Where to find the time settings in Genshin Impact
You change the time of day in Genshin Impact through the pause menu, not through your device settings. Open the game, press Escape on PC, the menu button on console, or the pause icon on mobile. From there, select Paimon's menu (the floating character icon) and look for a section called "Paimon" or "System". The time controls are usually in the main menu area, not buried in settings.
The exact location varies slightly by platform. On PC and console, you'll see the time display in the top-right corner of the screen during gameplay — that same menu that shows your current time also lets you change it. On mobile, swipe down from the top of the screen to see the time widget, then tap it to open adjustment options.
Key Takeaways
- Time changes happen through the pause menu, not device settings, and take effect when ready in the game world.
- You can shift between dawn, day, dusk, and night by selecting your preferred time from the menu options.
- Some quests and events only trigger at specific times, so changing the time lets you access content you cannot reach otherwise.
- Changing game time does not affect real-world time or your device's clock in any way.
Why you might need to change the time
Certain quests, puzzles, and enemy spawns only appear during specific times of day. A quest marker might say "return at night" — that means you need to change the game time to night before the quest will progress. Some domains and challenges also reset on a time cycle, so shifting the time forward can let you attempt them again without waiting for real hours to pass.
Photography and exploration also benefit from time changes. If you want to take screenshots during sunset or see how a location looks at night, you can shift the time when ready instead of waiting. This is especially useful for finding certain creatures or materials that only appear during dawn or dusk.
How to shift between dawn, day, dusk, and night
Once you open the time menu, you will see four options representing different times: dawn (early morning), day (midday), dusk (evening), and night (dark). Select whichever time you need. The game world updates when ready — the sky changes color, lighting shifts, and NPCs move to their time-specific locations.
There is no cooldown or penalty for changing the time repeatedly. You can switch from day to night and back as many times as you need within the same play session. This makes it straightforward to test different times if you are unsure when a particular quest or event triggers.
What happens to quests and enemies when you change the time
Changing the time does not reset quests you are already working on — it only affects whether new quests become available or whether certain quest steps can progress. If a quest is waiting for nighttime, switching to night will let that step move forward. Enemies and creatures respawn based on the time change, so you can hunt time-specific materials without waiting for the real clock to advance.
Some world events and NPC routines are tied to the time cycle. An NPC might only be in a certain location during the day, or a puzzle might only be solvable at night. Changing the time lets you access these without playing through hours of real time. However, timed events (like limited-time battle challenges) still follow their own schedule and cannot be triggered early by changing the game time.
Time changes on different platforms
The process is nearly identical across PC, console, and mobile, but the button you press to pause differs. On PC, press Escape. On PlayStation or Xbox, press the menu button (the three horizontal lines or equivalent). On mobile, tap the pause icon in the top-left corner of the screen. Once paused, navigate to the time menu the same way on all platforms.
Mobile players sometimes find the menu slightly slower to open due to screen size, but the time controls themselves work the same way. If you are playing on multiple platforms, the time you set in one session does not carry over — each time you load the game, it starts at the default time unless you change it again.
Troubleshooting when the time menu does not appear
If you cannot find the time controls, check that you are in the overworld (the main game world), not in a domain, dungeon, or instanced challenge. Time changes only work in the open world. Domains and dungeons have their own internal time that you cannot adjust. If you are in the overworld and still do not see the option, try closing and reopening the pause menu — sometimes it takes a moment to load on slower devices.
Another common issue is confusing the time display with the time controls. The clock in the corner shows the current time but is not clickable. Look for a separate menu option labeled "Time" or a button that says "Change Time" — this is what actually lets you shift between dawn, day, dusk, and night. If you are still stuck, check that your game is fully updated, as older versions sometimes have the menu in a slightly different location.
How changing game time differs from changing your device time
Changing the time in Genshin Impact affects only the game world and does not touch your device's actual clock. Your phone, computer, or console time stays exactly the same. This means you can change the game time as many times as you want without affecting anything outside the game — no notifications will be delayed, no appointments will be missed, and your device will not be confused about what time it actually is.
This is different from some other games that sync with real time. Genshin Impact lets you control the time freely within the game, making it much easier to access time-locked content whenever you want to play.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the time during a quest or battle?
You can pause and change the time during exploration, but not during active combat or inside dungeons. If you are in a battle, finish it first, then change the time if needed. Some quests require you to be at a specific time, so changing the time before starting the quest step is usually the right approach.
Does changing the time affect my progress or rewards?
No. Changing the time does not reset your progress, remove items, or prevent you from earning rewards. It is purely a tool to access content that is locked to specific times of day. You can change the time as often as you need without any penalty.
What if a quest says to return at night but I cannot find the time menu?
Make sure you are in the overworld, not inside a building or dungeon. Open the pause menu, then look for a clock icon or "Time" option in the main menu area. If it is still not visible, try updating your game — older versions sometimes have the menu in a different spot.
Can I set a specific time, or only choose between dawn, day, dusk, and night?
You can only choose between those four preset times. You cannot set an exact hour like 3 PM or 7 AM. The four options cover the main lighting and NPC behavior changes, which is what most quests and events use to trigger content.
Does changing the time in Genshin affect other games on my device?
No. The time change is only inside Genshin Impact and does not affect your device's clock or any other games. Each game has its own internal time system, and changing one does not touch the others.