Where to find the date and time settings on iPhone

The date and time settings live in the Settings app under General, then Date & Time. Open Settings, tap General, scroll down and tap Date & Time. From there you can change the date, the time, and the time zone your phone uses. The whole process takes under a minute.

Your iPhone has two ways to set the time: you can let it update automatically based on your location and network, or you can set it manually yourself. Most people leave automatic on, but if you need to change the time for any reason — you're traveling, your phone is showing the wrong time, or you need to set it to a specific moment — the manual option is straightforward.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time to reach the controls for changing your date and time.
  • Toggle off "Set Automatically" if you want to change the time or date manually instead of letting your network do it.
  • Once automatic is off, you can tap the date and time fields to edit them directly.
  • If you change your time zone, your iPhone will update the time automatically to match the new zone.
  • Changing the date or time on your iPhone does not affect any of your stored data or backups.

How to turn off automatic date and time

By default, your iPhone sets the date and time automatically using information from your cellular network or Wi-Fi connection. To change it manually, you first need to turn this automatic setting off. In the Date & Time screen, look for the toggle next to "Set Automatically" and tap it to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, meaning automatic is now disabled.

Once you turn off automatic, the date and time fields below it become editable. You'll see "Time Zone" at the top, followed by fields for the date and time. The fields are now active and ready for you to change them. If you leave automatic on, those fields stay locked and you cannot edit them — the network controls them instead.

Changing the date on your iPhone

After you turn off automatic, tap the date field. A date picker will appear showing the current date with spinning wheels for the month, day, and year. Scroll up or down on each wheel to select the month, day, and year you want. The wheels work like a slot machine — flick up to go backward in time, flick down to go forward. Once you have the date you want showing, tap outside the picker or tap a confirm button to close it.

The date field shows the date in the format your region uses — for example, 12/25/2024 in the United States or 25/12/2024 in the United Kingdom. The picker respects that format, so you'll see the wheels in the order your region expects. If you need to go back or forward many years, flicking can take a while; you can also tap directly on the year wheel and type the year if your iPhone supports it.

Changing the time on your iPhone

Tap the time field to open the time picker. You'll see spinning wheels for hours and minutes, and sometimes a third wheel for AM or PM if your region uses 12-hour time. Scroll the hours wheel to the hour you want, scroll the minutes wheel to the minutes, and if needed, tap AM or PM. Once the time is set, tap outside the picker to close it and save the change.

The time picker shows time in the format your iPhone is set to — either 12-hour (with AM/PM) or 24-hour. You can change which format your phone uses in Settings under General > Date & Time, but that's a separate setting from the actual time itself. The time you set here is what your iPhone will display and use for all functions until you change it again or turn automatic back on.

Changing your time zone

At the top of the Date & Time screen, above the date and time fields, you'll see "Time Zone" with your current zone listed next to it. Tap on the time zone field to see a list of all available zones. Scroll through the list and tap the zone you want. Your iPhone will when ready update the time to match that zone, even if you have automatic turned off.

When you change time zones, your iPhone adjusts the clock time but keeps the same moment in time — if it's noon in New York and you switch to Pacific time, the clock will show 9 a.m., but it's still the same moment. This is useful when you travel; you can change your time zone and your phone will show the local time wherever you are. If you turn automatic back on, your iPhone will detect your location and update the time zone for you.

When automatic date and time is the better choice

Leaving "Set Automatically" turned on is the right choice for most people most of the time. Your iPhone gets the correct date and time from your network, so you never have to think about it. When you travel across time zones, automatic handles the switch without you doing anything. Your phone stays accurate without any work on your part.

The only reason to turn automatic off is if you need the time to be different from what your network provides — for example, if you're testing an app that depends on a specific date, or if your network is giving you the wrong time for some reason. Once you've made your change, turn automatic back on so your phone returns to normal operation. Leaving it off for a long time can cause your phone to drift out of sync with real time.

Checking that your change worked

After you change the date or time, look at the top of your iPhone screen. The status bar at the very top shows the current time. If you changed the time, you should see your new time displayed there. If you changed the date, open the Calendar app or look at any app that shows the date — the new date should appear. These are quick ways to confirm your change took effect.

If the time or date reverts back to what it was before, it usually means automatic turned itself back on. This can happen if you restart your phone or if your network connection changes. Go back into Settings > General > Date & Time and check whether "Set Automatically" is on. If it is and you wanted to keep your manual time, turn it off again.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the date or time delete my photos or messages?

No. Changing the date and time does not affect any of your data, photos, messages, or backups. Your iPhone stores all your information separately from the system clock. You can change the time as many times as you want without losing anything.

What happens if I change the date to the future or past?

Your iPhone will use whatever date you set. Apps, reminders, and calendar events will work based on that date. If you set the date far in the past or future, some apps might behave strangely or show incorrect information. Turn automatic back on to return to the real date and time.

Can I set the time to seconds, not just hours and minutes?

The iPhone date and time picker only lets you set hours and minutes. You cannot set seconds manually. If an app needs precise seconds, you would need to use that app's own timer or clock feature.

Why does my iPhone keep changing the time back?

This happens when "Set Automatically" is turned on. Your network or location services are updating the time for you. If you want to keep a manual time, make sure "Set Automatically" is off and stays off. Restarting your phone sometimes turns automatic back on.

Do I need to change the date and time when I travel?

If you leave "Set Automatically" on, your iPhone will change the time zone and time for you based on your location. You don't need to do anything. If you turn automatic off, you would need to change the time zone manually when you arrive in a new place.