The quickest way to change your tablet's time
On most tablets, you change the time through the Settings app. Open Settings, find Date & Time (or Clock), toggle off automatic time adjustment if it is on, and then tap the time field to enter the correct hour and minute. The exact steps differ slightly between iPad and Android tablets, but both let you set the time manually in under a minute.
If your tablet is set to update the time automatically — which is the default on most devices — you will need to turn that off first. Automatic time uses your location and network connection to stay accurate, so switching to manual time means you are responsible for keeping it current.
Key Takeaways
- iPad users open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time, toggle off Set Automatically, and tap the time field to enter the correct time.
- Android tablet users open Settings, find Date & Time or Clock, turn off automatic time adjustment, and manually enter the hour and minute.
- Automatic time adjustment uses your network and location, so disabling it means your tablet will not update on its own when you travel or when daylight saving time changes.
- If you turn automatic time back on, your tablet will sync to the correct time within a few minutes without any action from you.
How to change the time on an iPad
Start by opening the Settings app from your home screen. Scroll down and tap General, then look for Date & Time near the bottom of that menu.
You will see a toggle labeled Set Automatically. Tap it to turn it off — the toggle will turn gray. Once automatic time is off, the time field below it becomes editable. Tap on the time display to open a picker where you can adjust the hour and minute by scrolling or tapping the up and down arrows. When the time is correct, tap outside the picker or press Done to save the change.
If you need to change the time zone as well, that option appears in the same Date & Time menu. Tap Time Zone and search for your location or the zone you want.
How to change the time on an Android tablet
Open the Settings app and scroll to find Date & Time or Clock — the exact name depends on your tablet's manufacturer and Android version. Tap it to open the time settings.
Look for a toggle or switch labeled Automatic Date & Time, Use Network-Provided Time, or Set Time Automatically. Turn this off by tapping the toggle. Once it is off, you will see options to set the date and time manually. Tap the time field and use the number picker to set the hour and minute. Some tablets let you type the time directly; others use a scrolling picker. After you enter the correct time, tap OK or Save to confirm.
If your tablet also needs a time zone change, that setting is usually in the same menu under Time Zone. Tap it and search for your location.
Why your tablet might have the wrong time
The most common reason is that automatic time adjustment is turned off or not working. If your tablet is not connected to WiFi or mobile data, it cannot fetch the correct time from the network, so it will drift. Tablets that sit unused for weeks may lose time accuracy even with automatic adjustment on.
Time zone changes — like daylight saving time — can also make the displayed time feel wrong if your tablet is set to a different zone than your location. Restarting your tablet sometimes fixes automatic time sync if it has stalled.
When to turn off automatic time
You might turn off automatic time if you want to set a custom time for testing purposes, if you are in a location where the network time is incorrect, or if you are using your tablet in a different time zone temporarily and do not want it to auto-correct. Some people also disable it to preserve battery life, though the impact is minimal.
Keep in mind that with automatic time off, your tablet will not adjust for daylight saving time changes unless you do it manually. If you travel frequently or move to a new time zone, leaving automatic time on is usually more convenient.
Turning automatic time back on
To re-enable automatic time adjustment, open Settings and return to Date & Time. Toggle Set Automatically (iPad) or Automatic Date & Time (Android) back on. Your tablet will sync to the network time within a few minutes — you do not need to do anything else.
The clock will then stay accurate as long as your tablet has an internet connection. If you notice the time is still wrong after turning automatic adjustment back on, restart your tablet to force a fresh sync with the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my tablet keep changing the time back?
Automatic time adjustment is likely still on. Open Settings, go to Date & Time, and check whether Set Automatically or Automatic Date & Time is enabled. If it is, your tablet is overriding any manual time you set. Turn it off if you want the time to stay as you set it.
Can I set a different time zone without changing the actual time?
Yes. In Date & Time settings, you can change the time zone separately from the clock time. On iPad, tap Time Zone and select a new location. On Android, tap Time Zone and search for the zone you want. The displayed time will shift to match the new zone, but the actual moment stays the same.
What happens if I do not have WiFi when I change the time?
You can still change the time manually through Settings. The change will stick until automatic time adjustment syncs it back to the network time — or until you change it again. If automatic time is off, the time you set will remain until you change it yourself.
Does changing the time affect my tablet's alarms or reminders?
Yes. If you set an alarm for 7 a.m. and then change the system time backward by two hours, the alarm will go off two hours earlier than you intended. Always adjust alarms and reminders after you change the system time, or turn automatic time back on so the system stays synchronized.