Where to find the timezone setting in Teams

Microsoft Teams pulls your timezone from your Windows or Mac system settings by default, so the first place to check is whether your device timezone is already correct. If it is, Teams will show the right time automatically. If you need to change it within Teams itself, the setting lives in your profile menu, not in a separate settings panel.

Open Teams and click your profile picture in the top right corner. Select Settings from the dropdown menu. In the left sidebar, click General. Scroll down until you see the timezone option — it will show your current timezone and let you pick a different one from a dropdown list.

Key Takeaways

  • Teams automatically uses your device's timezone, so changing your Windows or Mac system timezone is the simplest fix for most people.
  • If you need a different timezone just for Teams, go to Settings > General and scroll to find the timezone dropdown.
  • Changing your Teams timezone affects when meeting invitations show the correct time and when you appear available or away in your calendar.
  • The timezone setting syncs with your Microsoft 365 account, so the change will carry over if you use Teams on multiple devices.

Why Teams uses your system timezone

Teams is designed to read your operating system's timezone setting so you do not have to enter it twice. This means if your Windows PC or Mac is set to the wrong timezone, Teams will be wrong too. Before you dig into Teams settings, check your device first: on Windows, right-click the clock in the taskbar and select Adjust date and time; on Mac, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time.

If your device timezone is correct but Teams still shows the wrong time, or if you travel frequently and want Teams to show a different timezone than your device, that is when you use the Teams setting itself. The Teams timezone overrides your system timezone only within the app.

How the timezone affects your availability and meetings

Your timezone in Teams controls when your working hours appear to other people and how meeting times display on invitations. If your timezone is wrong, a meeting scheduled for 2 p.m. in your local time might show as 5 p.m. to a coworker in a different region, or your calendar might show you as available when you are actually asleep.

When you change your timezone in Teams, the change takes effect immediately for new meeting invitations and calendar views. Existing meetings do not shift — they stay at the time they were originally scheduled — but they will display with the correct local time for your new timezone. This is why it matters to set it right: your team needs to know when you are actually working.

Changing timezone on the Teams web app

If you use Teams in a web browser instead of the desktop app, the process is slightly different. Log in to Teams online, click your profile picture in the top right, and select Settings. Click General in the left menu. Scroll down to the timezone field and select your timezone from the dropdown.

The web version stores your timezone in your Microsoft 365 account, so it will be the same across all devices where you log in — desktop, mobile, and browser. If you change it on the web, it updates on your desktop app too, usually within a few minutes.

Timezone settings on Teams mobile apps

The Teams mobile app (iOS and Android) does not have a separate timezone setting. It always uses your phone's system timezone. To change the timezone on mobile, go to your phone's settings: on iPhone, open Settings > General > Date & Time; on Android, open Settings > System > Date and Time. Once your phone timezone is correct, Teams will show the right time automatically.

If you need Teams on your phone to show a different timezone than your phone's system setting, that is not possible in the mobile app. You would need to use the desktop or web version of Teams, where you can override the system timezone.

What happens when you change timezone mid-workday

Changing your timezone in Teams does not retroactively adjust meetings you have already accepted or calendar events you have already created. A meeting scheduled for 10 a.m. Eastern will still show as 10 a.m. Eastern in the calendar, even if you change your Teams timezone to Pacific. The time on the invitation does not change — only how it displays relative to your new timezone.

If you travel to a new timezone and want your calendar to reflect local time there, change your timezone setting before you schedule new meetings. For meetings already on your calendar, you and your attendees will see the original scheduled time, but you will know what that means in your local time based on your timezone setting.

Troubleshooting timezone problems in Teams

If you changed your timezone but Teams still shows the wrong time, try signing out and signing back in. Close the Teams app completely (not just minimizing it), wait a few seconds, and reopen it. This forces Teams to refresh your profile settings, including timezone.

If the problem persists, check that your device timezone is correct first — Teams respects the system setting as the default. On Windows, open Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time and make sure the timezone matches your location. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time. Once your device is right, restart Teams. If you are using the web app, clear your browser cache or try a different browser to rule out a cached setting.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing my Teams timezone affect other Microsoft 365 apps?

Yes. Your timezone in Teams is tied to your Microsoft 365 account, so changing it affects Outlook, OneDrive, and other Microsoft apps on the same account. They will all show times based on your new timezone setting. If you use multiple Microsoft accounts, each one can have its own timezone.

Can I set different timezones for different Teams or channels?

No. Your timezone is a personal account setting, not a per-team or per-channel setting. Everyone in your organization sees the same timezone for you. If you need to show availability in multiple timezones, you would need to manage that through your calendar working hours or by noting it in your status message.

What if my timezone is not in the dropdown list?

Microsoft Teams includes all major timezones and many regional ones. If you cannot find your exact timezone, select the closest one that matches your current UTC offset. For example, if you are in a timezone that observes daylight saving time, pick the standard version and Teams will adjust automatically when daylight saving begins and ends.

Will my coworkers see my timezone change?

Your coworkers will not see a notification that you changed your timezone, but they will see the effect: meeting invitations will show times adjusted to their own timezone based on your new setting. If someone looks at your calendar, they will see your availability based on your new timezone's working hours.