Daylight saving time changed on the second Sunday in March at 2 a.m., and the hour changed back on the first Sunday in November at 2 a.m.
In 2024, clocks moved forward on March 10 and moved back on November 3. The exact dates shift each year because they are tied to specific Sundays rather than fixed calendar dates. If you did not manually update your device's time zone settings, your phone, computer, or tablet may still be showing the wrong time — which matters more than you might think, since security features and software updates depend on accurate time.
The United States has observed daylight saving time since 1918, though the dates have changed multiple times. Hawaii and most of Arizona do not observe it at all. A few U.S. territories and some Native American reservations also stay on standard time year-round. If you live in or travel to one of these places, your device's time zone setting becomes even more critical, because the automatic update that works everywhere else will put you an hour off.
Key Takeaways
- Daylight saving time in the United States moves clocks forward on the second Sunday in March and back on the first Sunday in November, both at 2 a.m.
- Most devices update automatically if your time zone setting is correct, but manual updates are required if you changed your location or disabled automatic updates.
- An incorrect system time can break security certificates, cause login failures, and prevent software updates from installing properly.
- Hawaii, most of Arizona, and several U.S. territories do not observe daylight saving time, so travelers to these places need to verify their device's time zone setting.
- If your device shows the wrong time after the change, check your time zone setting first — it is usually the root cause, not a clock malfunction.
Why the time change matters for your device's security
When your system clock is wrong, security features stop working as intended. Websites use time stamps to verify that security certificates are still valid — if your device thinks it is 2025 but the certificate expires in 2024, your browser will block the connection even though the certificate is actually fine. This can lock you out of banking sites, email, and other services you rely on.
Authentication apps that generate one-time codes for two-factor login also depend on accurate time. If your device is an hour behind or ahead, the code it generates will not match what the server expects, and you will not be able to log in. This is one of the most common reasons people suddenly cannot access their accounts after a time change.
Software updates also check the system time before they install. If your clock is significantly off, the update may refuse to run or may fail partway through, leaving your device in an unstable state. Keeping your time accurate is a straightforward way to avoid these problems.
How to check if your device updated automatically
Most modern phones, tablets, and computers update their clocks automatically when daylight saving time changes, but only if your time zone setting is correct. The easiest way to verify is to check the time on your device against the time on your phone's carrier network or a reliable website like time.gov. If they match, your device updated correctly.
On Windows, open Settings, go to Time & Language, and look for "Set time automatically." If that toggle is on, your device should have updated. On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Date & Time, and verify that "Set date and time automatically" is checked. On iPhone or iPad, go to Settings, tap General, then Date & Time, and make sure "Set Automatically" is on. Android devices have the same setting under Settings > System > Date & Time > Use network-provided time.
If automatic updates are on and your time zone is set correctly, but your device still shows the wrong time, restart it. A restart often forces the system to sync with the network time when ready.
What to do if your device shows the wrong time
First, verify that your time zone setting matches where you actually are. This is the most common cause of time mismatches after daylight saving changes. On Windows, go to Settings > Time & Language > Time zone and confirm it shows your current location. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time and check the time zone dropdown. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and confirm the time zone. On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time and verify the time zone.
If your time zone is correct but the time is still wrong, turn off automatic time updates, wait a few seconds, and turn them back on. This forces your device to contact the network time server again. If that does not work, restart your device — this is more effective than most people expect and resolves the issue in the majority of cases.
If you recently traveled or moved, your device may have kept the old time zone setting. Check whether your location setting in your device's general settings matches where you are now. Some devices use location services to update the time zone automatically, so if location services are off, the time zone may not update even if automatic time is on.
Manual time adjustment if automatic updates fail
If automatic updates are not working and you need to set the time manually, the process is straightforward on every device. On Windows, right-click the clock in the system tray, select "Adjust date and time," and click "Change" to set the time manually. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time, click the lock icon to unlock it, uncheck "Set date and time automatically," and enter the correct time. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time, turn off "Set Automatically," and adjust the time manually. On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time, turn off "Use network-provided time," and set the time manually.
After you set the time manually, turn automatic updates back on as soon as possible. Leaving automatic updates off means your device will drift out of sync again over time, and you will have the same security and login problems. Manual adjustment is only a temporary fix.
Daylight saving time dates for the next several years
| Year | Spring Forward (2 a.m.) | Fall Back (2 a.m.) |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 | March 10 | November 3 |
| 2025 | March 9 | November 2 |
| 2026 | March 8 | November 1 |
| 2027 | March 14 | November 7 |
| 2028 | March 12 | November 5 |
These dates explore to the continental United States. If you live in Hawaii, most of Arizona, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, or the Northern Mariana Islands, your device should remain on standard time year-round and should not change at all. If you travel to one of these places, you will need to manually change your device's time zone setting, because automatic updates will not account for the difference.
Knowing the exact dates ahead of time helps you plan around the change. If you have scheduled tasks, backups, or important events that depend on accurate time, mark these dates on your calendar so you can verify your device's time is correct beforehand.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my device show the wrong time even though automatic updates are on?
The most common reason is that your time zone setting does not match your actual location. Check your time zone in Settings and make sure it shows where you are now, not where you were before. If the time zone is correct, restart your device — this forces it to sync with the network time server when ready.
Can I turn off daylight saving time on my device?
No, you cannot disable daylight saving time on your device if you live in an area that observes it. Your device follows the time zone setting you choose, and that time zone includes daylight saving time by default. If you want to stay on standard time, you would need to change your time zone setting to a location that does not observe daylight saving time, but this will affect all your device's time-based functions.
What happens if I do not update my device's time after daylight saving changes?
Your device will be an hour off, which can break security certificates, prevent login codes from working, and stop software updates from installing. You may also miss scheduled tasks or appointments. Most devices update automatically, so this is usually not a problem unless automatic updates are disabled or your time zone setting is wrong.
Do I need to manually update my device's time if I have automatic updates on?
No, automatic updates should handle the change for you. However, if your device still shows the wrong time after daylight saving changes, restart it to force an when ready sync with the network time server. If that does not work, check your time zone setting — it is almost always the root cause.
Will my device update automatically if I am traveling during daylight saving time?
It depends on whether your device can detect your new location. If location services are on and your device recognizes the new time zone, it will update automatically. If location services are off or your device does not detect the change, you may need to manually update your time zone setting. Before traveling, check that your time zone setting is correct for your destination.