Where to find the clock setting on your device

The location of the clock setting depends on what you own. On a smartphone or tablet, open Settings, then look for Date & Time or System. On a computer, right-click the time display in the corner of your screen and select Adjust date/time (Windows) or open System Preferences and choose Date & Time (Mac). On a microwave, oven, or car dashboard, look for a button labeled Clock, Set, or Menu.

Many devices now set the time automatically using your internet connection or GPS signal. If automatic time is turned on, you will not be able to change the clock manually — you must turn off automatic time first. Check whether your device has this setting before you assume the clock cannot be changed.

Key Takeaways

  • Most devices keep time automatically through the internet or network, so you may need to turn off automatic time before you can set it manually.
  • On phones and computers, the clock setting is in the main Settings or System Preferences menu under Date & Time.
  • On appliances like microwaves and ovens, you usually press a dedicated Clock or Menu button, then use arrow keys or number buttons to enter the time.
  • When you change the time on one device, other devices connected to the same account or network may update automatically.

Changing the time on a smartphone or tablet

On an iPhone or iPad: Open Settings > General > Date & Time. Toggle off Set Automatically if it is on. Tap the time display, then use the scroll wheels to set the hour and minute. When you are done, tap Done.

On an Android phone or tablet: Open Settings > System > Date & Time (the exact path varies by manufacturer). Turn off Automatic date and time or Use network-provided time. Tap Set date and Set time separately, then enter the numbers using the on-screen keyboard or number pad.

If you cannot find the Date & Time menu, search for "date" or "time" in your device's Settings search bar. This works on both iPhone and Android and takes you directly to the right screen.

Changing the time on a computer

On Windows: Right-click the time in the bottom right corner of your screen and select Adjust date/time. Toggle off Set time automatically. Click Change under the time display, then enter the correct hour and minute. Click OK twice to save.

On Mac: Click the Apple menu in the top left, then System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions). Select Date & Time. Unlock the panel by clicking the padlock icon in the bottom left and entering your password. Uncheck Set date and time automatically. Click the time display and type in the new time, or use the up and down arrows to adjust it.

On both Windows and Mac, if you do not see an option to change the time manually, your computer may be locked by an administrator. Contact your IT department or the person who set up your computer.

Changing the time on kitchen appliances and car dashboards

Most microwaves, ovens, and car clocks use physical buttons rather than touchscreens. Look for a button labeled Clock, Set, Menu, or Time. Press and hold it for two to three seconds until the time display starts flashing or a menu appears. Use the arrow buttons or number pad to enter the hour, then press the button again to move to the minutes. Enter the minutes the same way, then press Start, OK, or Enter to confirm.

If your appliance has a touchscreen, tap the time display directly. A keyboard or number pad will appear on the screen. Enter the time and tap OK or Confirm. If you are unsure which button to press, check the manual that came with the appliance — the exact steps vary widely by brand and model.

Car clocks often require you to hold down a button on the steering wheel or dashboard while the car is in park. Some newer cars let you change the time through the infotainment system menu. If you cannot find the clock setting, consult your vehicle's owner manual or search online for your specific make and model year.

What happens when you change the time

Changing the time on one device does not automatically change it on other devices you own. Your phone, computer, and car clock are separate systems. If you change the time on your phone, your computer will keep its old time unless you change it separately.

If you use cloud services like iCloud, Google Drive, or OneDrive, changing the time on one device may affect how files are synced or timestamped. For example, if you set your phone to the wrong time, files you create or edit may show an incorrect date. Once you set the time back to the correct value, the dates will be correct again going forward.

Changing the time does not affect any alarms, reminders, or calendar events you have already set. Those stay scheduled for their original times. If you set an alarm for 7 a.m. and then change your clock to show a different time, the alarm will still go off at the actual 7 a.m., not at the time your clock now displays.

When automatic time is better than manual time

Leaving automatic time turned on is usually the best choice. Your device will stay accurate without any work from you, and it will adjust automatically when daylight saving time begins or ends. You only need to turn off automatic time if you are testing something, troubleshooting a problem, or deliberately using a different time zone than your location.

If you turned off automatic time to change the clock and then forgot to turn it back on, your device will slowly drift out of sync with the real time. Turn automatic time back on as soon as you are done making changes. On most devices, this is the same menu where you turned it off.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my clock keep changing back to the wrong time?

Automatic time is probably still turned on. Go back to your Date & Time settings and make sure the toggle for automatic time is off. If it is already off and the time keeps changing, your device may be syncing with a cloud account or network that has a different time set. Sign out of that account or disconnect from the network, then set the time again.

Can I set my clock to a different time zone than where I am?

Yes. In your Date & Time settings, look for a Time Zone option separate from the time itself. You can set your time zone to anywhere in the world, and your clock will display that time instead of your local time. This is useful if you travel frequently or work with people in other time zones, but it may confuse calendar and reminder notifications.

What if I do not know the correct time?

Turn automatic time back on and let your device set itself. You can also check the time on your phone's lock screen, a website like timeanddate.com, or by calling a local business. Once you know the correct time, turn automatic time off again if you need to set it manually.

Does changing the clock affect my warranty or damage my device?

No. Changing the time is a normal setting that manufacturers expect users to adjust. It will not void your warranty or harm your device in any way.