The basic steps depend on your watch model

Most smartwatches let you change the time through the watch face itself, through a companion app on your phone, or both. The fastest route is usually the watch itself — you swipe or tap into Settings, find Date & Time, and adjust it manually. Some watches do this in two taps; others bury it deeper in the menu. A few smartwatches (particularly older models or basic fitness trackers) do not let you change the time at all and sync only to your phone's clock.

Before you start, check whether your watch is set to sync time automatically. Most smartwatches connected to your phone will pull the correct time from your phone's network connection and update themselves without you doing anything. If the time is wrong, the problem is usually that your phone's time is wrong, not the watch.

Key Takeaways

  • Check your phone's time first — most smartwatches sync automatically to your phone and will show the wrong time if your phone is wrong.
  • On the watch itself, go to Settings, then Date & Time, and toggle off automatic sync before you can change the time manually.
  • The companion app (Apple Watch app, Wear OS app, Samsung Wearable, or Fitbit app) also lets you change the time and is sometimes faster than navigating the watch menu.
  • If your watch does not have a Date & Time setting, it may not support manual time changes and will only sync to your phone.
  • After you change the time, turn automatic sync back on so the watch updates itself when you travel or your phone updates.

How to change the time on the watch itself

Open the Settings app on your smartwatch. On most watches, this is a gear icon on the home screen or in the app menu. Swipe or scroll down until you see Date & Time, Date Settings, or Time.

Tap Date & Time and look for a toggle or option that says Automatic, Set Automatically, or Sync with Phone. Turn this off. Once automatic sync is disabled, you should see options to set the hour and minute manually. Tap each field and use the scroll wheel, arrow buttons, or number pad (depending on your watch) to set the correct time. Some watches also let you choose between 12-hour and 24-hour format at this step.

After you have set the time, confirm or save your changes. Turn automatic sync back on so your watch updates itself in the future without your help. This is important if you travel across time zones — the watch will adjust automatically instead of staying stuck on the time you set manually.

Changing the time through your phone's companion app

If navigating your watch's menu is slow or confusing, the companion app on your phone is often faster. Open the app that came with your watch: Apple Watch app (for Apple Watch), Wear OS app (for most Android smartwatches), Samsung Wearable (for Samsung Galaxy Watch), or Fitbit app (for Fitbit devices).

Look for a Settings or Device Settings section. Tap it, then find Date & Time. You should see the same automatic sync toggle you saw on the watch. Turn it off, set the time manually, and turn it back on. The app will send the new time to your watch within a few seconds.

Using the app is often easier because phone screens are larger and the menus are less cramped than on a watch face. If your watch is not responding to button presses or the touch screen is acting up, changing the time through the app is a good workaround.

What to do if automatic sync is already on

If your watch shows the wrong time and automatic sync is turned on, the problem is almost always that your phone's time is wrong. Go to your phone's Settings, find Date & Time, and check that it is set correctly. Make sure the toggle for automatic date and time (or Set Automatically) is on. Your phone should pull the correct time from your mobile network or Wi-Fi.

Once your phone's time is correct, your smartwatch should update within a minute or two. If it does not, try disconnecting and reconnecting the watch to your phone. On most watches, you can do this by going to the companion app on your phone, finding your watch in the device list, and tapping Disconnect or Unpair. Then pair them again by following the setup steps.

Changing the time when you travel

If you travel to a different time zone, leave automatic sync on and do nothing. Your phone will detect the new time zone through your mobile network or GPS, and your smartwatch will sync to the new time automatically within a few minutes.

If you want to change the time manually before your phone updates, turn off automatic sync, set the time, and turn it back on. Once automatic sync is on again, your watch will update to the correct time for your new location as soon as your phone does.

Smartwatches that do not let you change the time

Some basic fitness trackers and older smartwatch models do not have a Date & Time setting at all. These watches are designed to sync only to your phone and do not support manual time changes. If you cannot find Date & Time in your watch's Settings menu, your watch is likely one of these models.

In this case, the only way to change the time is to make sure your phone's time is correct. The watch will then display whatever time your phone is showing. If you need a smartwatch that lets you set the time independently, you will need to upgrade to a newer model with a full operating system like Wear OS, watchOS, or Tizen.

Troubleshooting when the time will not change

If you have turned off automatic sync but the time still will not change, try restarting your watch. Hold down the power button (or the button your watch uses to turn on and off) until you see a power menu. Tap Restart or Power Off, wait a few seconds, and turn it back on. Then go back to Settings and try changing the time again.

If the watch still will not let you change the time, make sure you are in the right menu. Some watches have a separate Time Zone setting that is different from the main time setting. Check your watch's manual or search the companion app's help section for "change time" to find the exact steps for your model.

If your watch is frozen or the screen is not responding, try charging it for at least 30 minutes. A low battery can prevent the watch from accepting changes. After it charges, restart the watch and try again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my smartwatch show the wrong time even though my phone is correct?

Your watch may have automatic sync turned off, or it may not be connected to your phone. Check that Bluetooth is on for both devices and that they are paired. If they are paired, go to the companion app and look for a Disconnect option, then pair them again. This usually fixes sync problems.

Can I set my smartwatch to a different time zone than my phone?

Yes, if you turn off automatic sync. Go to Date & Time on your watch, turn off automatic sync, and set the time manually to whatever you want. Keep in mind that if you turn automatic sync back on, your watch will sync to your phone's time zone again.

What if I do not have the companion app installed?

You can still change the time on the watch itself by going to Settings and Date & Time. The companion app is optional — it just makes some tasks faster. If you have never installed it, you can change the time directly on your watch without it.

Does changing the time affect my activity tracking or sleep data?

Changing the time should not delete your data, but it may affect how your watch timestamps new activity. For this reason, it is best to keep automatic sync on so your watch stays in sync with your phone and your activity is logged with the correct time.

Why does my watch keep resetting the time to the wrong time?

Your watch probably has automatic sync turned on and is syncing to your phone's incorrect time. Check your phone's Settings, go to Date & Time, and make sure the automatic time setting is on and the time is correct. Once your phone shows the right time, your watch will sync to it and stop resetting.