The fastest way to change the time on your iPad

Open Settings, tap General, then tap Date & Time. If the toggle next to Set Automatically is on (green), turn it off first. Once it's off, you'll see the time fields become editable. Tap the time display and use the scroll wheels to set the hour and minute, then tap outside the field to save.

If you leave Set Automatically on, your iPad will pull the correct time from your internet connection or cellular network, and you won't need to adjust it manually. Most people keep this on and never touch the time again. Turn it off only if you need a time that differs from your actual location—for example, if you're traveling and want to keep your device on home time while working in a different zone.

Key Takeaways

  • The Set Automatically toggle in Settings > General > Date & Time keeps your iPad's time synced to your network, so you usually don't need to change it manually.
  • To set a custom time, turn off Set Automatically first, then use the scroll wheels in the time field to adjust hours and minutes.
  • Your iPad also has a separate timezone setting in the same menu if you need to change your location without changing the actual time.
  • If the time keeps reverting to the network time after you set it, Set Automatically is still on—check the toggle again.

Why your iPad's time might be wrong

If your iPad shows the wrong time even though Set Automatically is on, the problem is usually that your device is connected to a network with incorrect time information, or your iPad's internal clock battery has drained. Restarting your iPad often fixes this—hold the power button until you see the shutdown slider, swipe to power off, wait 10 seconds, then hold power again until the Apple logo appears.

If restarting doesn't work, check that you're connected to Wi-Fi or cellular data. Your iPad needs an active connection to pull the correct time from the network. If you're on Wi-Fi, try forgetting the network and reconnecting: go to Settings > Wi-Fi, tap the network name, tap Forget, then reconnect and enter the password again.

Changing the timezone without changing the time

In the same Date & Time menu, you'll see a Time Zone field below the time display. Tap it and search for your city or timezone. This changes what time your iPad reports without actually moving the clock hands—useful if you're traveling but want your device to show local time automatically.

When you change the timezone, your iPad will adjust the displayed time to match that location's current time, assuming Set Automatically is still on. If you turn off Set Automatically and then change the timezone, the displayed time won't change until you manually adjust it using the scroll wheels.

What to do if the time keeps changing back

If you set a custom time but it reverts to the network time within seconds or minutes, Set Automatically is still enabled. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the toggle is fully off (gray, not green). If it's already off but the time still changes, your iPad may be automatically re-enabling it—this sometimes happens if you have iCloud syncing turned on.

To prevent automatic re-enabling, go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud and scroll down to find Date & Time in the list of synced services. If it's on, turn it off. This stops your iPad from pulling time settings from your iCloud account. After that, your custom time should stick until you manually change it again.

Using 12-hour or 24-hour time format

Your iPad's time display format is controlled by your region settings, not the Date & Time menu. To change between 12-hour (with AM/PM) and 24-hour format, go to Settings > General > Language & Region. Scroll down to find Time Format and choose your preference.

This setting affects how the time appears throughout your iPad—in the status bar, lock screen, and most apps. Some apps may override this setting and show time in their own format, but the system-wide default will change when ready after you select a new format.

Syncing time across your Apple devices

If you have an iPhone, Mac, or Apple Watch, they all sync their time through iCloud when Set Automatically is on. This means if you change the time on one device, the others will update automatically as long as they're connected to the same iCloud account and have Set Automatically enabled.

If you set a custom time on your iPad and don't want it to sync to your other devices, turn off iCloud syncing for Date & Time on your iPad (Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud, then toggle off Date & Time). Your other devices will keep their network-synced time, and your iPad will keep whatever time you set manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPad keep showing the wrong time?

If Set Automatically is on, your iPad is pulling time from your network connection. If the time is wrong, your network may have incorrect time information, or you may not be connected. Restart your iPad and check your Wi-Fi or cellular connection. If Set Automatically is off, you set the time manually and need to adjust it again if it's wrong.

Can I set different times on my iPad and iPhone?

Yes, but only if you turn off iCloud syncing for Date & Time on both devices. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iCloud on each device and toggle off Date & Time. Then turn off Set Automatically on each device and set the time manually. If you leave iCloud syncing on, both devices will always show the same time.

What's the difference between changing the time and changing the timezone?

Changing the time moves the clock hands forward or backward. Changing the timezone tells your iPad what region you're in, so it displays the correct local time for that location. If Set Automatically is on, changing the timezone will automatically adjust the displayed time to match that location's current time.

Does turning off Set Automatically drain my battery?

No. Turning off Set Automatically has no measurable effect on battery life. Your iPad's battery drain comes from screen brightness, app activity, and network use, not from whether it syncs time automatically or manually.