Learn How to Adjust Time on Any Device

Understanding Time Zones and How Devices Display Them

Every device that displays time—whether it's a smartphone, computer, smartwatch, or tablet—relies on time zone information to show you the correct local time. A time zone is a region of the Earth where people use the same standard time. The world is divided into 24 main time zones, each roughly one hour apart. When you travel from one location to another or move to a different part of the country, your device may need adjustment so it displays the correct time for where you actually are.

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Time zones exist because the Earth rotates, and different parts of the world experience daylight at different times. Without time zones, noon would occur at vastly different times depending on your longitude. The system started in the 1880s when railroads needed a standardized way to schedule trains across different regions. Today, most time zones are measured in hours and half-hours relative to Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), also called Greenwich Mean Time (GMT). For example, Eastern Standard Time is UTC-5, meaning it is five hours behind the reference point.

Many devices offer two ways to manage time: automatic time setting and manual adjustment. Automatic time setting means your device connects to network-based time servers and updates itself. Manual adjustment means you change the time yourself through your device's settings. Understanding which method your device uses helps you keep accurate time without confusion.

Daylight saving time (DST) adds another layer to time management. In regions that observe DST, clocks "spring forward" by one hour in spring and "fall back" by one hour in fall. Not all countries or regions use DST. The United States, Europe, and several other areas observe it, but many nations near the equator do not. When you adjust your time zone or travel, you may need to account for whether daylight saving time is currently in effect.

Practical Takeaway: Before adjusting your device's time, determine whether you need to change your time zone, account for daylight saving time, or make a simple one-hour correction. Knowing what change is needed prevents setting your time incorrectly.

How to Adjust Time on Smartphones and Tablets

Smartphones and tablets running Android or iOS make time adjustment straightforward. Most devices come set to automatic time adjustment, which means they pull the correct time from your mobile network or internet connection. This method requires minimal effort on your part. However, if you notice your device shows the wrong time, you may need to manually adjust it or troubleshoot the automatic setting.

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On iPhones and iPads, access the time settings through the main Settings app. Open Settings, then navigate to General, then Date & Time. At the top of this screen, you will see a toggle labeled "Set Automatically." If this toggle is turned on (shown in green), your device updates time automatically. If it appears gray or off, tap it to enable automatic time setting. Once automatic setting is on, your device will update whenever you move to a different time zone or when daylight saving time changes occur. If you prefer to set the time manually, keep this toggle off and tap the date and time fields to enter your preferred settings.

Android devices use a similar approach. Open Settings and look for System or About Phone (this varies by manufacturer). Find Date and Time settings. Look for an option labeled "Automatic date and time" or "Use network-provided time." Toggle this on to enable automatic updates. If you need to set the time manually on Android, turn off automatic setting first, then tap the Time field to adjust hours and minutes using a number pad or scroll wheel.

When traveling internationally, your device should update automatically if the automatic setting is enabled. However, network connections may delay updates, so the time might lag behind your actual location for a few minutes. If you need precise time immediately upon arrival, you can manually set your time zone before automatic syncing occurs. To change your time zone manually on either platform, look for a "Time zone" field near the date and time options and select your destination time zone from a dropdown list.

Battery-saving modes on some devices may prevent automatic time updates. If your phone's battery saver is enabled and time stops updating, check your battery settings and consider turning off battery saver mode if you rely on automatic time updates.

Practical Takeaway: Enable automatic date and time on your smartphone or tablet to maintain accuracy across time zones without manual adjustments. If your device shows incorrect time, verify that automatic setting is enabled and that your device has a network connection.

Adjusting Time on Windows and Mac Computers

Desktop and laptop computers handle time adjustment differently than mobile devices, though the basic principle remains the same: you can either allow automatic updates or set the time manually. Windows and macOS both connect to internet time servers to maintain accuracy. On most systems, this happens silently in the background without user intervention.

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On Windows 10 and 11, access time settings by right-clicking the clock in the system tray (lower right corner of the screen). Select "Adjust date/time" from the menu that appears. This opens the Date & Time settings page. Under "Time," you will see a toggle for "Set time automatically." If this is enabled, Windows synchronizes with internet time servers regularly. You will also see a separate toggle for "Set time zone automatically," which adjusts your time zone based on your location if you allow Windows to use location information. Below these toggles, you can manually set your time zone by clicking the dropdown labeled "Time zone" and selecting your region. If you need to manually set the exact time, turn off automatic time setting first, then click the time field to adjust hours and minutes.

Mac computers running macOS handle time similarly. Click the Apple menu in the top-left corner and select System Preferences (or System Settings on newer versions). Click Date & Time. Here you will see checkboxes for "Set date and time automatically" and "Set time zone using current location." Keep these checked to maintain automatic updates. If you need to set time manually, uncheck the automatic option first, then click the date and time fields to make adjustments. Mac computers typically use a graphical calendar and clock for manual entry rather than text fields.

Both Windows and Mac automatically account for daylight saving time changes if you have the correct time zone selected. When DST begins or ends, your system time adjusts by one hour without additional action from you. However, if you manually set your time, you must manually account for DST by adjusting your time by one hour when these changes occur in your region.

If your computer's time drifts significantly despite automatic setting enabled, your system may have a failing CMOS battery (a small battery on the motherboard that maintains system settings even when the computer is off). If time resets to an old date every time you restart your computer, this indicates a CMOS battery issue that may require professional service.

Practical Takeaway: On computers, verify that both automatic time and automatic time zone options are enabled in your date and time settings. These settings ensure your computer maintains accurate time without manual adjustments.

Setting Time on Smart Devices and Other Electronics

Smart devices beyond phones and computers—including smartwatches, smart home speakers, fitness trackers, and connected appliances—also require time adjustment, though the process varies by device. Some smart devices automatically sync time with your smartphone or home network, while others require manual configuration during setup or through a companion app.

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Smartwatches typically sync time from your paired smartphone automatically. When you pair a smartwatch with your phone, the watch pulls the current time and time zone from your phone's settings. If your smartwatch shows incorrect time, first verify that your phone has the correct time set. Then check the Bluetooth connection between your phone and watch—if they are disconnected, the watch may not update. On most smartwatch platforms (Apple Watch, Wear OS, Fitbit), you can also adjust time directly on the watch through its settings menu if manual adjustment is needed. This usually involves finding a Date & Time or Time Zone option in the watch's main settings.

Smart speakers like Amazon Echo or Google Home devices connect to the internet and automatically set their time and time zone during initial setup using your home Wi-Fi network. These devices typically pull time from internet servers without user intervention. However, if you move your speaker to a different location or your time zone information was entered incorrectly during setup, you can adjust it through the device's companion app. In the Alexa app for Echo devices, go to Devices, select your device, then find Settings and look for Time Zone or Date & Time options. For Google Home, use the Google Home app, select your device, tap Settings, then find Date and Time preferences