will see a toggle for "Automatic date and time" or "Use network-provided time". Turn this toggle off. Once it is off, the fields below it become editable. Tap on the time field to open a clock picker, then set the hour and minutes you want. Tap on the date field to change the date using a calendar picker.
After you set the time, you can leave automatic time off, or turn it back on whenever you want. If you turn it back on, Android will sync to your network time and overwrite your manual setting.
Why your phone's time might be wrong in the first place
If your phone is showing the wrong time even though automatic time is on, the problem is usually that your phone has lost its connection to the network or GPS signal. Restart your phone first — this often fixes the sync. If that does not work, turn off automatic time, set it manually to the correct time, then turn automatic time back on.
If automatic time keeps failing, your phone may have a software glitch or a hardware issue with the GPS or network radio. Restarting again, or in some cases a factory reset, can help. If the problem persists after a restart, contact your phone's manufacturer or your carrier.
What changes when you alter the time
Changing your phone's time affects more than just the clock on your home screen. Alarms and reminders that are set for specific times will fire at the new time you set, not the actual time. If you set your phone to 3 p.m. when it is actually 5 p.m., an alarm set for 4 p.m. will go off in one hour instead of never.
Photos and messages will also be timestamped with the wrong time. If you take a photo after changing the time, it will show the time you set, not the real time. This can make it hard to sort your photos later or to know when something actually happened. For this reason, most people should leave automatic time on and only change it manually if they have a specific reason — like testing how an alarm works, or temporarily adjusting for a timezone you are traveling to.
Changing the timezone without changing the time
If you are traveling or moving to a new timezone, you usually do not need to change the time at all. Instead, change your timezone setting, and your phone will automatically adjust the clock to show the correct local time.
On iPhone, this happens in the same Date & Time settings. If "Set Automatically" is on, your phone detects your timezone from the network and updates it for you. On Android, the timezone setting is usually in the same Date & Time menu, often labeled "Select Time Zone". Turn on automatic timezone if it is available, and your phone will update it as you move.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the time affect my banking app or other security features?
Some banking and security apps check the time on your phone to verify that your device has not been tampered with. If your time is very far off from the real time, these apps may refuse to work or log you out. This is one reason to keep automatic time on — it prevents these kinds of problems.
Can I set a different time for different apps?
No. The time setting is system-wide, so every app on your phone sees the same time. Individual apps cannot override it. If you need different times for different purposes, you will have to change the system time itself.
What happens to my alarms if I change the time?
Alarms are tied to the time you set on your phone, not to real time. If you set your phone to 2 p.m. when it is actually 4 p.m., an alarm set for 3 p.m. will go off in one hour. This is why changing the time can cause alarms to fire at unexpected moments.
Does turning off automatic time drain my battery?
Turning off automatic time does not significantly drain your battery. Your phone uses very little power to sync the time with the network. The real drain comes from other features like location services and screen brightness.
Can I set the time to a date in the past or future?
Yes, you can set your phone's time to any date and time you want, including years in the past or future. However, this can break apps, mess up file sorting, and cause security issues. Only do this if you have a specific reason, and turn automatic time back on as soon as you are done.