How to Change the Time on Any Device

Understanding Time Settings Across Different Device Types

Devices display time in different ways depending on their design and purpose. Smartphones, tablets, computers, and smartwatches all maintain their own internal clocks that track time and date information. When you change the time on a device, you're updating the data stored in that device's system settings. This data controls how the device displays time in the status bar, on lock screens, in calendar applications, and throughout the operating system.

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Different device manufacturers use different operating systems, which means the steps to change time vary considerably. Apple devices running iOS or macOS have different menu structures than Android phones or Windows computers. Even within the same operating system, older versions may have slightly different layouts than newer versions. Understanding that your specific device type will have a unique path to time settings is the first step in making changes successfully.

Most devices offer two approaches to time management: automatic time updates and manual time entry. Automatic time updates mean your device receives time information from internet sources or cellular networks, which keeps the time accurate without your involvement. Manual time entry means you personally enter the date and time information into your device's settings. Many people prefer automatic updates because they eliminate the need for manual adjustments, particularly when traveling across time zones.

The reasons you might change device time include: traveling to different time zones, adjusting for daylight saving time transitions, correcting an incorrect time after losing power, or troubleshooting calendar and scheduling issues. Some devices also allow you to change the time format between 12-hour and 24-hour displays, which affects how the time appears visually without changing the actual time itself.

Practical Takeaway: Before changing any device time settings, determine whether you want to use automatic time updates (which rely on network connections) or manual time entry. Write down your current time zone and desired time zone so you can make precise adjustments without errors.

Changing Time on iPhone and iPad Devices

iPhones and iPads running iOS or iPadOS store time settings within the Settings application, which appears as a gray gear icon on the home screen. Accessing time settings requires navigating through several menu layers. Open the Settings app, then look for the "General" option, which typically appears near the top of the settings list. Within General, you'll find an option labeled "Date & Time." This is where all time-related adjustments occur on Apple mobile devices.

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Once in the Date & Time menu, you'll see a toggle switch labeled "Set Automatically." When this toggle is turned on (indicated by green coloring), your device receives time information from Apple's servers or your cellular carrier, and manual time changes become unavailable. The device displays this status to prevent accidental conflicts between automatic and manual settings. If you want to manually enter time information, you must first turn off the "Set Automatically" toggle by tapping it once.

After disabling automatic time updates, several new options appear on your screen. You'll see separate entries for "Time Zone," "Date," and "Time." Tapping on Time Zone opens a searchable list where you can type your location or time zone abbreviation. The system then displays your selected time zone. Tapping on the Date field reveals a scrolling wheel interface where you adjust the month, day, and year by rolling each section up or down with your finger. The Time field works similarly, with scrolling wheels for hours, minutes, and AM/PM designation.

A practical consideration: when traveling internationally, you may want to keep automatic time updates enabled rather than manually changing the time. This means your device updates its time automatically when connecting to networks in different regions. However, some travelers disable automatic updates temporarily to maintain coordination with people in their home time zone during brief trips.

Apple devices also offer the option to change time display format. In the same Date & Time menu, you'll find a "24-Hour Time" toggle. Enabling this toggle changes how the time appears throughout your device, displaying times as 13:00 instead of 1:00 PM, for example. This is purely a display preference and doesn't change the actual time—only how it appears visually.

Practical Takeaway: On iPhones and iPads, disable automatic time updates before manually entering new time information. Use the scrolling wheel interface to adjust each time component individually, and remember to re-enable automatic updates when you've finished making manual changes.

Changing Time on Android Phones and Tablets

Android devices vary more widely than iPhones because multiple manufacturers produce Android phones with slightly different interface designs. However, the core process remains similar across most Android devices. Begin by opening the Settings application, which typically appears as a gear icon or can be accessed through a menu. Look for an option labeled "System," "System and Device," or "About Phone," depending on your device manufacturer and Android version.

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Within System settings, search for "Date and Time" or "Time." Different manufacturers place this option in different locations—some include it under "System," others under "Display," and some under a general "Advanced" menu. Once you locate Date and Time settings, you'll see options for automatic time updates. Look for a toggle or checkbox labeled "Automatic Date and Time" or "Use Network-Provided Time." Turning this off allows you to make manual adjustments.

After disabling automatic time updates, you'll see additional options appear. These typically include "Set Date," "Set Time," and "Select Time Zone." Tapping Set Date usually opens a calendar interface where you select the desired date by tapping a specific day. Some devices display a numeric input screen instead, where you enter the date using numbers. Set Time typically opens a clock interface showing hours and minutes, where you tap or scroll to adjust each component.

The Select Time Zone option displays a list of available time zones, often organized by major cities and regions. You can scroll through this list or search by typing your location name. Some Android versions also include a 24-hour time format toggle, usually found in the same Date and Time menu. This functions identically to the iPhone version, changing only the display format without altering actual time.

One consideration specific to Android: some devices include additional options for Network Time Protocol (NTP) servers, which are specialized servers that provide extremely accurate time information. These settings appear only on certain Android versions and devices. For most users, the standard automatic time update feature works sufficiently without manually configuring NTP servers.

If you're using a Samsung device specifically, the path may be: Settings > General Management > Date and Time. For Google Pixel devices, try: Settings > System > System Update, then look for Date and Time within that menu. Always consult your specific device model's documentation if you cannot locate these settings.

Practical Takeaway: On Android devices, first locate and disable automatic time updates, then use the date and time input interfaces to make your adjustments. If you can't find Date and Time settings in the obvious locations, try searching for "Date" within the Settings app—most Android devices include a search function to help locate settings.

Changing Time on Windows Computers

Windows computers store time settings in the system tray, the area in the bottom-right corner of your screen that displays the current time, network status, and battery information. The quickest method to access time settings is clicking directly on the time display in this system tray. This action opens a small window showing the current date and time, along with a calendar view. Within this popup window, you'll see a link or button labeled "Change date and time settings" or simply "Date & time settings."

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Alternatively, you can access time settings through the Settings application. Open Settings (usually by pressing the Windows key and typing "Settings"), then navigate to "Time & language" or "Time & timezone." Once in this menu, you'll see your current time zone and options for automatic time updates. Windows displays a toggle for "Set time automatically," which, when enabled, keeps your computer's time synchronized with internet time servers.

To make manual time changes, you must first disable automatic time updates by turning off the "Set time automatically" toggle. After doing this, additional options become available. You'll see a "Change" button or link labeled "Change date and time." Clicking this opens a dialog box with input fields for the date and time. Some Windows versions require Administrator permission to make these changes, which may prompt you to enter a password or confirm the action.

The date input field typically uses a numerical format such as MM/DD/YYYY. You can click within this field and type the new date, or use arrow buttons to increment the numbers. The time input field displays hours, minutes, and sometimes seconds. Clicking within each section allows you to