The quickest way to change your Chromebook's time

The fastest way to change the time on your Chromebook is to click the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen, then select "Change date and time settings" from the menu that appears. This opens a settings panel where you can manually set the hour, minute, and date. Most Chromebooks sync time automatically from the internet, so you only need to do this if your clock is wrong and automatic sync isn't fixing it.

If you don't see a clock in the bottom right, your Chromebook may be set to hide it. You can still reach the time settings by clicking the system menu (the area in the bottom right that shows your battery, Wi-Fi, and user account), then clicking the gear icon to open Settings, and navigating to Device > Date and time.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the clock in the bottom right corner and select "Change date and time settings" to manually adjust the time on your Chromebook.
  • Most Chromebooks automatically sync time from the internet when connected, so manual changes are rarely needed.
  • If automatic sync is turned on, your manual time change will revert the next time your Chromebook connects to the internet.
  • You can toggle automatic time sync on or off in the Date and time settings panel, depending on whether you want your Chromebook to update the time on its own.

Why your Chromebook's time might be wrong

Chromebooks rely on automatic time synchronization from Google's servers when you're connected to the internet. If your time is off, it usually means one of three things: your Chromebook hasn't connected to the internet since you last changed time zones, the automatic sync setting is turned off, or your system clock battery is failing (though this is rare on newer models).

If you recently traveled across time zones, your Chromebook should update automatically within a few minutes of connecting to Wi-Fi. If it doesn't, manual adjustment is the quickest fix. Once you set the time manually, it will sync back to the correct time the next time automatic sync runs, unless you've disabled that feature.

Turning automatic time sync on and off

By default, Chromebooks have automatic time synchronization turned on. To check this setting or change it, click the system menu in the bottom right, click the gear icon to open Settings, then go to Device > Date and time. You'll see a toggle for "Use automatic date and time." When this is on, your Chromebook pulls the correct time from the internet and ignores any manual changes you make.

If you need to keep a specific time set (for testing purposes, for example), you can turn off automatic sync by clicking the toggle. Once you do, your manual time setting will stick until you change it again or turn automatic sync back on. Most users should leave this on, since it ensures your Chromebook always shows the correct time.

Changing your time zone on a Chromebook

Your Chromebook's time zone is separate from the clock time itself. To change it, open Settings, go to Device > Date and time, and look for the "Time zone" dropdown. Click it and search for your time zone by city name or region. Chromebooks list time zones by major cities (like "America/New_York" or "Europe/London") rather than abbreviations, so searching by your nearest large city is usually fastest.

Once you select a new time zone, your Chromebook will automatically adjust the displayed time to match. If automatic sync is on, this change happens instantly. If you've turned off automatic sync, you may need to manually adjust the hour and minute as well to match your new time zone.

What to do if the time settings won't save

If you change the time or time zone and it reverts back after a few seconds, automatic time sync is almost certainly turned on. Your Chromebook is overriding your manual change because it's pulling the "correct" time from the internet. To keep a manual time setting, you must turn off automatic sync first in the Date and time settings panel.

If you've turned off automatic sync and the time still won't stay changed, try restarting your Chromebook. Click the system menu, click the power icon, and select "Shut down." Wait a few seconds, then turn it back on. After restart, open Settings again and verify that automatic sync is still off before making your time change.

Syncing time across multiple Chromebooks

If you manage multiple Chromebooks (for a family or small group), each one syncs its time independently from the internet. There's no built-in way to set them all to the same custom time at once. You'll need to adjust each Chromebook individually if you want them to show a non-standard time, and you'll need to turn off automatic sync on each device to keep those changes from reverting.

For most situations, leaving automatic sync on is simpler. All your Chromebooks will show the correct time for their time zone without any action from you, and they'll all update automatically when you travel or when daylight saving time changes occur.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Chromebook keep changing the time back?

Automatic time sync is turned on. Your Chromebook is pulling the correct time from the internet and overriding any manual changes you make. To keep a custom time, turn off automatic sync in Settings > Device > Date and time.

Can I change the time format from 12-hour to 24-hour?

Yes. Open Settings, go to Device > Date and time, and look for the "Time format" option. You can choose between 12-hour (with AM/PM) and 24-hour format. This setting applies to the clock display throughout your Chromebook.

What happens to the time if I don't connect to Wi-Fi for a while?

Your Chromebook's internal clock keeps running and stays accurate for days or weeks without internet. However, if you're offline for an extended period and your system clock drifts, the time may become slightly inaccurate until you reconnect and automatic sync corrects it.

Do I need to change the time on my Chromebook when I travel?

No. When you connect to Wi-Fi in a new time zone, your Chromebook automatically detects the new location and updates the time and time zone for you. You only need to manually change the time if automatic sync fails or if you've disabled it.