The fastest way to change the time on a Samsung tablet
Open Settings from your home screen or app drawer. Scroll down and tap General management, then tap Date and time. Toggle off Automatic date and time if it is on. Now you can tap Time and enter the hour and minute you want, then tap Set. The change takes effect when ready.
If you cannot find General management, your tablet may use a different menu structure. Instead, look for Settings > System > Date and time, or Settings > About tablet > Date and time. The exact path depends on your Samsung model and Android version, but the Date and time menu is always the destination.
Key Takeaways
- Turn off Automatic date and time before you can manually set the time, or the tablet will reset it to match your network.
- The Date and time menu is in Settings under General management on most Samsung tablets, though some models use System instead.
- You can set the time zone separately from the clock time if you travel or move to a different region.
- If automatic time is on and you change the time manually, the change will revert the next time your tablet connects to the internet.
Why automatic time might be preventing your change
Most Samsung tablets come with Automatic date and time turned on by default. This setting tells your tablet to pull the correct time from your mobile network or Wi-Fi connection. If you try to change the time while this is on, the tablet will either ignore your change or revert it within seconds.
To change the time manually, you must turn off this toggle first. Once it is off, your tablet will keep whatever time you set until you change it again or turn automatic time back on. If you turn automatic time back on later, your tablet will sync to the network time again.
Step-by-step instructions for different Samsung tablet models
For Samsung Galaxy Tab S and Tab A models: Tap Settings > General management > Date and time. Toggle Automatic date and time to off. Tap Time and use the number pad to enter the hour and minute. Tap Set when done.
For older Samsung tablets or those running Android 10 or earlier: Tap Settings > System > Date and time. Toggle Automatic date and time to off. Tap Set time and enter your preferred time. Some older models may label this as Set time manually instead.
If you cannot find the menu: Open Settings and use the search bar at the top. Type "date and time" and tap the result. This works on all Samsung tablets and bypasses the need to navigate through menus.
Changing the time zone separately from the clock time
Your Samsung tablet has two separate settings: the time zone and the actual time. The time zone tells your tablet what region you are in, and it affects how your calendar and clock display times. The actual time is the hour and minute shown on your screen.
If you only need to change your time zone — for example, because you moved or are traveling — you can leave Automatic date and time on and just change the time zone. Go to Settings > General management > Date and time > Time zone and select your region from the list. Your tablet will then show the correct local time without you having to set it manually.
If you change the time zone but the clock time does not update, turn off Automatic date and time, set the time manually, and then turn automatic time back on. This forces your tablet to recalculate the correct time for your new zone.
What to do if the time keeps resetting
If you set the time but it changes back on its own, Automatic date and time is still on. Return to Settings > General management > Date and time and confirm the toggle is off. If it is already off but the time still resets, your tablet may be syncing to a network time server in the background.
Disconnect your tablet from Wi-Fi and mobile data, set the time manually, and then reconnect. If the time changes again when ready after reconnecting, your network is overriding your manual setting. In this case, leave Automatic date and time on and change only the time zone instead, which is the intended way to adjust for location changes.
When you might need to change the time manually
Most people never need to change the time manually because automatic time keeps it correct. However, you may need to do it if your tablet's clock is drifting — showing a time that is noticeably off even though automatic time is on. This can happen if your tablet has not connected to the internet in a while, or if the internal clock battery is failing.
You might also change the time manually if you are testing an app that depends on the system time, or if you are troubleshooting a problem that requires the time to be set to a specific moment. Once you finish, turn Automatic date and time back on so your tablet stays synchronized with the network.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Samsung tablet keep changing the time back to what it was before?
Automatic date and time is still on. Go to Settings > General management > Date and time and toggle it off before you change the time. If it is already off, your tablet may be syncing to a network time server. Disconnect from Wi-Fi and mobile data, set the time, and reconnect to see if the network overrides it.
Can I change just the hour without changing the minutes?
Yes. When you tap Time in the Date and time menu, you can edit the hour and minute fields separately. Tap the hour field, change it, and leave the minutes as they are. Tap Set to save.
What is the difference between changing the time and changing the time zone?
The time zone tells your tablet what region you are in and affects how it displays times in your calendar and clock. The actual time is the hour and minute shown on your screen. If you move to a new region, change only the time zone and leave automatic time on. If your clock is drifting or you need to set it to a specific moment, change the actual time instead.
Will changing the time affect my alarms or scheduled tasks?
Yes. If you set the time backward, alarms and tasks scheduled for times you have already passed may not trigger. If you set the time forward, alarms and tasks may trigger sooner than expected. After you finish testing or troubleshooting, turn automatic time back on to resynchronize your tablet with the network.