Where to find the date and time settings

Open the Settings app on your iPhone — it's the gray icon with gears. Scroll down and tap General, then tap Date & Time. This is where you control whether your phone sets the time automatically or manually, and where you change the time zone.

The Date & Time menu has only a few options, so you won't get lost. The most important one is the toggle for Set Automatically, which is turned on by default. When it's on, your iPhone pulls the correct time from your cellular network or Wi-Fi connection and updates it without you doing anything.

Key Takeaways

  • The Date & Time settings are in Settings > General > Date & Time, and most iPhones keep this set to automatic by default.
  • Turning off "Set Automatically" lets you change the time and date manually, but your phone will not update them again until you turn the toggle back on.
  • Changing your time zone is separate from changing the time itself — you can do one without doing the other.
  • If your iPhone shows the wrong time even with automatic set on, restart your phone or toggle the setting off and back on.

Turning off automatic time and setting it manually

If you want to change the time yourself instead of letting your phone do it, tap the toggle next to Set Automatically to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray. Once it's off, two new options appear: Time Zone and Set Date & Time.

Tap Set Date & Time to open a picker. You'll see three columns: one for the hour, one for the minute, and one for AM or PM. Spin each wheel up or down until the time matches what you want. When you're done, tap Back to save your change. The date picker works the same way — tap it, spin the wheels for month, day, and year, then tap Back.

Keep in mind that once you turn off automatic time, your iPhone will not update the time on its own anymore. If you travel to a different time zone, you'll have to change it manually, or turn the automatic toggle back on and let your phone handle it.

Changing your time zone without changing the time

Your time zone and your actual time are two separate things. You can change one without changing the other. If you turn off Set Automatically, you'll see a Time Zone option appear. Tap it to see a list of cities and regions. Type the name of a city in the time zone you want — for example, "Denver" for Mountain Time or "London" for GMT — and tap it when it appears.

Changing your time zone this way does not change the clock on your phone. It only tells your iPhone which time zone you're in, which affects how it displays times in your calendar, email, and other apps. If you want to change the actual time as well, you need to tap Set Date & Time separately.

What to do if your iPhone shows the wrong time

If your phone shows the wrong time even though Set Automatically is turned on, the first thing to try is restarting your iPhone. Hold down the power button and one of the volume buttons until the power-off slider appears, then slide it to turn off your phone. Wait a few seconds, then hold the power button again until you see the Apple logo.

If restarting doesn't fix it, go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle Set Automatically off, then back on. This forces your phone to fetch the correct time from the network again. If the time is still wrong after that, the problem may be with your Wi-Fi or cellular connection — try connecting to a different network or restarting your router.

Why your iPhone might need manual time changes

Most of the time, you'll never need to change the date or time manually. Your iPhone stays in sync with your network automatically. The main reason to turn off automatic time is if you're testing something, troubleshooting a problem, or if your phone is not connecting to a network that provides the correct time.

If you're traveling and your phone doesn't automatically switch to the local time zone, you can change it manually in the Date & Time settings. Some older iPhones or those with poor network connections may not update the time zone right away, so doing it by hand is faster than waiting.

Daylight saving time and automatic updates

When daylight saving time begins or ends, your iPhone updates automatically if Set Automatically is on. You don't have to do anything — your phone receives the change from the network and adjusts the time by one hour on the correct date.

If you have Set Automatically turned off, your phone will not adjust for daylight saving time. You'll have to change the time manually when the switch happens. This is one reason why leaving automatic time on is usually the better choice — it saves you from forgetting to adjust your clock twice a year.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different time on my iPhone than what my network shows?

Yes. Turn off Set Automatically in Settings > General > Date & Time, then tap Set Date & Time and change it to whatever you want. Your phone will keep that time until you turn automatic back on or change it again manually.

Does changing the time zone change the actual time on my phone?

No. Your time zone and your clock are separate. Changing the time zone tells your iPhone which region you're in, but it doesn't change what the clock displays. If you want both to change, you need to adjust them separately.

Why does my iPhone keep showing the wrong time even after I set it?

If Set Automatically is on, your phone is overriding your manual change with the time from the network. Turn off automatic time if you want your manual setting to stick. If automatic is already off and the time is still wrong, restart your phone or check that you're connected to Wi-Fi or cellular service.

What happens to my alarms and reminders if I change the time?

Alarms and reminders are tied to the actual time, not the clock display. If you change your phone's time manually, alarms may go off at unexpected times until you change the time back or turn automatic time back on. It's best to leave automatic time on to avoid this problem.