The quickest way to change your iPhone time
Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time. Toggle off Set Automatically if it is on. Now you can tap the time display and adjust the hours and minutes with the plus and minus buttons, or type the numbers directly. Tap outside the field when you are done.
If you leave Set Automatically turned on, your iPhone will pull the time from your cellular network or Wi-Fi connection and update it on its own. This is the default setting and works for most people. You only need to change it manually if you are in a location where the automatic time is wrong, or if you are troubleshooting a time-related problem.
Key Takeaways
- Turn off Set Automatically in Settings > General > Date & Time before you can manually change the time.
- Your iPhone can adjust the time zone separately from the clock time, so check both if the time is off by a full hour or more.
- Restarting your iPhone often fixes time problems without requiring manual changes.
- If Set Automatically is on and the time is still wrong, the issue is usually with your network connection or location services.
Why your iPhone time might be wrong
The most common reason is that Set Automatically is on but your iPhone cannot reach a time server. This happens when you are offline, have weak cellular or Wi-Fi signal, or are in a location where the network is not sending the correct time data. Restarting your iPhone usually fixes this—hold the power button until the slider appears, swipe to power off, wait a few seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.
A second reason is that your time zone setting is wrong. Even if the clock time is correct, the wrong time zone can make your calendar, reminders, and scheduled tasks appear at the wrong times. Check Settings > General > Date & Time and confirm that the time zone listed matches where you are or where you want your events to be scheduled.
Changing the time zone separately from the clock time
Your iPhone has two separate settings: the actual time and the time zone. You can change one without changing the other. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and look for the Time Zone field near the top. Tap it and type the name of a city in the time zone you want—for example, "New York" for Eastern Time or "Los Angeles" for Pacific Time. Your iPhone will update the time zone when ready.
The clock time itself is set in the same screen, below the time zone field. If Set Automatically is on, the time will match your time zone. If you turn Set Automatically off, you can set the time to anything you want, independent of the time zone. This is rarely necessary, but it is useful if you are testing something or if you need the clock to show a different time than your actual location.
When to turn off automatic time updates
Leave Set Automatically on in normal use. Turn it off only if you are in a place where the network is sending the wrong time, or if you need to set a specific time for testing or troubleshooting. Once you turn it off, your iPhone will not update the time on its own, so you will need to change it manually if you travel to a different time zone or if daylight saving time begins or ends.
If you turn off Set Automatically and then travel, remember to turn it back on or to manually update the time zone. Many people forget and end up with their iPhone showing the wrong time for days. If this happens to you, go back to Settings > General > Date & Time, turn Set Automatically back on, and wait a few seconds for the time to update.
Restarting your iPhone to fix time problems
Before you manually change anything, restart your iPhone. This clears temporary glitches that often cause the time to be wrong. Hold down the Side button (on newer iPhones) or the Top button (on older models) until the power-off slider appears. Swipe the slider to the right to turn off your iPhone, wait about 10 seconds, then press the button again to turn it back on.
After the restart, check whether the time is now correct. If Set Automatically is on, your iPhone should pull the correct time from the network within a few seconds. If the time is still wrong after a restart, then you know the problem is not a temporary glitch, and you can move on to checking your time zone or manually setting the time.
What to do if the time keeps changing on its own
If you set the time manually and it keeps changing back, Set Automatically is still on. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the toggle next to Set Automatically is off (it should be gray, not green). If it is already off and the time is still changing, restart your iPhone and check again.
Another possibility is that you are in a location where the network is sending a different time than you expect. For example, if you are traveling and your iPhone connects to a local network, it may update to the local time even though you wanted to keep your home time zone. In this case, turn off Set Automatically and set the time manually, or change your time zone to match where you are.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the time on my iPhone without turning off Set Automatically?
No. Set Automatically must be off before you can manually change the time. If it is on, the time field will be grayed out and you cannot tap it. Turn off the toggle, wait a moment, and then the time field will become editable.
Will changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?
If you change the time zone, your alarms and reminders will shift to match the new zone. If you change only the clock time (with Set Automatically off), alarms and reminders may not fire at the expected moment. It is safer to change the time zone rather than the clock time.
What if my iPhone time is correct but my calendar shows events at the wrong time?
Check your time zone setting. Even if the clock shows the right time, the wrong time zone can make calendar events appear off by an hour or more. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and confirm the time zone matches your location.
Does restarting my iPhone erase anything?
No. Restarting is safe and does not delete any data, photos, or settings. It straightforward turns the phone off and back on, which clears temporary memory and often fixes software glitches like incorrect time.
Why does my iPhone time change when I travel?
If Set Automatically is on, your iPhone updates the time zone based on your location and the network you connect to. This is intentional and helps keep your calendar and reminders accurate when you travel. If you do not want this to happen, turn off Set Automatically before you travel.