Where to find the date and time settings

The date and time settings on an iPad live in the Settings app, not in the Clock app or Control Center. Open Settings from your home screen, tap General, then tap Date & Time. This is where you can change both the date and the time, or switch between 12-hour and 24-hour format.

Most iPads are set to update the date and time automatically using your internet connection. If you see a toggle labeled Set Automatically turned on, your iPad is pulling the correct time from Apple's servers. Turning this off lets you set the date and time by hand.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time to reach the controls for changing your iPad's date and time.
  • Turn off the Set Automatically toggle if you want to change the date or time manually instead of letting your iPad update it from the internet.
  • After you turn off automatic updates, tap the date field to change the date using a scroll wheel, and tap the time field to change the time the same way.
  • If your iPad is part of a school or work account managed by an administrator, you may not be able to change the date and time yourself.

Turning off automatic date and time updates

By default, iPads update the date and time on their own by connecting to the internet. This keeps your device accurate without any work on your part. However, if you need to set a different date or time — for testing, for a game, or for any other reason — you need to turn off this automatic setting first.

In the Date & Time settings, look for the toggle next to Set Automatically. Tap it once to turn it off. The toggle will change color and the text below it will change from showing your time zone to showing manual controls. Once this is off, you can change the date and time by hand.

Changing the date on your iPad

After you turn off Set Automatically, a field labeled Date will appear. Tap on this field and a scroll wheel will pop up showing the month, day, and year. Scroll up or down on each section to select the date you want. The month and day wheels show your current selection at the top, and the year wheel scrolls through a range of years.

Tap outside the scroll wheel or tap a blank area of the screen when you are done. Your new date is saved right away — there is no separate Save button. If you change your mind, you can open Date & Time again and adjust it.

Changing the time on your iPad

The Time field works the same way as the date field. Tap on it and a scroll wheel appears showing hours and minutes. Scroll to the hour you want, then scroll the minutes section to the right minute. If your iPad is set to 24-hour time, the hours will go from 0 to 23; if it is set to 12-hour time, you will also see an AM or PM wheel.

The time updates as soon as you finish scrolling. You do not need to confirm or save. If you want to switch between 12-hour and 24-hour format, that option is also in the Date & Time settings — look for 24-Hour Time and toggle it on or off.

What happens when you turn automatic updates back on

If you turn the Set Automatically toggle back on, your iPad will when ready sync with Apple's time servers and overwrite whatever date and time you set manually. This happens within a few seconds. Your iPad will then stay in sync with the internet time and ignore any manual changes you try to make.

This is useful if you were testing something and want your iPad to show the correct time again. Just flip the toggle back on and wait a moment for the sync to happen.

When you cannot change the date and time

If your iPad is managed by a school, workplace, or family account, an administrator may have locked the date and time settings. In this case, the Date & Time section will be grayed out or the Set Automatically toggle will be locked in the on position. You will not be able to change it yourself.

If this is the case and you need to change the date or time, contact the person who manages your iPad — usually your school IT department, your workplace IT support, or the adult who set up Family Sharing on your account. They can either change it for you or give you permission to change it yourself.

Checking your time zone

Below the date and time fields, you will see your current time zone. If you travel or move, you may want to update this. Tap Time Zone and a list of regions appears. Scroll to find your region and tap it. Your iPad will adjust the time automatically to match the new zone.

If you have Set Automatically turned on, your iPad will detect your time zone based on your location and update it without you doing anything. If you turn off automatic updates, you can set the time zone by hand using this same list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does my iPad keep changing the date and time back to what it was before?

Your iPad is probably set to update automatically. Open Settings, go to General, then Date & Time, and check whether Set Automatically is turned on. If it is, turn it off before you change the date or time. If it stays on, your iPad will overwrite your changes within seconds.

Can I change the date and time on a shared iPad?

If the iPad is managed by a school or workplace, the administrator controls the date and time settings. You will not be able to change them. Contact your IT department or the person who manages the device. If it is a personal iPad shared through Family Sharing, the account holder may have restricted these settings.

What if the date and time settings are grayed out?

A grayed-out Date & Time section means an administrator has locked it. This is common on school and work iPads. You cannot change it yourself. Ask the administrator to unlock it or change the settings for you.

Does changing the date affect my iPad's battery or performance?

No. Changing the date and time does not harm your iPad or drain the battery. However, setting the date far in the past or future may cause some apps to behave oddly — for example, apps that track when you last opened them or apps that check expiration dates on content.

Will changing the date and time affect my backups or iCloud sync?

Changing the date and time manually does not delete or corrupt your backups. However, if you set the date far in the past, iCloud may have trouble syncing because it thinks your device is out of date. Turn Set Automatically back on to fix this.