Open Settings and find the date and time controls

Your iPhone's date and time settings live in the Settings app, which you can reach from your home screen. Tap the gray gear icon labeled Settings, then scroll down and tap General. From there, tap Date & Time — this is where you control what your phone displays.

The Date & Time menu shows your current settings and gives you two main options: you can let your iPhone set the time automatically based on your location, or you can set it manually yourself. Most people leave automatic on, but if your phone shows the wrong time, you may need to switch to manual mode to fix it.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Date & Time to reach the controls for changing your iPhone's date and time.
  • Toggle "Set Automatically" off if you want to manually enter a specific date and time instead of letting your phone detect it.
  • When you turn off automatic setting, new fields appear where you can tap to change the date, time, and time zone separately.
  • If your time zone is wrong but the time itself is correct, you only need to change the time zone — you do not have to turn off automatic setting.
  • Your iPhone syncs time with Apple's servers when automatic is on, so manual mode is only necessary if automatic fails or you need a different time for testing.

Turn off automatic time setting to make manual changes

If you want to set a specific date or time instead of letting your iPhone detect it, you need to turn off the "Set Automatically" toggle. This toggle appears at the top of the Date & Time menu. Tap it once to turn it off — the toggle will change from green to gray.

Once you turn off "Set Automatically," new fields appear below it. You will now see separate controls for the date, the time, and the time zone. Each one is a tap-to-edit field, so you can change them one at a time without affecting the others.

Change the date by tapping the date field

After you turn off automatic setting, tap the date field to open a date picker. The date picker shows a scrolling wheel with months, days, and years. Scroll up or down on each wheel to select the month, day, and year you want. When you have the right date, tap outside the picker or tap a confirm button to close it and save your choice.

The date field displays in the format your region uses — in the United States, this is usually month-day-year. If you are not sure which number is which, look at the labels above each wheel in the picker itself.

Change the time by tapping the time field

The time field works the same way as the date field. Tap it to open a time picker with scrolling wheels for hours, minutes, and AM or PM. Scroll each wheel to the time you want, then tap outside the picker to save it. If your iPhone is set to 24-hour time, you will see hours from 0 to 23 instead of 1 to 12 with AM and PM.

The time picker shows your current time setting in the field before you tap it. If you only need to change the minutes or the AM/PM setting, you can scroll just that wheel and leave the others alone.

Change your time zone without turning off automatic setting

If your time is correct but your time zone is wrong — for example, your phone says you are in Eastern time when you are actually in Pacific time — you do not have to turn off automatic setting. Instead, scroll down past the date and time fields to find the "Time Zone" field. Tap it and type the name of your city or region, and your iPhone will show matching time zones. Tap the one you want, and your phone will update to that zone while keeping automatic time on.

This is the fastest fix if you just traveled or moved and your phone has not caught up. Your iPhone will continue to set the time automatically, but it will now do so for the correct time zone.

Turn automatic setting back on when you are done

If you manually set your date and time for testing or troubleshooting, remember to turn "Set Automatically" back on when you are finished. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and tap the "Set Automatically" toggle to turn it green again. Your iPhone will then sync with Apple's servers and set itself to the correct date and time for your location.

Leaving manual mode on for too long can cause problems — your phone may show the wrong time if you travel, or apps that depend on accurate time may not work correctly. Automatic mode is the normal state, so switch back to it as soon as you no longer need manual control.

What to do if the date and time still look wrong

If you have set the date and time correctly but your iPhone still shows the wrong information, the problem may be elsewhere. First, check that you are looking at the right field — the time in the status bar at the top of the screen is the one that matters, not the time shown in individual apps. Second, restart your iPhone by turning it off and back on, which often fixes time sync problems.

If restarting does not work, try turning off "Set Automatically," waiting a few seconds, and turning it back on. This forces your iPhone to re-sync with Apple's time servers. If the problem continues after that, your iPhone may have a deeper issue that requires a visit to Apple Support or a device reset.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone keep changing the time back after I set it manually?

If "Set Automatically" is still on, your iPhone will override your manual changes and reset to the automatic time. Make sure the toggle is off before you change the date or time. If the toggle is already off and your phone is still changing, restart your iPhone and check the setting again.

Can I set a different time zone without changing the actual time?

Yes. Tap the Time Zone field and select a new zone without touching the date or time fields. Your phone will update the zone while keeping the time you set. If "Set Automatically" is on, changing the time zone alone will not change your clock — it will stay synced to the correct time for that zone.

What happens if I set the date to the future or the past?

Your iPhone will use whatever date you set, but this can break apps, email, and security features that depend on the correct date. Some apps may refuse to open, or your phone may not receive notifications. Always set the date back to today as soon as you are done testing.

Do I need to restart my iPhone after changing the date and time?

No, changes take effect immediately. However, if your phone is not showing the new time right away, try restarting it. A restart can also fix cases where apps have cached the old time and are not updating to the new one.

Why is my time zone different from my location?

Your iPhone sets the time zone based on your location services and network information, not your actual physical location. If you are traveling or using a VPN, your phone may show a different zone than where you actually are. You can manually change the time zone to match your real location in the Time Zone field.