Your phone almost certainly changes its clock automatically
Most phones — whether iPhone or Android — sync their time with your carrier's network or your internet connection, and they update automatically when daylight saving time begins or ends. You do not have to do anything. The phone detects the date, looks up the time zone rules for your location, and shifts the clock forward or backward on its own.
The only time you need to step in is if your phone's automatic time setting is turned off, or if you are traveling and your phone has not picked up the correct time zone yet. Both situations are easy to fix.
Key Takeaways
- iPhones and Android phones both update automatically for daylight saving time when "Set Automatically" or "Automatic Date and Time" is turned on in settings.
- Your phone gets the correct time from your cellular network or Wi-Fi connection, not from the device itself.
- If your clock did not change when daylight saving time happened, your automatic time setting is likely off and you can turn it back on in a few taps.
- When you travel across time zones, your phone may take a few minutes to detect the new zone and update, or you can manually select it in settings.
How automatic time updates work on your phone
Your phone does not keep time the way a mechanical clock does. Instead, it receives the current time from your cellular network (if you have a SIM card) or from a time server over Wi-Fi. The phone then applies your time zone rules — including daylight saving time — to display the correct local time on your screen.
When daylight saving time arrives, your phone's operating system already knows the date it happens. On the morning the change takes effect, your phone automatically shifts the displayed time forward (in spring) or backward (in fall) without asking you. This happens whether you are using your phone or not.
The system works because Apple and Google build daylight saving rules into every iOS and Android update. These rules include the exact dates when the change happens in your region. Your phone compares today's date to those rules and adjusts accordingly.
Where to check if automatic time is on
On iPhone: Open Settings, tap General, then tap Date and Time. Look for the toggle next to "Set Automatically." If it is gray or off, tap it to turn it on. Once you do, your phone will sync with your carrier's network and update for daylight saving time automatically.
On Android: The exact path varies by phone maker, but the setting is usually in Settings, then System, then Date and Time. Look for "Automatic Date and Time" or "Use Network-Provided Time." Tap the toggle to turn it on if it is off. Some phones also have a separate "Automatic Time Zone" toggle — turn that on too if you see it.
If you are not sure where the setting is on your specific phone, search your device's settings app for "automatic time" and it will take you directly to the right screen.
What to do if your clock did not change
If daylight saving time happened but your phone's clock stayed the same, your automatic time setting is off. Turn it back on using the steps above, and your phone will correct itself within a few minutes. You do not need to restart the phone or do anything else.
If you turned automatic time off on purpose — perhaps because you wanted to keep your phone on a different time zone while traveling — remember to turn it back on when you return home. Otherwise your clock will drift out of sync with the actual time.
When you travel and your phone's time zone does not update
When you cross a time zone, your phone should detect the new location within a few minutes if automatic time zone is on. However, this depends on your phone having a strong cellular or Wi-Fi signal. If you are in an area with weak coverage, the update may take longer or not happen at all.
If your phone is still showing the wrong time after you have been in a new time zone for several minutes, you can set it manually. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date and Time, turn off "Set Automatically," then tap "Time Zone" and search for your current city. On Android, go to Settings > System > Date and Time, turn off "Automatic Time Zone," then tap "Time Zone" and select your location.
Once you are back in your home time zone, turn automatic time back on so your phone handles future changes on its own.
Why your phone might show the wrong time even with automatic on
If automatic time is on but your phone still shows the wrong time, the problem is usually that your phone cannot reach a time server. This happens when you have no cellular signal and no Wi-Fi connection. Your phone cannot sync with the network, so it cannot get the correct time.
Connect to Wi-Fi or move to an area with cellular signal, and your phone will update within a minute or two. If you are in a location with no connectivity at all, you can manually set the time in the Date and Time settings until you regain connection.
Another rare cause is that your phone's internal clock battery has failed. This is a hardware issue and requires a repair, but it is uncommon in modern phones.
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to manually change my phone's clock for daylight saving time?
No. If automatic time is on, your phone handles the change on its own. You only need to do anything if automatic time is off, in which case you can turn it back on and your phone will correct itself.
Will my phone change automatically if I am traveling?
Your phone will update to the new time zone automatically if automatic time zone is on and you have a cellular or Wi-Fi signal. If the update does not happen within a few minutes, you can manually select your time zone in settings.
What happens if I turn off automatic time?
Your phone will stop syncing with the network and will not update for daylight saving time or when you travel. You will have to change the time manually each time. Most people should leave it on.
Can I turn off automatic time for daylight saving but keep it on for other updates?
No. Automatic time is a single setting. When it is on, your phone handles both daylight saving changes and time zone updates. When it is off, you control everything manually.
Why does my phone show a different time than my computer or watch?
Your devices may have synced at different times or with different time servers. Restart the device showing the wrong time, or manually sync it to Wi-Fi to force an update. Once all devices are connected to the network, they should show the same time within a minute.