WhatsApp shows time in 24-hour format by default, but you can change it to 12-hour format through your phone's system settings
WhatsApp doesn't have its own time format setting. Instead, it pulls the time display from your phone's operating system. If you want to see 2:30 PM instead of 14:30 in your chats, you need to change the setting on your device itself — not inside the app.
The exact steps depend on whether you use an iPhone or Android phone. Both are straightforward, but the menus are in different places. Once you change your phone's time format, WhatsApp will automatically display times the same way. The change takes effect immediately across all apps on your device.
Key Takeaways
- WhatsApp uses your phone's time format setting, so you must change it in your device settings, not in the WhatsApp app itself.
- On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and toggle "24-Hour Time" off to see 12-hour format.
- On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time and turn off "Use 24-hour format" to switch to 12-hour display.
- The change takes effect immediately in WhatsApp and all other apps on your phone without requiring a restart.
- You cannot set different time formats for different apps — the setting controls your entire phone's time display.
How to change time format on iPhone
Open the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Language & Region.
Look for the toggle labeled 24-Hour Time. If it is turned on (the switch is green), tap it to turn it off. Once you do, your phone will switch to 12-hour format with AM and PM labels. WhatsApp will show times this way immediately — you don't need to close and reopen the app.
The change applies to your lock screen clock, notifications, message timestamps, and every other place on your phone where time appears. Your WhatsApp chat list will now show message times like "2:30 PM" instead of "14:30".
How to change time format on Android
Open the Settings app on your Android phone. Tap System (on some phones this may say About Phone or Device — look for the option that contains date and time settings). Then tap Date & Time.
Find the toggle for Use 24-hour format. If it is turned on, tap it to turn it off. Your phone will immediately switch to 12-hour format with AM and PM. WhatsApp will display times in this format right away.
On some Android devices, you may see the option labeled Time format instead, with choices between "12-hour" and "24-hour". Tap to select 12-hour. The result is the same regardless of how your phone labels the setting.
What changes when you switch formats
When you turn off 24-hour format, every app on your phone that displays time will change. This includes your clock app, calendar, email, text messages, and WhatsApp. The change is system-wide, not limited to WhatsApp alone.
Message timestamps in WhatsApp will show as "2:30 PM" instead of "14:30". If you have notifications turned on, those will also display in 12-hour format. The change is immediate and does not require you to restart WhatsApp or your phone.
Your phone's status bar at the top of the screen will also reflect the change. If you use other messaging apps like Telegram or Signal, they will display times in 12-hour format as well.
If the setting doesn't appear to work
On some Android phones, the time format setting is in a different location. If you cannot find it under Settings > System > Date & Time, try Settings > Display > Advanced > Date and Time format, or search "time format" in your phone's settings search bar.
On iPhone, if the toggle does not appear, make sure you are on the latest version of iOS. Go to Settings > General > Software Update to check. Older iOS versions sometimes hide this setting in a different menu.
If you have changed the setting but WhatsApp still shows 24-hour time, close WhatsApp completely and reopen it. On iPhone, swipe up from the bottom to close it. On Android, go to Settings > Apps > WhatsApp > Force Stop, then reopen the app. This forces WhatsApp to reload your phone's time format setting.
Why WhatsApp doesn't have its own time setting
WhatsApp follows your phone's system time format to keep your experience consistent across all apps. This design choice means you don't have to set the time format separately in every app you use. It also prevents confusion — your phone's clock, your calendar, and your messages all show time the same way.
If you want 12-hour format in WhatsApp but 24-hour format elsewhere, you cannot do that. The setting controls your entire phone's time display, not individual apps. This is a limitation of how both iPhone and Android handle time formatting at the system level.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the time format affect my WhatsApp backups or messages?
No. Changing the time format only changes how times are displayed on your screen. Your messages, backups, and all data remain unchanged. If you switch phones or restore a backup, the time format will follow your new phone's settings, not your old one.
Can I set different time formats for different apps?
No. Your phone's time format setting applies to all apps at once. WhatsApp, your calendar, email, and every other app will display time in the same format you choose. There is no way to override this at the app level.
What if my phone is set to a language that uses 24-hour time by default?
You can still change it. The 24-hour time toggle works independently of your language setting. Even if your language is set to one that typically uses 24-hour format, you can turn off the toggle to switch to 12-hour format.
Does this change affect the time shown in WhatsApp status updates?
Yes. Status timestamps, message timestamps, and all other time displays in WhatsApp will follow your phone's format setting. If you switch to 12-hour format, all times in WhatsApp will show with AM or PM.
What if I want to switch back to 24-hour format?
Simply reverse the steps. On iPhone, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and toggle "24-Hour Time" back on. On Android, go to Settings > System > Date & Time and turn "Use 24-hour format" back on. WhatsApp will immediately return to showing 24-hour time.