Set the time manually or let your iPhone update it automatically

Your iPhone can keep time two ways: it can set the time itself using your cellular network or Wi-Fi connection, or you can change it manually in Settings. Most people leave automatic time on and never touch it. If you need to change the time — because you traveled to a different time zone, your phone is showing the wrong time, or you want to set it manually — you do that in one place: the Date & Time settings.

The steps are the same whether you have an iPhone 15 or an older model. You do not need to restart your phone or use a computer. The change takes effect immediately.

Key Takeaways

  • Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time to reach the time controls.
  • Turn off "Set Automatically" if you want to change the time yourself; turn it on to let your iPhone update the time based on your location.
  • When "Set Automatically" is off, you can tap the time field and type in the hour and minute you want.
  • If your phone shows the wrong time even with automatic time on, check that Location Services is turned on in Privacy settings.

How to turn off automatic time and set it manually

Open the Settings app on your home screen. Tap General, then scroll down and tap Date & Time.

You will see a toggle next to "Set Automatically". This toggle is usually on (green). Tap it to turn it off. Once you turn it off, a time field appears below it showing the current time in hours and minutes.

Tap the time field. A keyboard appears. Delete the current time and type the time you want. Use the format your phone is set to — either 12-hour (with AM or PM) or 24-hour. Tap Done or tap outside the field. Your iPhone now shows the time you entered.

How to let your iPhone set the time automatically

If you turned off automatic time and want to turn it back on, go to Settings > General > Date & Time. Tap the toggle next to "Set Automatically" to turn it on (green). Your iPhone will now update the time based on your network connection and location.

Automatic time usually works right away. If your phone still shows the wrong time after you turn automatic time on, check that Location Services is on. Go to Settings > Privacy > Location Services and make sure the toggle at the top is green. Your iPhone uses location data to know which time zone you are in.

Why your iPhone might show the wrong time

If automatic time is on but your phone shows the wrong time, Location Services is usually off or your phone cannot reach the network. Turn Location Services on in Settings > Privacy > Location Services. If that does not fix it, turn off Wi-Fi and cellular for 10 seconds (use Airplane Mode), then turn them back on. This forces your phone to reconnect and fetch the correct time from the network.

If you recently traveled to a different time zone and automatic time is on, your phone should update within a few minutes. If it does not, restart your phone: press and hold the power button until you see "Slide to Power Off", slide to turn it off, wait 10 seconds, then press the power button again to turn it back on.

How to change the time zone without changing the time

If you want to change your time zone but keep the same clock time, you will need to turn off automatic time first. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and turn off "Set Automatically". Then tap "Time Zone" and search for or scroll to the city or region you want. Your time zone changes, but the time on your clock stays the same.

This is useful if you are traveling but want to keep your phone on your home time zone for a while. Once you turn automatic time back on, your phone will switch to the local time zone wherever you are.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the time affect my alarms or reminders?

If you change the time manually, alarms and reminders set for specific times will go off at the new time you set. For example, if you set an alarm for 7 AM and then change your phone's time to 2 hours ahead, the alarm will go off at what your phone thinks is 7 AM — which is actually 5 AM in real time. To avoid confusion, set alarms after your time is correct.

Can I set the time to something that is not a real time?

Yes. Your iPhone will let you type any hour and minute combination, even times that do not exist (like 25:00). This is rarely useful, but it is possible. Your phone will treat whatever time you enter as the correct time until you change it again or turn automatic time back on.

What if the time field is grayed out and I cannot tap it?

"Set Automatically" is still on. Go back to Date & Time settings and turn off the toggle next to "Set Automatically". Once it is off, the time field will be active and you can tap it to change the time.

Does changing the time on my iPhone affect my computer or other devices?

No. Each device keeps its own time. Changing the time on your iPhone does not change the time on your Mac, iPad, or any other device. If you have multiple Apple devices and want them all to show the same time, you need to change the time on each one separately, or turn automatic time on for all of them.