Where to find the date and time settings

The date and time controls on a Chromebook live in the system tray — the small area at the bottom right of your screen where the clock, battery, and Wi-Fi icons sit. Click anywhere in that tray and a menu will open. At the top of that menu, you will see the current date and time. Click on it, and the Settings window opens directly to the date and time panel.

If clicking the clock does not work, you can also reach the same panel by clicking the system menu (the circle or grid icon at the far right of the taskbar), then clicking the gear icon labeled Settings, then selecting Device on the left side, and then Date and time.

Key Takeaways

  • Click the clock in the bottom right corner of your screen to open date and time settings in one step.
  • Most Chromebooks set the date and time automatically using the internet, so you may not need to change anything manually.
  • If automatic time is turned on, you must turn it off before you can type in a different date or time yourself.
  • The time zone setting is separate from the date and time — you can change one without changing the other.

Turning off automatic date and time

By default, your Chromebook fetches the correct date and time from the internet and updates them automatically. This is why you rarely need to adjust them yourself. However, if you want to set a custom date or time, you must first turn off this automatic setting.

In the Date and time panel, look for the toggle labeled "Set time automatically using the internet" or similar wording. Click it to turn it off. Once it is off, the date and time fields below it will become editable — you can now click on them and type in your own values.

Entering a new date manually

After you turn off automatic time, click on the date field. A small calendar picker will appear. You can click the forward and back arrows to move between months, then click the day you want. Alternatively, you can click directly in the date field and type the date in the format shown — usually MM/DD/YYYY (month, day, year).

If you type the date, make sure you use the correct format for your region. The field will show you an example of the format it expects. Once you have entered the date, click outside the field or press Enter to confirm it.

Entering a new time manually

The time field works the same way. Click on it and you will see a time picker with hour and minute controls. You can click the up and down arrows next to each number to adjust them, or click directly in the field and type the time. Most Chromebooks use 24-hour format (00:00 to 23:59), but some may show 12-hour format with AM and PM.

Check the format shown in the example text above the field. Once you have set the time you want, click outside the field or press Enter to save it.

Changing your time zone

The time zone setting is separate from the date and time themselves. Even if automatic time is turned on, you can still change your time zone. Scroll down in the Date and time panel until you see the time zone field. Click on it and a dropdown list will appear showing time zones organized by region.

Type the name of your region or city to search the list — for example, typing "New York" will jump to Eastern Time. Once you select your time zone, the clock will adjust automatically to show the correct time for that zone. This change takes effect when ready.

What to do if the settings will not save

If you change the date or time but the settings do not stick, the most common cause is that automatic time is still turned on. Go back to the Date and time panel and confirm that the "Set time automatically" toggle is off. If it is already off but the time keeps reverting, your Chromebook may not have internet access — automatic time cannot turn itself off, but it will override manual changes if the connection is active.

Another possibility is that your Chromebook is managed by a school or workplace. If you see a message saying the settings are controlled by your administrator, you will not be able to change them. Contact your IT department or school tech support to request a change.

Why your Chromebook might show the wrong time

If your Chromebook is showing the wrong time even though automatic time is on, the issue is usually your time zone setting. Check that the time zone matches where you actually are. If it does and the time is still wrong, restart your Chromebook — sometimes the automatic sync fails until you reboot.

If restarting does not fix it, check your internet connection. Automatic time requires an active connection to sync with Google's servers. If you are offline or on a blocked network, the time will not update. Once you reconnect to a working network, the time should correct itself within a few minutes.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I set a different time zone without changing the actual date and time?

Yes. The time zone setting is independent. You can change your time zone and the clock will adjust to show the correct time for that zone, but the date and time values themselves do not change — only what they represent changes.

What happens if I turn off automatic time and then never turn it back on?

Your Chromebook will keep whatever date and time you set manually, and it will not update them. Over time, the clock will drift slightly out of sync with the real time. It is usually better to leave automatic time on unless you have a specific reason to set a custom time.

Do I need to restart my Chromebook after changing the date and time?

No. Changes to the date and time take effect when ready. You do not need to restart or log out. However, if a change does not seem to take effect, restarting can help clear up sync issues.

Can I change the date and time from the lock screen?

No. You must be logged in to your Chromebook to access the Settings panel. The clock on the lock screen shows the current time but cannot be adjusted from there.