The quickest way to change your Android time
Open Settings, then tap System or About phone (the exact name depends on your phone maker). Look for Date and time or Date & time. Turn off the toggle next to Set time automatically if it is on. Now you can tap the time field and type in the correct hour and minute.
If you cannot find these settings in System, try Settings > General management > Date and time, or search for "date time" in your Settings app — most Android phones have a search bar at the top. Once you change the time manually, the automatic setting stays off until you turn it back on.
Key Takeaways
- You must turn off automatic time before you can change the time manually on most Android phones.
- The Date and time setting lives in System, General management, or a similar section depending on your phone brand.
- After you change the time, your phone will keep that time even if you restart it, unless you turn automatic time back on.
- If your phone keeps changing the time back, automatic time is still on — go back and toggle it off completely.
Where to find Date and time on different Android phones
Samsung phones keep Date and time under Settings > General management > Date and time. Google Pixel phones put it at Settings > System > Date and time. OnePlus, Motorola, and other brands often use Settings > System > Date and time as well, though some older models may label it differently.
The fastest way to find it on any phone is to open Settings and use the search function — type "date" or "time" and the setting will appear. This works on nearly all Android phones made in the last five years.
Turning off automatic time so you can set it manually
When you open Date and time, you will see a toggle labeled Set time automatically, Automatic date and time, or something similar. This toggle is usually on by default, which means your phone gets the time from your mobile network or the internet. You must turn this toggle off before the time field becomes editable.
Once the toggle is off, the time and date fields will change from gray (locked) to white or colored (active). Tap the time field to open a clock or number pad, then enter the correct hour and minute. Some phones also let you change the date in the same menu.
Why your phone might keep resetting the time
If you change the time and it goes back to the wrong time a few minutes later, automatic time is still on. Go back to Date and time and check the toggle again — it may have turned itself back on, or you may have missed turning it off the first time. Toggle it off and try again.
Another reason the time resets is if your phone connects to a new Wi-Fi network or mobile network that sends time information. Once automatic time is off, this should not happen, but if it does, make sure the toggle is truly off by tapping it and watching it change color or position.
Changing the time zone separately from the time itself
In the same Date and time menu, you will usually see a separate setting for Time zone. This controls what time your phone displays based on your location. If you only want to change the time zone (for example, because you traveled), you can leave automatic time on and just change the time zone setting.
To change the time zone, tap the Time zone field and scroll through the list of regions and cities. Select the one that matches where you are. Your phone will then automatically set the correct time for that zone. This is usually easier than manually changing the time if you have moved to a different part of the world.
Turning automatic time back on
Once you have set the time manually, you can turn automatic time back on whenever you want. Go back to Settings > Date and time and toggle Set time automatically back on. Your phone will then get the time from your network again and keep it in sync.
There is no downside to leaving automatic time on most of the time — it keeps your phone accurate without any work from you. You only need to turn it off if you want to set a custom time for a specific reason, such as testing an app or adjusting for a temporary situation.
What to do if you cannot find the Date and time setting
On very old Android phones (version 6 or earlier), the setting might be under Settings > System > Date and time, or it might be labeled Date and Time as two separate entries. If you still cannot find it, try searching for "time" in your Settings app.
If your phone does not have a search function in Settings, open Settings and look for a section called System, Advanced, About phone, or More. Date and time is almost always nested inside one of these. If you are still stuck, the phone maker's support website (Samsung, Google, Motorola, OnePlus, etc.) has a guide specific to your model.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I set a different time than what my network shows?
Yes, as long as you turn off automatic time first. Once automatic time is off, your phone will keep whatever time you set, even if it differs from your network's time. However, some apps and services may behave oddly if your phone time is very far off from the real time.
Will changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?
Alarms and reminders are usually tied to your phone's clock, so if you change the time, they will go off at the new time you set. For example, if you set an alarm for 7 a.m. and then change your phone time backward by two hours, the alarm will go off at what your phone thinks is 7 a.m., which is actually 9 a.m. in real time.
What if automatic time is grayed out and I cannot toggle it?
Some work phones or phones managed by an organization may have automatic time locked by an administrator. If the toggle is grayed out, you cannot change it without contacting your IT department or the person who set up the phone. This is a security feature to keep work devices synchronized.
Does changing the time drain my battery?
No, changing the time or turning off automatic time does not drain your battery. In fact, turning off automatic time might save a tiny amount of battery because your phone stops checking the network for time updates, though the difference is too small to notice.