The quickest way to change the time on most tablets
On most tablets, you change the time through the Settings app. Open Settings, look for Date & Time or System, and toggle off the automatic time setting — usually called "Set automatically" or "Use network-provided time". Once you turn that off, you can tap the time or date field and enter what you want.
The exact path and wording depend on whether you have an iPad, an Android tablet, or a Samsung tablet, but the principle is the same: find the date and time controls, disable automatic sync, and set it manually. Most tablets sync time automatically from the network, so you have to tell it to stop before you can change anything yourself.
If your tablet is brand new or you just reset it, it may have picked up the wrong time zone when you first set it up. Changing the time zone is usually a separate step from changing the actual time, and it is often faster to fix the zone than to manually adjust the hours.
Key Takeaways
- Most tablets set the time automatically from the network, so you must turn off automatic time sync before you can change it manually.
- The Date & Time settings are in the main Settings app, usually under System or a similar section depending on your tablet brand.
- If your tablet is in the wrong time zone, changing the zone is usually faster than manually adjusting the hours.
- After you change the time, you can turn automatic sync back on if you want the tablet to correct itself later.
How to change the time on an iPad
On an iPad, open Settings and tap General, then Date & Time. You will see a toggle for Set Automatically. Turn it off. Once it is off, you can tap the time field below it and use the scroll wheels to set the hour, minute, and AM or PM.
If you only need to fix the time zone, you can leave Set Automatically on and just change the Time Zone field at the top of the same screen. That is usually the faster fix if your iPad is showing the right time but in the wrong zone — for example, if it says 3 p.m. when it is actually 2 p.m. in your location.
After you set the time, you can turn Set Automatically back on if you want. Your iPad will then sync with Apple's time servers and correct itself if the time drifts.
How to change the time on an Android tablet
On an Android tablet, open Settings and look for System or About Tablet — the exact label varies by manufacturer. Tap Date & Time. You should see a toggle for Automatic date and time or Use network-provided time. Turn it off.
Once automatic sync is off, the time and date fields below it become editable. Tap Set date and Set time to enter the values you want. Some Android tablets also let you set the time zone separately, which is under Select time zone on the same screen.
If you are not sure where Date & Time is on your specific tablet, try searching for "date" in the Settings search bar at the top. Most Android tablets have a search function that will take you straight there.
How to change the time on a Samsung tablet
Samsung tablets follow the Android path but sometimes label things slightly differently. Open Settings, go to General management, then Date and time. Look for the toggle labeled Automatic date and time and turn it off.
You can now tap Date and Time to set them manually. If you only need to change the time zone, tap Select time zone instead — that is usually the faster fix if the time itself is correct but the zone is wrong.
Samsung tablets also let you choose between 12-hour and 24-hour time format in the same menu, so if your tablet is showing time in a format you do not want, you can change that here too.
Why your tablet keeps changing the time back
If you set the time and it changes back on its own, automatic time sync is still on. Go back to Date & Time settings and make sure the automatic toggle is actually off — sometimes it resets itself if the tablet restarts or loses power.
Another reason the time might change is if your tablet is connected to a Wi-Fi network that provides time information. Disconnecting from that network, or turning off automatic sync more thoroughly, can prevent the change. Some tablets also sync time when they connect to a cellular network, so check whether your tablet has a SIM card and whether that sync is enabled.
If you need the time to stay set to a specific value and your tablet keeps correcting it, the most reliable solution is to turn off automatic sync and then manually set the time each time it changes. This is rare — most people only need to change the time once when they first set up the tablet or move to a different time zone.
When to change the time zone instead of the time
If your tablet shows the correct time but in the wrong zone, change the time zone instead of the time itself. For example, if your tablet says it is 3 p.m. Eastern time but you are in Pacific time, the time is actually correct — it is just labeled wrong. Changing the zone will fix the label without changing the actual time.
Time zone changes are usually faster because you only have to select your location from a list instead of manually typing in hours and minutes. Most tablets have a dropdown menu of time zones, and you can search by city or region name.
If you are not sure whether you need to change the time or the zone, check what time it actually is in your location right now. If the tablet shows a time that is off by a whole number of hours, you probably need to change the zone. If it is off by minutes or seconds, you need to change the time itself.
What to do if you cannot find the date and time settings
If you have looked through Settings and cannot find Date & Time, try using the Settings search function. Most tablets have a search bar at the top of the Settings app — type "date" or "time" and it will show you the exact path to the setting you need.
If your tablet does not have a search function, try looking under System, System & Device, General, or About. Date & Time is almost always nested one or two levels deep in the Settings app, not at the top level.
If you still cannot find it, check the tablet's user manual or support website by searching for your exact tablet model and "change time". The manufacturer's documentation will show you the exact steps for your device.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will changing the time affect my apps or files?
Changing the time can affect apps that rely on timestamps, like email or calendar apps, but it will not delete files or damage the tablet. If you change the time to the past, some apps might show old notifications again. Changing it back to the correct time fixes this.
Can I set the time to something that is not a real time?
Yes, you can set the time to any value you want, even times that do not exist. However, most apps expect the time to be roughly correct, so setting it far in the past or future can cause problems with email, banking apps, and security certificates. It is best to keep the time close to the actual time in your location.
What if my tablet is locked and I cannot get to Settings?
You need to unlock the tablet first. If you forgot the password, you will need to reset the tablet through the manufacturer's account recovery process — for iPad, that is your Apple ID; for Android, it is your Google account. Resetting will erase the tablet, so this should be a last resort.
Does changing the time affect my Wi-Fi or cellular connection?
Changing the time will not disconnect you from Wi-Fi or cellular networks. However, some networks or apps may behave oddly if the time is very far off from the actual time, because they use time to verify security certificates. Keeping the time reasonably close to correct avoids these issues.
Can I set different times for different apps?
No. The time setting applies to the entire tablet, and all apps use the same system time. You cannot set one app to show a different time than another.