The quickest way to set the time

Most G-Shock models let you change the time in under a minute using the buttons on the side of the watch. Press the button labeled Mode (usually on the upper left) until you reach the time-setting screen — you will see the hour and minute fields start to blink. Then use the button labeled Adjust (usually on the lower right) to move between the hour and minute fields, and the button labeled Forward (usually on the upper right) to increase the numbers. When both are correct, press Mode again to save and exit.

The exact button names and locations vary slightly between G-Shock models, but the sequence is always the same: Mode to enter settings, Forward to change numbers, Adjust to move between fields, Mode to save. If your watch has a digital display, you will see which field is active because it will blink. If it has an analog face with a digital window, the blinking numbers in the window show you what you are changing.

This method works on G-Shock watches from the basic DW-5600 all the way up to the more complex models with multiple time zones. You do not need a computer, an app, or any tools — just your fingers and about 60 seconds.

Key Takeaways

  • Press Mode repeatedly until the hour and minute fields blink, then use Forward to change the numbers and Adjust to switch between fields.
  • The button locations are printed on the watch case itself, so you can identify Mode, Forward, and Adjust without a manual.
  • Once both the hour and minute are correct, press Mode one more time to lock in the change and return to normal time display.
  • If your watch has a second time zone or alarm, those have separate settings accessed by pressing Mode further — stop when you reach the main time display again.

Finding the Mode button and understanding what each button does

G-Shock watches have four buttons arranged around the case. The button on the upper left is Mode, which cycles through different screens and enters editing mode. The button on the upper right is Forward (sometimes labeled Light or marked with an up arrow), which increases numbers and moves through options. The button on the lower left is Adjust (sometimes labeled Reset), which moves between fields without changing them. The button on the lower right is usually Start/Stop, which you do not need for time-setting.

Before you start, look at the watch face itself. You will see small labels printed next to each button — Mode, Forward, Adjust, and Start/Stop. These labels tell you exactly which button does what on your specific model. Some older G-Shocks use slightly different names, but the position is always the same: upper left is the cycling button, upper right is the increase button, lower left is the move button.

Press Mode once and look at the display. If nothing changes, press it again. Keep pressing until you see the time display with blinking numbers — this is the time-setting screen. If you go too far and reach other screens (like the alarm or stopwatch), just keep pressing Mode to cycle back around.

Step-by-step: entering the time-setting screen

Start with your watch showing the normal time. Press the Mode button (upper left) once. The display will change to show a different screen — this might be the alarm, the date, or another function depending on your model. Press Mode again. Keep pressing Mode until you see the time display with the hour and minute fields blinking. This usually takes two to four presses.

Once you see the blinking time, you are in the time-setting screen. The blinking field is the one you can change right now. If the hour is blinking, press Forward (upper right) to increase it. If the minute is blinking, press Forward to increase it. The numbers will cycle from 0 to 59 for minutes and 0 to 23 for hours (in 24-hour mode) or 1 to 12 (in 12-hour mode).

If you overshoot — for example, you meant to set the hour to 14 but pressed Forward too many times and now it shows 18 — keep pressing Forward. The numbers wrap around, so if you keep going past 23, you will cycle back to 0. It is faster to go forward than to try to go backward.

Moving between the hour and minute fields

Once the hour is set correctly, you need to move to the minute field. Press the Adjust button (lower left) once. The blinking will move from the hour to the minute. Now press Forward (upper right) to change the minute to the correct value. Use the same wrapping method — if you overshoot, keep pressing Forward until you cycle back to the right number.

If you accidentally press Mode before both fields are correct, you will exit the time-setting screen and return to normal display. Do not worry — just press Mode again to cycle back to the time-setting screen and continue where you left off. The watch remembers what you were changing.

Some G-Shock models also show a seconds field. If you see three blinking fields instead of two, press Adjust again to move to the seconds field. Most people leave the seconds at 00, but you can change it the same way — press Forward to increase the number. Once all three fields are correct, move to the next step.

Saving your changes and returning to normal time display

Once both the hour and minute (and seconds, if your model shows it) are correct, press Mode one final time. The blinking will stop, and the watch will return to showing the normal time display. Your new time is now saved. The watch will keep this time even if you remove the battery or reset other functions — the time setting is stored separately.

If you press Mode and the display changes to a different screen (like the alarm or date), just press Mode again. You are cycling through the watch's different functions. Keep pressing until you see the normal time display without any blinking numbers. At that point, your time change is complete.

Test your work by checking the time against a phone, computer, or wall clock. If the time is off by a few seconds, you can go back in and adjust it, but most people find it close enough after the first try. If the time is completely wrong — for example, it is showing PM when it should be AM — you may have accidentally set it to 12-hour mode when your watch is in 24-hour mode, or vice versa. Check the mode setting in your watch's menu (usually accessed by pressing Mode several more times) and adjust if needed.

What to do if you cannot find the time-setting screen

If you have pressed Mode five or six times and still do not see a time display with blinking numbers, your watch may be in a different mode. Some G-Shock models have a "mode lock" feature that prevents accidental changes. Look for a small button or switch on the side of the watch labeled Hold or Lock. If you find one, slide it to the unlocked position and try pressing Mode again.

Another possibility is that your watch is in a special function mode — for example, the world time mode on models with multiple time zones. If you see multiple time zones displayed, press Mode to cycle past them. The main time-setting screen will appear after you pass through the other functions.

If you still cannot find the time-setting screen after pressing Mode eight or more times, your watch may have a different button layout than the standard G-Shock. Check the small printed manual that came with your watch, or search online for "[your exact model number] manual" — the model number is usually printed on the back of the watch case. The manual will show you the exact button sequence for your specific model.

Adjusting for daylight saving time and time zones

If you need to change the time by one hour for daylight saving time, use the same process: press Mode until the time-setting screen appears, press Forward to increase the hour by one, then press Mode to save. You do not need to change the minutes or seconds.

If your G-Shock has a world time or dual time zone feature, that is a separate setting from the main time. Changing the main time using the steps above will not affect your time zone settings. To change which time zone the watch displays, look for a World Time or Time Zone option in the Mode menu — it usually appears after you pass the alarm and stopwatch screens. The process is the same: press Mode to cycle to it, use Forward and Adjust to change the zone, then press Mode to save.

Some G-Shock models automatically adjust for daylight saving time if you set the time zone correctly. Check your manual to see if your model has this feature. If it does, you only need to set the time zone once, and the watch will handle the hour change on the correct date.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I press Mode and nothing happens?

The watch may be in hold or lock mode. Look for a small switch on the side labeled Hold or Lock and slide it to the unlocked position. If there is no lock switch, try pressing the Mode button harder or holding it for a full second instead of just tapping it. Some older G-Shock models require a longer press to enter settings mode.

Can I change just the hour without changing the minute?

Yes. Press Mode until the time-setting screen appears, press Forward to change the hour, then press Mode again to save without touching the minute field. The minute will stay at whatever it was before. This is useful for daylight saving time changes.

What happens if I press Mode too many times and cycle past the time-setting screen?

Just keep pressing Mode. The watch cycles through all its functions in order — time, alarm, stopwatch, world time, and back to time again. You will reach the time-setting screen again after a few more presses. You have not lost anything.

Do I need to set the time in 24-hour or 12-hour format?

That depends on your preference and your watch model. Most G-Shock watches let you choose the format in a separate settings menu. If your watch is currently showing time in 24-hour format (0 to 23) and you want 12-hour format (1 to 12 with AM/PM), look for a Format or Display option in the Mode menu. Change it there, then set the time again using the steps above.

Will changing the time affect my alarms or stopwatch?

Changing the main time will not erase your alarms or affect stopwatch times you have already recorded. However, if you have an alarm set for a specific time, and you change the main time, the alarm will go off at the new time you set. For example, if your alarm was set for 7:00 AM and you change the time forward by one hour, the alarm will now go off at 8:00 AM.