The fastest way to change iPad time

Open Settings, tap General, then tap Date & Time. Toggle off the switch next to Set Automatically if it is on. Once you turn that off, two new fields appear: Date and Time. Tap each one to adjust it to what you need. The changes take effect when ready.

If Set Automatically is already off, you can skip straight to tapping the Date and Time fields. Your iPad will not reset the time on its own once you have turned off automatic setting.

Key Takeaways

  • You must turn off Set Automatically in Settings > General > Date & Time before you can manually change the time.
  • Once automatic setting is off, tap the Date field to pick a new date and the Time field to pick a new time.
  • Manual time changes stay in place until you turn Set Automatically back on or change them again.
  • If you cannot find the Date & Time option, make sure you are in the General section of Settings, not another category.

Why your iPad might be set to automatic time

By default, iPads use Set Automatically to pull the correct time from your internet connection or cellular network. This keeps your device in sync without you having to think about it. The system uses your location to set the time zone as well, so if you travel, the time usually updates on its own.

Turning off automatic setting is useful if you want to keep a different time than your actual location, or if your iPad is picking up the wrong time zone. Once you switch it off, you are in control of what time displays.

Step-by-step: Changing the date on your iPad

Start in Settings on your home screen. Tap General in the left sidebar (on iPad, the sidebar appears on the left side of the screen). Scroll down and tap Date & Time.

Look for the toggle next to Set Automatically. If it is green and switched to the right, tap it once to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray. Now the Date field below it becomes tappable.

Tap the Date field. A date picker appears with three spinning wheels: month, day, and year. Spin each wheel up or down until the date you want appears in the center. Tap outside the picker or tap Done if a button appears. The date is now set.

Step-by-step: Changing the time on your iPad

After you have turned off Set Automatically, tap the Time field below the date. A time picker appears with spinning wheels for hours, minutes, and AM or PM (or a 24-hour format if your region uses it).

Spin the hour wheel to the hour you want. Spin the minute wheel to the minute. If your iPad shows AM and PM wheels, spin to the one you need. Tap outside the picker or tap Done to confirm. The time updates right away on your home screen and lock screen.

If you are not sure whether your iPad is set to 12-hour or 24-hour time, check the Time field itself — it will show you which format is active. You can also change the format in Settings > General > Date & Time by looking for a 24-Hour Time toggle further down the page.

What happens if you turn automatic setting back on

If you toggle Set Automatically back on, your iPad will overwrite whatever time and date you set manually. It will pull the correct time from the network again and set the time zone based on your location. Any manual changes you made disappear.

This is useful if you were testing a different time or if you travel and want your iPad to sync back to the real time. Just remember that turning it back on erases your manual setting.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

The most common mistake is forgetting to turn off Set Automatically before trying to change the time. If you tap the Date or Time fields and nothing happens, go back and check that toggle — it needs to be off (gray) for the fields to respond.

Another mistake is changing the time but not realizing it will revert if you restart your iPad or if Set Automatically turns back on by itself. If your time keeps resetting, check the Date & Time page again to confirm Set Automatically is still off.

If you are in a different time zone than your home location and you want to keep your iPad on home time, make sure Set Automatically stays off. Otherwise, when you travel, the iPad will switch to the local time zone automatically.

Changing the time zone separately from the time

Your iPad normally sets the time zone automatically based on your location. If you want to change only the time zone without changing the actual time, look for the Time Zone field in Settings > General > Date & Time. You can tap it to pick a different zone.

Changing the time zone does not change the clock time itself — it just tells your iPad which zone you are in. If you want both a different time and a different zone, change the time zone first, then turn off Set Automatically and adjust the time manually.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPad keep changing the time back?

Your Set Automatically toggle is probably still on. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the toggle is off (gray). If it is on, your iPad will overwrite any manual time you set with the network time.

Can I change the time zone without changing the time?

Yes. In Settings > General > Date & Time, tap the Time Zone field and pick a new zone. This changes which zone your iPad thinks it is in, but does not change the clock time itself. If Set Automatically is on, changing the zone may also change the time to match the new zone.

What if I cannot find Date & Time in Settings?

Make sure you are in the General section of Settings. On iPad, tap Settings, then look for General in the left sidebar. Tap it, then scroll down the right side until you see Date & Time. It is usually near the bottom of the General list.

Does changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you set an alarm for 7 AM and then change your iPad's time to 6 PM, the alarm will go off at what your iPad thinks is 7 AM — which is now actually 8 PM in real time. Alarms and reminders are tied to your iPad's clock, not to actual time.

Can I set a different time for different apps?

No. The time you set in Date & Time applies to your entire iPad. All apps see the same time. If you need different times for different purposes, you will have to manually change the iPad time each time you switch.