The fastest way to change your Samsung clock

Open Settings, tap General management, then Date and time. Toggle off Automatic date and time if it is on. Now you can tap the time field and type in the hour and minute you want. Hit Done or the back arrow to save.

That is the main path on most Samsung phones running Android 10 or newer. The exact wording of menu names shifts slightly between Samsung models and Android versions, but the sequence stays the same: Settings → General management → Date and time → turn off automatic → change the time.

If you cannot find General management, your phone may be older or use a different layout. In that case, go to Settings → System → Date and time, or search for "date and time" in Settings using the search bar at the top.

Key Takeaways

  • You must turn off Automatic date and time before you can manually set the clock, otherwise the phone will override your change.
  • The time field is in Settings → General management → Date and time on most current Samsung phones.
  • If automatic time is on, your phone syncs with your carrier or a time server and resets the clock on its own.
  • Turning off automatic time means your clock will not update if you travel to a different time zone unless you change it by hand.

Why your Samsung phone has automatic time turned on

By default, Samsung phones receive the correct time from your mobile carrier or from internet time servers. This keeps your clock accurate without you having to think about it. The phone updates the time automatically whenever the signal changes or the date rolls over.

Automatic time also handles time zones. If you fly across the country, your phone detects the new time zone and adjusts the clock for you. This is why the automatic setting exists — it saves you from having to reset the time every time you travel or after a power outage.

The downside is that you cannot override it. If you want your clock to show a different time than what the network is sending, you have to switch automatic off first.

Turning off automatic time so you can set the clock manually

Open Settings and scroll down to find General management. Tap it, then tap Date and time. You will see a toggle next to Automatic date and time — it is usually blue and switched on. Tap the toggle to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray.

Once automatic is off, the time field below it becomes editable. Tap on the time (it usually shows the hour and minute in a large font). A keyboard or number picker will appear. Type or select the hour and minute you want, then tap Done or press the back button to save your change.

Your phone will now keep the time you set, even if the network tries to update it. The clock will not change again until you manually change it or turn automatic time back on.

What happens if you leave automatic time on

If Automatic date and time is on, the time field is grayed out and you cannot tap it. Any attempt to change the time will be overridden within seconds or minutes as your phone syncs with the network again. This is a safety feature — it prevents you from accidentally setting the wrong time and then forgetting about it.

Leaving automatic on is the right choice for most people. Your clock stays correct, you do not have to reset it when you travel, and you do not have to worry about it drifting. The only reason to turn it off is if you want your phone to display a time that is different from the actual time in your location.

Changing the date on your Samsung phone

The date field is right next to the time field in Settings → General management → Date and time. Like the time, the date is grayed out if automatic date and time is on. Turn off the automatic toggle first, then tap the date field.

A calendar picker will appear. Scroll through the months and tap the day you want. Some Samsung phones show a text field instead where you can type the date directly — the format is usually month/day/year or day/month/year depending on your region. Tap Done to save.

Changing the date is less common than changing the time, but you might need to do it if your phone's internal clock battery has died and the date reset to a very old date, or if you are testing an app that depends on the date.

Resetting the time if you turned automatic back on

If you turned off automatic time and then changed your mind, go back to Settings → General management → Date and time and toggle Automatic date and time back on. Your phone will contact the network within a few seconds and set the correct time and date for your location.

There is no delay or restart needed — the change happens in the background. Your clock will jump to the correct time as soon as the phone syncs. This is why turning automatic back on is the easiest way to fix a clock that has drifted or been set wrong by accident.

Changing the time format (12-hour or 24-hour)

In the same Date and time menu, you will see an option for Time format or Use 24-hour format. Tap it to toggle between 12-hour (showing AM and PM) and 24-hour (military time, where 1 PM is 13:00). This changes how the clock displays on your home screen and lock screen, but does not change the actual time.

Your choice here is purely visual. A 12-hour clock shows 3:45 PM; a 24-hour clock shows 15:45. Both are the same moment. The setting you choose does not affect alarms, timers, or any other function — it only changes what you see when you look at the time on your phone.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my Samsung phone keep resetting the time I set?

Automatic date and time is still on. Go to Settings → General management → Date and time and make sure the toggle for Automatic date and time is off (gray). If it is on (blue), your phone will override any time you set within seconds.

Can I set different times for different apps?

No. The time on your Samsung phone is system-wide — every app sees the same clock. If you need an app to show a different time, you have to change the phone's system time, which affects everything. Most apps do not let you override the system time.

What if I cannot find General management in Settings?

Older Samsung phones or different Android versions may organize the menu differently. Try searching for "date and time" using the search bar at the top of Settings. Or look for System → Date and time. If neither works, your phone model may use a different path — check your phone's manual or Samsung's support site for your specific model.

Does turning off automatic time drain the battery?

No. Turning off automatic time has no meaningful effect on battery life. Your phone uses very little power to keep the clock running, whether it is syncing with the network or running on its own. The difference is too small to measure.

Will my alarms still work if I change the time?

Yes. Alarms are set for a specific time of day, and they will go off at that time no matter what time you have manually set the clock to. If you set an alarm for 7:00 AM and then change the system time to 3:00 PM, the alarm will still ring at 7:00 AM when the clock reaches that time.