Change the time format on your iPhone lock screen in Settings

The time on your iPhone lock screen displays in the format your phone's system language and region settings determine. To change how that time appears — whether you want 12-hour or 24-hour format, or a different style altogether — you adjust your iPhone's date and time settings. The lock screen itself does not have a separate time customization menu; instead, the change happens through your phone's main Settings app and affects the time display across your device.

The steps differ slightly depending on your iPhone model and iOS version, but the core process is the same: open Settings, navigate to General, then find Date & Time. From there, you can toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats.

Key Takeaways

  • iPhone lock screen time format is controlled through Settings > General > Date & Time, not through a lock screen-specific menu.
  • You can switch between 12-hour format (with AM/PM) and 24-hour format by toggling the "24-Hour Time" option in Date & Time settings.
  • Your iPhone's region and language settings also influence how the time displays, so changing those will affect the lock screen time.
  • Any change you make to time format applies to your entire phone, including the lock screen, home screen, and all apps that show the time.

Steps to switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time format

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Date & Time. You will see a toggle labeled "24-Hour Time." If the toggle is off (gray), your phone displays time in 12-hour format with AM and PM. If the toggle is on (green), your phone displays time in 24-hour format.

To change the format, tap the toggle to turn it on or off. The lock screen time will update immediately to reflect your choice. You do not need to restart your phone or close Settings for the change to take effect.

What happens if your region settings override your choice

Some regions default to 24-hour time, and some default to 12-hour time. If you live in or have set your iPhone to a region that strongly favors one format, toggling the 24-Hour Time option may not appear in your Date & Time settings at all. In that case, your phone is locked to the standard format for that region.

To override this, go to Settings > General > Language & Region and change your region to one that supports both time formats. Then return to Date & Time and you should see the toggle. Alternatively, you can change your language setting to English (which supports both formats on most iPhone models), make your time format choice, then change your language back if you prefer.

Why the lock screen time might not update immediately

In rare cases, the lock screen time display lags behind your Settings change by a few seconds. If you change the format and the lock screen still shows the old format, lock your phone by pressing the side button and power button together, then unlock it. The time should now display in your chosen format.

If the time still does not update after locking and unlocking, restart your iPhone. Press and hold the side button and either volume button until the power-off slider appears, then drag it to turn off your phone. Wait a few seconds, then press and hold the side button again until the Apple logo appears and your phone restarts.

Other places the time format change affects

Changing your time format in Date & Time settings affects more than just the lock screen. The time will display in your chosen format on your home screen (in the status bar at the top), in your Calendar app, in Messages, in Mail, and in any other app that shows the time. Some third-party apps may not respect this setting and will display time in their own format, but Apple's built-in apps will all follow your choice.

If you use multiple Apple devices — an iPad, Mac, or Apple Watch — those devices have their own Date & Time settings. Changing the format on your iPhone does not automatically change it on your other devices. You will need to repeat the same steps on each device if you want them all to match.

Customizing the lock screen appearance beyond time format

While you cannot change the time format directly from the lock screen, you can customize other aspects of how your lock screen looks. On iPhone models running iOS 16 or later, you can long-press your lock screen to enter customization mode. From there, you can change the font style, color, and size of the time display itself, add widgets, or switch to a different lock screen design entirely.

These customizations are separate from the time format (12-hour versus 24-hour). You can have a large, colorful time display in 24-hour format, or a small, minimal one in 12-hour format — the format choice and the appearance choice work independently.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I have different time formats on my lock screen and home screen?

No. The time format setting applies to your entire phone. When you toggle 24-Hour Time on or off, it changes the format everywhere your iPhone displays the time. You cannot set 12-hour format for the lock screen and 24-hour format for the home screen.

What if I don't see the 24-Hour Time toggle in Date & Time settings?

Your region setting may not support both formats. Go to Settings > General > Language & Region and change your region to one that offers both 12-hour and 24-hour options, such as United States or United Kingdom. Then return to Date & Time and the toggle should appear.

Does changing the time format affect my alarms or scheduled events?

No. The time format is only how the time is displayed. Your alarms, reminders, calendar events, and all scheduled functions work the same way regardless of whether you use 12-hour or 24-hour format. The underlying time does not change — only how it appears on screen.

Will my time format choice sync across my Apple devices?

Not automatically. Each device — iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — has its own Date & Time settings. If you want them all to display time in the same format, you must change the setting on each device separately.