Where to find the time settings on your device

The time settings live in a different place depending on whether you use Windows, Mac, iPhone, or Android. On all of them, you go through the main Settings app — not through a clock app or widget. The steps below cover each type.

Most devices automatically set the time for you if you have internet. But if your time is wrong, it usually means either automatic time is turned off, or your device thinks it is in a different time zone than where you actually are.

Key Takeaways

  • On Windows, open Settings, go to Time & Language, then Date & Time, and toggle on "Set time automatically" if it is off.
  • On Mac, open System Settings, click General, then Date & Time, and check that "Set date and time automatically" is enabled.
  • On iPhone, go to Settings, tap General, then Date & Time, and turn on "Set Automatically" to sync with your network.
  • On Android, open Settings, find System or About Phone, tap Date & Time, and toggle "Automatic date and time" on.
  • If automatic time is already on but the time is still wrong, your time zone setting is probably incorrect — check that next.

Fixing the time on Windows

Open Settings by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings", then click the Settings app. Once it opens, click "Time & Language" on the left side.

Click "Date & Time". You will see a toggle that says "Set time automatically" — if it is already on (the toggle is blue), your device should be pulling the correct time from the internet. If it is off (gray), click it to turn it on. Wait a few seconds and your time should update.

If the time is still wrong after turning automatic time on, scroll down to the "Time zone" section. Make sure the time zone listed matches where you actually are. Click the dropdown and select your time zone from the list.

Fixing the time on Mac

Click the Apple menu in the top left corner and select "System Settings". Click "General" in the sidebar, then click "Date & Time".

You will see a checkbox that says "Set date and time automatically". If it is unchecked, click it to turn it on. Your Mac will then sync with Apple's time servers and correct itself within a few seconds.

If the time is still wrong, check the "Time zone" section below. Click the dropdown next to "Time zone" and search for your location. Select it from the list. If you are not sure of your exact time zone, you can type your city name and Mac will show you the matching zones.

Fixing the time on iPhone

Open the Settings app and tap "General". Scroll down and tap "Date & Time".

You will see a toggle for "Set Automatically". If it is off (white), tap it to turn it on (it will turn green). Your iPhone will then connect to your carrier's network and pull the correct time. This usually takes a few seconds.

If the time is still wrong after turning automatic time on, scroll down to see your time zone. Tap it and search for your city or time zone name. Select the correct one from the list.

Fixing the time on Android

Open Settings and look for "System" or "About Phone" — the exact name depends on your phone brand. Tap it, then look for "Date & Time" or "Date and time".

You should see a toggle for "Automatic date and time" or "Use network-provided time". If it is off, tap it to turn it on. Your phone will sync with your carrier and correct the time within a few seconds.

If the time is still wrong, check the "Time zone" setting below. Tap it and search for your city or time zone. Select the correct one. Some Android phones also have a separate "Automatic time zone" toggle — if you see it, turn that on as well.

Setting the time manually if automatic is not working

If automatic time is on but your device still shows the wrong time, or if you need to set the time manually for some reason, you can do it by hand on any device.

On Windows, go back to Settings > Time & Language > Date & Time and turn off "Set time automatically". A new option called "Change" will appear — click it and enter the correct date and time in the boxes that pop up.

On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Date & Time, uncheck "Set date and time automatically", and then click the date and time fields to type in the correct values.

On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time, turn off "Set Automatically", and tap the date and time fields to adjust them.

On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time, turn off "Automatic date and time", and tap the date and time fields to change them.

Why your device time keeps being wrong

If you keep having to fix the time, the problem is usually one of three things: automatic time is turned off and keeps getting disabled, your time zone is set wrong, or your device is not connecting to the internet properly.

If automatic time keeps turning itself off, restart your device. If it happens again, there may be a software issue — try restarting once more, and if the problem continues, check whether your device has any pending software updates. On Windows, go to Settings > Update & Security > Windows Update. On Mac, go to System Settings > General > Software Update. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Software Update. On Android, go to Settings > About Phone and look for "System update".

If your time zone keeps resetting, make sure you are not in a location that moves between time zones regularly, like a border area. Some devices get confused in those spots. You can also try turning off automatic time zone (if your device has that option) and setting it manually instead.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why is my device time one hour off?

This usually means your time zone is set to a neighboring zone, or daylight saving time recently changed and your device has not updated yet. Check your time zone setting and make sure it matches your actual location. If daylight saving time just changed, restart your device — it should pick up the change automatically within a few minutes.

Can I set a different time than what my device shows?

Yes, but you have to turn off automatic time first. Once automatic time is off, you can manually enter any time you want. However, most devices will override your manual time the next time they connect to the internet, so manual time only stays if automatic time remains off.

What if I do not know my time zone?

Search online for "time zone" plus your city name. You can also look at your phone bill or any official document from your location — it usually lists the time zone. Once you know it, go to your device's Date & Time settings and select it from the dropdown list.

Does changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you manually change the time backward, alarms and reminders set for times that have already passed will not go off. If you change the time forward, alarms will go off sooner than you set them. This is why it is better to fix your time zone instead of manually changing the time — automatic time zone correction does not affect existing alarms.

My device says the time is correct but my clock app shows something different

Close the clock app completely and reopen it. If it still shows the wrong time, the clock app may have its own time zone setting separate from your device. Open the clock app's settings and make sure the time zone there matches your device's time zone. If the app still does not work, try restarting your device.