Change your timezone in Teams through your profile settings
Microsoft Teams pulls your timezone from your Windows or Mac system settings by default, but you can override it directly in Teams without touching your computer's settings. Open Teams, click your profile picture in the top right corner, select Settings, then go to General and look for the Timezone field. Choose your timezone from the dropdown list and save. The change takes effect when ready for your calendar, meeting times, and status messages.
If you do not see a timezone option in your General settings, your organization's administrator may have locked this setting. In that case, you will need to change your timezone through your system settings instead — Windows users should go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time, and Mac users should go to System Preferences > Date & Time.
Key Takeaways
- Teams reads your timezone from your device settings by default, but you can change it directly in the app through your profile settings without restarting.
- Your timezone affects when meeting invitations show up, when your calendar displays events, and what time your status messages display to others.
- If the timezone setting is grayed out or missing, your organization's administrator has restricted it, and you must change your device's system timezone instead.
- Changing your timezone in Teams does not affect your computer's clock or other apps — only how Teams displays times to you and others.
Why your timezone matters in Teams
Your timezone setting in Teams controls how the app displays meeting times, calendar events, and when you appear to be available to others. If your timezone is wrong, you might see meetings scheduled for 2 p.m. when they actually happen at 3 p.m. in your location, or your colleagues might think you are online when you are actually asleep. Teams uses your timezone to convert meeting invitations from the organizer's timezone into your local time.
The timezone also affects your status messages and automatic replies. If you set an automatic reply that says "I will be back at 5 p.m.," Teams calculates that time based on your timezone setting. A coworker in a different timezone will see the correct local time for when you will return, not a time that is off by several hours.
Step-by-step: changing timezone through Teams settings
Start by opening Microsoft Teams on your computer. In the top right corner, click your profile picture — it is usually your initials or a photo. A menu will drop down with several options.
Click Settings from that menu. The Settings window will open. On the left side, you should see a list of categories. Click General. Scroll down until you find the Timezone field. Click the dropdown menu next to it and select your timezone from the list. The list is organized by region and offset from UTC (Coordinated Universal Time), so look for your city or region name. Once you have selected it, the change saves automatically — you do not need to click a separate save button.
Close the Settings window and return to Teams. Your new timezone is now active. Any new meeting invitations will display in your local time, and your calendar will show events adjusted to your timezone.
What to do if you cannot find the timezone setting
Some organizations restrict the timezone setting so that employees cannot change it without administrator permission. If you open Settings > General and do not see a timezone field, or if it is grayed out and you cannot click it, your organization has locked this feature.
In that case, you will need to change your timezone through your device's system settings instead. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time and toggle on Set time automatically if you want Windows to detect your timezone, or click Change under the timezone field to set it manually. On Mac, go to System Preferences > Date & Time, click the lock icon to unlock it, and then select your timezone from the list. Once you change your system timezone, Teams will read the new setting the next time you restart the app.
Changing timezone on Teams mobile apps
The process is slightly different on the Teams mobile app for iPhone or Android. Open Teams, tap your profile picture at the bottom right of the screen, then tap Settings. Scroll down and look for Timezone. Tap it and select your timezone from the list. The change takes effect when ready, just as it does on the desktop app.
If you do not see the timezone option on mobile, your organization has restricted it, and you will need to change your device's system timezone instead. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time. On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time. After you change your system timezone, close and reopen the Teams app to see the change reflected.
How timezone changes affect your calendar and meetings
When you change your timezone in Teams, the app recalculates all your existing calendar events to show the correct time in your new location. A meeting that was scheduled for 10 a.m. in your old timezone might now show as 9 a.m. in your new timezone — the meeting itself does not move, but the time display adjusts. This is why it is important to update your timezone as soon as you move to a new location or realize it was set incorrectly.
Meeting organizers see the timezone you have set, and when they send invitations, Teams automatically converts the meeting time to match your timezone. If an organizer in New York schedules a meeting for 2 p.m. Eastern Time and you are in Pacific Time with your timezone set correctly, the invitation will show 11 a.m. Pacific Time on your calendar. If your timezone is wrong, you will see the wrong time and might miss the meeting.
Troubleshooting timezone problems in Teams
If you changed your timezone but meetings still show the wrong time, try closing and reopening Teams completely. Sometimes the app needs to refresh to pick up the new setting. Close Teams entirely — not just minimize it — and then open it again. Check your calendar to see if the times have updated.
If times are still wrong after you restart Teams, check that your timezone setting actually saved. Go back to Settings > General and confirm that the timezone field shows the timezone you selected. If it has reverted to a different timezone, your organization may have a policy that overrides your choice, or your administrator may have set a default timezone for your account. Contact your IT department or administrator to ask whether they can change your timezone setting or unlock it so you can change it yourself.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does changing my timezone in Teams change my computer's clock?
No. Changing your timezone in Teams only affects how the app displays times. Your computer's clock, your other apps, and your system settings remain unchanged. If you want to change your computer's actual timezone, you need to do that separately through your system settings.
Will my coworkers see my timezone change?
Your coworkers will not see your timezone setting directly, but they will see the effect of it. When you send a meeting invitation or set your status, they will see times that are correct for your timezone. If you change your timezone and then send a new invitation, the time will reflect your new location.
What happens to meetings I already accepted if I change my timezone?
Meetings you have already accepted will adjust to show the correct time in your new timezone. The meeting itself does not move — only the time display changes. You will see the meeting at the correct local time for your new timezone, and the organizer's calendar will still show the original time in their timezone.
Can I set different timezones for different calendars in Teams?
No. Teams uses a single timezone setting for your entire account. All your calendars, meetings, and status messages use the same timezone. If you manage multiple calendars in different timezones, you will need to manually adjust for the difference or use a separate Teams account for each timezone.
Why does Teams keep resetting my timezone?
If your timezone keeps changing back, your organization's administrator may have set a policy that overrides your choice. Some organizations sync timezone settings with their directory, so if your account information in the directory shows a different timezone, Teams will use that instead of your manual setting. Ask your IT department whether they can update your timezone in the directory or unlock the setting so it stays where you set it.