The quickest way to change your phone's time
On most phones, you can change the time in Settings under Date & Time. The exact path depends on whether you have an iPhone or Android phone, but both let you set the time manually or have it update automatically. If your phone is set to update automatically (which is the default), you may need to turn that off first before you can change the time yourself.
The reason your phone might show the wrong time is usually one of three things: automatic updates are on but your phone hasn't synced with the network yet, you've traveled to a different time zone and the phone hasn't adjusted, or the automatic update feature is turned off and nobody has changed it manually. All three are fixable in under a minute.
Key Takeaways
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle off Set Automatically if you want to change the time manually.
- On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time (or Settings > Date & Time depending on your phone maker) and turn off Automatic Date & Time.
- If you leave automatic updates on, your phone will correct itself once it connects to a cell tower or Wi-Fi network.
- Changing the time manually can affect alarms, reminders, and apps that depend on the correct time, so only do this if you have a specific reason.
How to change the time on an iPhone
Open Settings and tap General. Scroll down and tap Date & Time. You will see a toggle switch next to "Set Automatically" — if it is green and switched on, tap it to turn it off. Once you turn off automatic updates, two new fields will appear: one for the date and one for the time.
Tap the time field. A clock picker will appear where you can scroll up and down to set the hours and minutes. Set the time you want, then tap back or swipe left to return to the Date & Time screen. The change takes effect immediately. If you want your phone to go back to updating automatically, toggle "Set Automatically" back on.
How to change the time on Android
Open Settings. Look for System or About Phone — the exact name varies by phone maker (Samsung, Google Pixel, OnePlus, and others all organize this slightly differently). Once you find System, tap Date & Time. You should see a toggle for "Automatic Date & Time" or "Use Network-Provided Time" — tap it to turn it off.
After you turn off automatic updates, you will see fields for the date and time. Tap the time field and use the number picker to set the hours and minutes. Some Android phones let you type the time directly; others use a scroll wheel. Once you have set the time, tap OK or Done. The change takes effect right away, and you can turn automatic updates back on whenever you want.
What happens if you leave automatic updates on
If you do not turn off automatic updates, your phone will ignore any manual time change you try to make. The phone gets its time from your cell network or from a time server on the internet, and it updates automatically whenever it connects. This is why the time might jump back to the correct time a few seconds after you change it.
Leaving automatic updates on is usually the right choice because it means your phone always shows the correct time without you having to think about it. The only reason to turn it off is if you are testing something, troubleshooting an app, or you have a specific reason to run your phone on a different time than the actual time.
Why your phone might show the wrong time
If your phone shows the wrong time even though automatic updates are on, the most common reason is that your phone has not connected to the network yet. This happens when you first turn on a new phone, when you travel to a different country, or when you have been in airplane mode for a while. Once your phone connects to a cell tower or Wi-Fi network, it will pull the correct time and update automatically.
If automatic updates are on and your phone has been connected to the network for more than a few minutes but still shows the wrong time, try restarting your phone. Turn it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and turn it back on. This forces your phone to reconnect to the network and fetch the correct time. If the time is still wrong after a restart, the issue is usually with your phone's internal clock, and you may need to contact the phone maker's support.
When changing the time manually can cause problems
Alarms, reminders, and calendar events all depend on your phone knowing the correct time. If you set your phone to a different time, these features may not work the way you expect. An alarm set for 7 a.m. will still go off at 7 a.m. according to your phone's clock, but if your phone thinks it is 3 p.m., the alarm might go off at the wrong time in the real world.
Some apps also use your phone's time to verify that you are not trying to cheat them — banking apps, security apps, and subscription services all check the time. If your phone's time is very far off from the real time, these apps may refuse to work or may lock you out. For this reason, only change your phone's time if you have a specific reason to do so, and remember to turn automatic updates back on when you are done.
Changing the time zone instead of the time
If you have traveled to a different time zone and your phone is showing the wrong time, you usually do not need to change the time manually. Instead, turn off automatic updates, then look for a Time Zone field in the Date & Time settings. Tap it and search for your new time zone by city name or region. Your phone will then show the correct local time for that zone.
On iPhone, the time zone field appears in the same Date & Time screen. On Android, it may be in a separate section or under Advanced options, depending on your phone. Once you set the time zone, you can turn automatic updates back on, and your phone will keep the correct time as you move between zones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my phone keep changing the time back after I set it?
Automatic updates are still on. Go to Settings > Date & Time and look for a toggle called "Set Automatically" (iPhone) or "Automatic Date & Time" (Android). Turn it off, then change the time. If you want automatic updates back on later, you can turn the toggle back on.
Will changing the time affect my alarms?
Yes. Alarms are set for a specific time on your phone's clock. If you change the time, alarms may go off at the wrong time in the real world. Only change the time if you have a specific reason, and remember to set it back or turn automatic updates back on when you are done.
What if I cannot find Date & Time in Settings?
On Android, it may be under Settings > System > Date & Time, or just Settings > Date & Time, depending on your phone maker. On iPhone, it is always Settings > General > Date & Time. If you still cannot find it, try searching for "date" or "time" in the Settings search bar at the top.
Can I set a different time zone without changing the actual time?
Yes. In Date & Time settings, look for a separate Time Zone field. You can change the time zone without touching the time itself. Your phone will then show the correct local time for that zone automatically.
What should I do if my phone's time is still wrong after restarting?
Make sure your phone is connected to Wi-Fi or has a cell signal, then wait a few minutes for it to sync. If the time is still wrong, try turning off automatic updates and setting the time manually, then turning automatic updates back on. If it still does not work, contact your phone maker's support.