Where to find the date and time settings on your Mac
The date and time settings live in System Settings, which is the control center for your entire Mac. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner of your screen, then select System Settings. On older Macs running macOS Monterey or earlier, it's called System Preferences instead — the process is the same.
Once System Settings opens, look for General in the sidebar on the left. Click it, then select Date & Time from the options that appear. This is where you control what your Mac displays and how it keeps time.
Key Takeaways
- Open System Settings, click General, then Date & Time to reach the controls you need.
- Your Mac can set the date and time automatically using Apple's servers, or you can enter them manually by unchecking the automatic option first.
- The time zone setting is separate from the date and time itself — change it if you travel or move to a different region.
- If your Mac keeps reverting to the wrong date after you restart, the internal battery may need replacement, and a technician should check it.
Setting the date and time automatically
By default, your Mac is set to update the date and time automatically using Apple's time servers. This is the most reliable method because your Mac stays synchronized without any action from you. You'll see a checkbox labeled Set date and time automatically — if it's already checked, your Mac is handling this on its own.
Automatic time-setting works as long as your Mac is connected to the internet. If you're offline for a while, your Mac will use its internal clock until it reconnects and syncs again. This is why the date and time can drift slightly if your Mac has been unplugged for days.
Changing the date and time manually
If you need to set a specific date or time — perhaps your Mac's clock drifted, or you're testing something — uncheck the Set date and time automatically box first. Once you do, the date and time fields become editable.
Click on the date field and type the date in the format your region uses. In the United States, that's typically MM/DD/YYYY. Then click the time field and enter the hour, minute, and second. Your Mac will accept the new values as soon as you click elsewhere or press Enter. After you've made your changes, you can turn automatic updating back on if you want.
Changing your time zone
The time zone setting is separate from the actual date and time. If you travel or move to a different region, you'll want to update this so your Mac displays the correct local time. In the Date & Time window, look for the Time zone section.
Click the dropdown menu and search for your city or region. Your Mac will show you the current time in that zone so you can confirm you've selected the right one. If you travel frequently, you can also set your Mac to detect your time zone automatically based on your location — there's a checkbox for this option as well.
What to do if the date keeps resetting
If you set the date and time manually, restart your Mac, and find it has reverted to an incorrect date — especially a date from years ago — this usually points to a hardware issue. Your Mac has an internal battery called a CMOS battery that keeps the date and time running when the Mac is powered off. When this battery fails, your Mac loses track of time.
This is not something you can fix yourself through settings. Take your Mac to an Apple Store or an authorized repair technician, who can replace the battery. In the meantime, you can turn on automatic date and time updating if you have internet, and your Mac will stay correct while it's powered on.
Using the menu bar clock
Once you've set your date and time, you can see it in the menu bar at the top of your screen. Click the clock to open a small calendar and time display. This is useful for checking the current date at a glance or seeing what day of the week a particular date falls on.
You can also customize what the menu bar clock displays — for example, showing the date alongside the time, or displaying the time in 24-hour format instead of 12-hour. These options are in the Date & Time settings under Clock. Check the boxes next to the information you want to see.
Syncing time across multiple Macs
If you have more than one Mac, they'll all stay synchronized automatically as long as they're connected to the internet and set to automatic time updating. You don't need to do anything — Apple's servers keep them all in sync.
If you've manually changed the time on one Mac for testing purposes, the others won't be affected. Each Mac maintains its own settings. Once you turn automatic updating back on, that Mac will resync with the servers and match the others again.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Mac show the wrong time even though I set it correctly?
If automatic updating is turned on, your Mac may be syncing to a time server that's using a different time zone than you expect. Check that your time zone is set correctly in the Date & Time settings. If the time is still wrong after that, restart your Mac and check again — sometimes a restart is needed for changes to take effect.
Can I set different times for different user accounts on the same Mac?
No. The date and time are system-wide settings that explore to the entire Mac, regardless of which user account is logged in. All accounts see the same clock. However, each user can customize how the clock appears in their menu bar independently.
What happens if I change the date to test something, then turn automatic updating back on?
Your Mac will when ready sync with Apple's time servers and correct itself to the actual current date and time. Any changes you made manually will be overwritten. This is why automatic updating is the safest option for everyday use.
Does changing the time zone affect my files or backups?
Changing the time zone does not alter your files or their timestamps. Your Mac stores file creation and modification times in a format that's independent of time zone, so switching zones won't corrupt anything. Backups made with Time Machine will continue to work normally.