Where to find the time settings on your device

The location of time settings depends on what device you use. On Windows computers, right-click the clock in the bottom-right corner of your screen and select "Adjust date and time". On Mac computers, click the Apple menu in the top-left, select "System Settings", then click "General" and "Date & Time". On iPhones and iPads, open Settings, tap "General", then "Date & Time". On Android phones, open Settings, scroll to "System" or "About phone", then tap "Date and time".

If you cannot find these menus, search for "time settings" or "date and time" in your device's search function — most devices have a search bar built into Settings. This will take you directly to the right place without clicking through multiple menus.

Key Takeaways

  • Most devices can set the time automatically, which is the simplest option and prevents mistakes.
  • Manual time adjustment takes less than a minute once you open the correct settings menu.
  • Your timezone setting controls whether the device updates automatically when daylight saving time changes.
  • If your device shows the wrong time after you change it, the automatic setting may have overridden your change.

Turning on automatic time adjustment

The easiest way to keep your time correct is to let your device set it automatically. On Windows, open the time settings (right-click the clock), toggle "Set time automatically" to on, and toggle "Set timezone automatically" to on. On Mac, open Date & Time settings and check the box next to "Set date and time automatically". On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle "Set Automatically" on. On Android, open Date and time settings and toggle "Automatic date and time" on.

When automatic time is on, your device connects to a time server on the internet and updates itself without you doing anything. This is why your device may show the correct time even if you have never manually set it. If you turn automatic time off to set the time manually, remember that you will need to update it yourself when daylight saving time changes or when you travel to a different timezone.

Setting the time manually

If automatic time is off or not working, you can set the time by hand. First, turn off the automatic setting so your manual change will stick. On Windows, toggle "Set time automatically" to off. On Mac, uncheck "Set date and time automatically". On iPhone and Android, toggle "Automatic date and time" or "Set automatically" to off.

Once automatic is off, look for a field that shows the current time. Click or tap on the hour, minute, or second you want to change. A keyboard or number pad will appear — type the correct number. On some devices, you can use up and down arrows instead of typing. After you enter the time, click "Save" or "Done". The device will now use the time you entered until you change it again or turn automatic time back on.

Choosing and changing your timezone

Your timezone tells your device what time it should be in your location. If you set the time manually but do not set the timezone, the device may show the wrong time after you restart it or after daylight saving time changes. To set your timezone, look for a "Timezone" field in the same menu where you adjust the time. On Windows and Mac, this is in Date & Time settings. On iPhone and Android, it is usually in the same place as the automatic time setting.

Click or tap the timezone field and a list will appear. Search for your city or your region — for example, "New York" or "Pacific Time". Select the one that matches where you are. If you travel to a different timezone, come back to this setting and change it. If you turn on automatic timezone, your device will update this setting based on your location, which is useful if you travel frequently.

What to do if the time keeps changing back

If you set the time manually and it changes back to something else within minutes or hours, automatic time adjustment is probably still on. Go back to your time settings and check whether "Set time automatically" or "Automatic date and time" is toggled on. If it is, toggle it off. Your manual time will now stay in place until you change it again.

If automatic time is already off and the time still changes, your device may be syncing with an online account. On Windows, check Settings > Accounts > Sync your settings and make sure "Date & time" is toggled off. On Mac, check System Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure no automatic option is checked. On iPhone, make sure you are not signed into multiple Apple IDs. On Android, check whether you are signed into a Google account that might be syncing time settings.

Adjusting time on devices without internet

If your device does not have internet access, automatic time will not work — you must set the time manually. Follow the steps in the "Setting the time manually" section, but be aware that your device will not update the time on its own. If you do not adjust it when daylight saving time changes or when you move to a different timezone, the time will be wrong until you fix it by hand.

Some devices without internet have a built-in clock battery that keeps time even when the device is off. If that battery dies, the time will reset to a default date when you turn the device back on. If this happens, set the time manually again. If it happens repeatedly, the clock battery may need to be replaced — contact the device manufacturer or a repair specialist.

Syncing time across multiple devices

If you own multiple devices — a phone, a tablet, and a computer — you may want them all to show the same time. The simplest way is to turn on automatic time on all of them. They will all connect to the same internet time servers and stay synchronized without you doing anything. If you sign into the same online account on multiple devices (Apple ID, Google account, or Microsoft account), some devices will also sync timezone settings automatically.

If you set the time manually on one device, the other devices will not update unless you set them manually too. This is why automatic time is usually the better choice — it keeps all your devices correct without extra work from you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my device show the wrong time even though I set it?

Automatic time adjustment is probably still on and overriding your manual change. Go to your time settings and turn off "Set time automatically" or "Automatic date and time". If it is already off, check whether your device is syncing time with an online account and turn that off too.

Do I need to change my time when daylight saving time happens?

No, if automatic time and automatic timezone are both on. Your device will update itself on the day daylight saving time changes. If you have automatic time off, you will need to manually adjust the time by one hour on that day.

What happens if I set my timezone wrong?

Your device will show the wrong time until you change the timezone to the correct one. If you set the time manually but the timezone is wrong, the time may jump back to the incorrect value after you restart your device or after daylight saving time changes. Always set both the time and the timezone together.

Can I set my device to a timezone where I do not live?

Yes, you can set any timezone you want, but your device will show that timezone's time instead of your local time. This can be useful if you work with people in another timezone, but it may confuse you about what time it actually is where you are. Consider using a world clock app instead, which shows multiple timezones without changing your device's main time.

Why should I turn off automatic time if I am setting the time manually?

If automatic time is on, your device will override your manual change within seconds or minutes by connecting to an internet time server. Turning off automatic time tells your device to use only the time you entered and not to check the internet for updates.