The fastest way to change your iPhone's clock

Open Settings, tap General, then tap Date & Time. Toggle off the switch next to Set Automatically if it is on. Now you can tap the date and time fields to change them manually. When you are done, toggle Set Automatically back on if you want your phone to update the time on its own.

If you leave Set Automatically turned on, your iPhone will sync the time with Apple's servers and your phone's location. This is the default setting and works for most people. You only need to change it manually if your phone is showing the wrong time and you cannot wait for the automatic update, or if you are in a location where the automatic time is incorrect.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Date & Time to find the clock controls on your iPhone.
  • Turn off Set Automatically before you can manually change the time or date.
  • After you change the time, you can turn Set Automatically back on so your phone updates on its own.
  • Your iPhone's time zone setting affects what time displays, so check that if the time is still wrong after you change it.
  • Restarting your iPhone can fix a clock that is stuck or showing the wrong time without manual changes.

Changing the time zone instead of the clock

If your iPhone shows the correct time but the wrong time zone, you do not need to change the clock itself. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and look for Time Zone. Tap it and search for your city or the time zone you need. Your iPhone will then display times in that zone.

Many people confuse a time zone change with a clock change. If you travel to a different time zone and your phone automatically updates, that is the time zone setting working correctly—your clock did not change, but the zone it displays in did. If you want to stop this automatic update, turn off Set Automatically before you travel.

When to turn off automatic time updates

Leave Set Automatically on in almost all cases. Your iPhone syncs with Apple's time servers, which are more accurate than manually setting the time. The only common reason to turn it off is if you are testing something, troubleshooting a time-related problem, or you need your phone to show a time that does not match your actual location.

If you turn off Set Automatically and then forget about it, your phone's time will drift slowly over days or weeks. If you notice your iPhone is running slow or apps are behaving strangely, check whether Set Automatically is still off—turning it back on often fixes the problem.

Fixing a clock that will not update

If your iPhone's time is wrong and changing it in Settings does not fix it, restart your phone. Press and hold the power button until you see the power-off slider, then slide to turn off. Wait 10 seconds, then press and hold the power button again until the Apple logo appears. This restart often clears a stuck clock.

If restarting does not work, check that Set Automatically is actually on. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and confirm the toggle is switched to the right (green). If it is on but the time is still wrong, your phone may not have a strong internet connection—connect to Wi-Fi and wait a few minutes for the time to sync.

Using Siri to check the time

You can ask Siri what time it is without opening Settings. Press and hold the home button (or say "Hey Siri" if you have that turned on) and ask "What time is it?" Siri will speak the time and show it on your screen. This is useful if you want to verify what your phone thinks the time is without digging through menus.

Siri will always show the time your iPhone is currently set to, whether that is automatic or manual. If Siri shows the wrong time, the problem is with your phone's clock setting, not with Siri.

The 12-hour and 24-hour time format

Your iPhone can display time in 12-hour format (with AM and PM) or 24-hour format (military time). This setting is separate from the clock itself. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and look for 24-Hour Time. Toggle it on to see 24-hour format, or toggle it off to see 12-hour format. This change affects how the time appears everywhere on your phone—in the status bar, on the lock screen, and in the clock app.

Changing the time format does not change what time it actually is. It only changes how your phone displays it. If you switch from 12-hour to 24-hour format, 3:00 PM becomes 15:00, but your phone's actual time does not move.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPhone keep changing the time back?

Set Automatically is probably still on. If you manually changed the time but it keeps reverting, your phone is syncing with Apple's servers and overwriting your change. Turn off Set Automatically if you want the manual time to stick, or leave it on and let your phone handle the time on its own.

Can I set my iPhone to a time that does not match my location?

Yes. Turn off Set Automatically, then change the time and time zone to whatever you want. Your iPhone will display that time until you turn Set Automatically back on or manually change it again. This is useful if you want your phone to show a different time zone than where you physically are.

Does changing the iPhone clock affect alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you manually set your iPhone's time to a different hour, alarms and reminders will trigger at the new time, not the old one. If you set your phone to 3:00 PM when it is actually 2:00 PM, an alarm set for 4:00 PM will go off in one hour, not two. Always turn Set Automatically back on after testing to avoid missing alarms.

What if my iPhone time is wrong but I cannot change it?

Make sure Set Automatically is off before you try to change the time manually. If the toggle is already off and you still cannot change the time, restart your iPhone. If that does not work, check that you have a strong internet connection—your phone may be trying to sync automatically in the background.