The quickest way to change the time on your iPad

Open Settings, tap General, then tap Date & Time. Toggle off Set Automatically if it is on. You will then see separate fields for the date and time that you can tap and adjust. Tap each field, use the scroll wheels to set the correct values, and tap Done when finished.

If Set Automatically is already off, the date and time fields are ready to edit when ready. If it is on, your iPad is pulling the time from Apple's servers based on your location, and you will need to turn that toggle off first to make manual changes.

The entire process takes about 30 seconds. Most people only need to do this when their iPad's clock has drifted noticeably or when they travel to a different time zone and want to set the time manually instead of waiting for automatic adjustment.

Key Takeaways

  • Go to Settings > General > Date & Time to find the time controls on your iPad.
  • Turn off Set Automatically before you can manually change the time or date.
  • Use the scroll wheels in each field to adjust hours, minutes, month, and day.
  • Tap Done to save your changes and return to the previous screen.
  • Turning Set Automatically back on will return your iPad to syncing time from Apple's servers.

Understanding Set Automatically and why it matters

Set Automatically is a toggle that tells your iPad to pull the current time and date from Apple's network time servers rather than relying on its internal clock. When this is on, your iPad will always show the correct time as long as it has an internet connection—either Wi-Fi or cellular data.

This feature exists because iPad clocks can drift over time, especially if the device has been in storage or powered off for a long time. By syncing to Apple's servers, your iPad stays accurate without you having to think about it. Most of the time, you should leave this on.

The only reason to turn it off is if you want to set a time that is different from the actual current time—for example, if you are testing an app that responds to specific dates, or if you want your iPad to display a time zone that does not match your location.

How to change the time zone without changing the actual time

If you want to keep Set Automatically on but change which time zone your iPad displays, tap Time Zone instead of turning off Set Automatically. This field appears in the same Date & Time menu.

Tap Time Zone and you will see a search box. Type the name of a city in the time zone you want—for example, "Denver" for Mountain Time or "London" for GMT. Your iPad will show the correct local time for that zone while still syncing to Apple's servers.

This is useful when you travel and want your iPad to display local time automatically, or when you want to see what time it is in another part of the world without manually calculating the difference.

What to do if the time keeps changing back

If you set the time manually and it keeps reverting to a different time, Set Automatically is likely turning itself back on. This can happen if your iPad restarts or if you accidentally toggle it on again.

Check the Date & Time settings again and confirm that Set Automatically is off. If it keeps turning back on by itself, restart your iPad by holding the power button until you see the "slide to power off" screen, then slide to shut down. Wait 10 seconds and power it back on. This often clears temporary glitches that cause toggles to reset.

If the problem continues after a restart, your iPad may have a deeper software issue. Try connecting to Wi-Fi and going to Settings > General > Software Update to see if an update is available. Installing the latest version of iPadOS can fix bugs related to date and time settings.

Changing the time on older iPad models

The steps are the same on all iPad models running iPadOS 13 or later: Settings > General > Date & Time, toggle off Set Automatically, and adjust the fields. If you have an older iPad running an earlier version of iPadOS, the menu layout may be slightly different, but the Date & Time settings will still be in the General section of Settings.

To check which version of iPadOS your iPad is running, go to Settings > General > About and look for the "Software Version" field. If your iPad is running iPadOS 12 or earlier, the process is essentially the same, though the visual design of the toggles and scroll wheels may look different.

Why your iPad might show the wrong time even after you set it

If you set the time manually and it is still wrong, the most common cause is that Set Automatically turned back on and overrode your change. Check this setting first.

A second possibility is that you set the time but forgot to tap Done. If you navigate away from the Date & Time screen without tapping Done, your changes will not save. Always confirm that you see the time update on the main clock display before assuming the change worked.

If Set Automatically is off and you did tap Done, but the time is still incorrect, try restarting your iPad. Power it off completely, wait 10 seconds, and power it back on. This resets the system clock and often fixes display errors.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different time for different apps?

No. The time you set in Date & Time applies to your entire iPad and all apps on it. Apps cannot override the system time. If you need an app to behave as though it is a different time, you would have to change the iPad's time in Settings, use the app, and then change it back.

Will changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you set your iPad to a time that is earlier than the current actual time, alarms and reminders scheduled for the "future" may trigger when ready or behave unexpectedly. It is best to avoid changing the time unless you have a specific reason, and to turn Set Automatically back on as soon as you are done.

What happens if I turn off Set Automatically and never turn it back on?

Your iPad's clock will gradually drift out of sync with the actual time, especially if the device is powered off or in sleep mode for extended periods. You would need to manually correct it periodically. For this reason, it is recommended to leave Set Automatically on under normal circumstances.

Can I change the time format from 12-hour to 24-hour?

Yes, but that setting is separate from Date & Time. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region, scroll down, and toggle 24-Hour Time on or off. This changes how the time is displayed throughout your iPad without affecting the actual time setting.