Change the time on your iPad through Settings

The fastest way to change the time on your iPad is to open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time. From there, you can turn off the automatic time setting and manually enter the time you want. The process takes about 30 seconds and works the same way on all iPad models running current versions of iPadOS.

Your iPad normally sets the time automatically based on your location and network connection. If the time is wrong, it usually means either your location setting is off or you have moved to a different time zone and the iPad hasn't updated yet. Changing it manually overrides the automatic setting until you turn automatic time back on.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time to reach the time controls on any iPad.
  • Toggle off "Set Automatically" to manually change the time instead of letting your iPad update it on its own.
  • After you turn off automatic time, tap the time field and use the scroll wheels to set hours, minutes, and AM or PM.
  • Turn automatic time back on whenever you travel or want your iPad to match your device's location again.

Step-by-step: Turning off automatic time

Start by opening the Settings app on your home screen. Scroll down the left sidebar until you see General and tap it. Then look for Date & Time in the General menu and tap that option.

You will see a toggle switch next to Set Automatically. This toggle is usually on (shown in green). Tap it once to turn it off. The moment you do, the time field below it becomes editable, and you can now change the time yourself.

Step-by-step: Setting the time manually

Once you have turned off Set Automatically, tap directly on the time shown below the toggle. A picker interface will appear with three columns: hours, minutes, and AM/PM.

Scroll up or down in each column to set the time you want. The hours column shows 1 through 12, the minutes column shows 00 through 59 in five-minute increments, and the AM/PM column lets you choose morning or afternoon. When the time is correct, tap anywhere outside the picker to close it and save your change.

Changing the date on your iPad

The date controls sit just above the time controls in the same Date & Time menu. If you need to change the date as well as the time, make sure Set Automatically is turned off first, then tap on the date field.

A calendar picker will open. Scroll through the months and years at the top until you reach the month and year you want, then tap the day. The date field will update when ready. You can change the date and time independently — changing one does not affect the other.

Turning automatic time back on

If you manually changed the time to test something or to match a different time zone temporarily, you can restore automatic time at any point. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle Set Automatically back on.

Your iPad will when ready sync with the network and set the correct time for your current location. This usually happens within a few seconds. If the time still looks wrong after turning automatic time back on, check that your location services are enabled in Settings > Privacy > Location Services.

Why your iPad time might be wrong

The most common reason for an incorrect time is that you have moved to a new time zone and automatic time has not caught up yet. This can happen if you travel and your iPad connects to a new network before it realizes your location has changed. Turning automatic time off and on again usually fixes this within seconds.

Another reason is that Set Automatically was accidentally turned off at some point, and no one noticed until the time drifted noticeably. If you do not remember changing it, straightforward turn it back on and let your iPad resync. A third possibility is that your location services are disabled, which prevents your iPad from knowing which time zone you are in — check Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure it is on.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the time on my iPad affect my alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you manually set the time backward, alarms and reminders that were supposed to go off before the new time will be skipped. If you set the time forward, alarms scheduled between the old time and new time will also be skipped. It is safest to change the time only when necessary and turn automatic time back on as soon as possible.

Can I set a different time zone without changing the actual time?

No. Time and time zone are linked on iPad. If you want to change your time zone, go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Your iPad will then detect your location and set both the time and time zone correctly. You cannot set a time zone manually without also changing the time.

What if the time picker does not appear when I tap the time field?

Make sure Set Automatically is turned off. If it is still on, the time field will not be editable and the picker will not open. Toggle it off, wait a moment, then tap the time field again. If the picker still does not appear, try closing Settings completely and reopening it.

Does changing the time on iPad affect the time on my iPhone or Mac?

No. Each device has its own time setting. Changing the time on your iPad does not change the time on any other device. If you want multiple devices to show the same time, you must change each one separately, or turn on automatic time on all of them so they sync to the network.