Where to Find the Clock Settings on Android

The clock display setting lives in your phone's main Settings app, not in the clock app itself. Open Settings, then look for System or System and Device (the exact name varies by phone maker). Inside that section, find Date and Time. This is where Android keeps the master control for how your clock appears across your entire phone.

Some phones put Date and Time directly under Settings without a System folder — Samsung phones often do this. If you cannot find System, scroll down through the main Settings list and look for Date and Time as a standalone option. Once you open it, you will see the 24-hour toggle right there.

Key Takeaways

  • The clock format setting is in Settings > System > Date and Time, though the exact path depends on your phone maker.
  • Toggle Use 24-hour format on to see times like 14:30, or off to see 2:30 PM.
  • This change affects your lock screen, status bar, and any clock widget you have placed on your home screen.
  • The change takes effect when ready and does not require a restart.
  • Some third-party clock apps have their own format settings that override the system setting.

Turning 24-Hour Format On or Off

Once you are in Date and Time settings, look for the toggle labeled Use 24-hour format or 24-hour time. Tap it to turn it on (the toggle will turn blue or show as enabled). Your clock will when ready switch to 24-hour format, showing times like 14:30 instead of 2:30 PM. Tap it again to turn it off and return to 12-hour format with AM and PM labels.

The change applies when ready to your lock screen, the clock in your status bar at the top of the screen, and any clock widget on your home screen. You do not need to restart your phone or close and reopen any apps.

What Changes When You Switch Formats

Switching to 24-hour format affects every clock display on your phone except those in third-party apps. Your lock screen clock, the time shown in notifications, the clock in your status bar, and any built-in Android clock widget will all switch to the new format. If you use an alarm clock app, the alarm times will also display in your chosen format.

Third-party clock apps — like Weather Channel, Google Clock, or other apps from the Play Store — may have their own format settings. These apps sometimes ignore the system setting and use their own preference instead. If you notice a clock app still showing the old format after you changed the system setting, open that specific app and look for its own time format option in its settings.

Undoing the Change

If you change your mind, go back to Settings > System > Date and Time and toggle Use 24-hour format the opposite way. If it is on, turn it off. If it is off, turn it on. The change takes effect when ready, just as it did the first time.

There is no undo button or history — you are straightforward flipping the setting back to what it was before. Your phone will not remember which format you used previously, so if you switch back and forth, you will need to manually toggle each time.

Why the Setting Might Not Appear

Older Android phones (running Android 5.0 or earlier) sometimes lack this toggle. If you cannot find Use 24-hour format in Date and Time, your phone may not support the feature. In that case, check whether your clock app itself has a format setting — open the clock app, look for settings or preferences, and see if there is a time format option there.

If your phone is very new and you still cannot find the setting, restart your phone and check again. Occasionally a settings page does not load fully on the first try. If it still does not appear after a restart, your phone model may not include this option, and you would need to use a third-party clock app to change the display format.

Using a Clock Widget to Show Your Preferred Format

If you want to display the time on your home screen in a specific format, you can add a clock widget and sometimes choose its format independently. Long-press on an empty area of your home screen, tap Widgets, find Clock, and select a clock widget style. Some widgets let you choose between 12-hour and 24-hour right when you add them.

Once the widget is on your home screen, it will follow the system time format setting unless the widget itself has its own format option. If you want a widget that shows 24-hour time but your system is set to 12-hour, look for a widget that lets you lock its format independently — not all widgets offer this, but some do.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does changing the time format affect my alarms?

Yes. If you set an alarm for 2:30 PM and then switch to 24-hour format, the alarm will display as 14:30 but will still go off at the same time. The actual alarm time does not change — only how it appears on your screen.

Will the time format change affect my calendar or scheduling apps?

Most calendar and scheduling apps follow the system time format setting, so they will switch when you do. However, some third-party apps have their own format settings. If you notice a calendar app still showing times in the old format, open that app's settings and look for a time format option there.

Can I set different formats for different apps?

No. The system setting applies to all built-in Android clocks and most apps. Individual third-party apps may have their own format settings, but you cannot tell the system to use 24-hour format for one app and 12-hour for another. You can only change the system-wide setting.

What if I cannot find Date and Time in Settings?

Try searching for it. Open Settings, tap the search icon at the top, and type "date and time". Android will show you the exact location on your phone. If nothing appears, your phone may be running an older version of Android that does not include this setting.

Does the time format change affect the time shown in messages or emails?

Usually yes for messages sent through your phone's default messaging app, but third-party messaging apps like WhatsApp or Telegram may have their own settings. Check the app's settings if you want to control how times appear in that specific app.