Where to find the time settings on your iPad

The time on your iPad updates automatically most of the time, but you can change it manually if needed. Open the Settings app — the gray icon with gears — and tap General. Then tap Date & Time. This is where all time controls live.

Your iPad may show the time in two places: the status bar at the top of the screen, and in the lock screen. Both pull from the same setting, so changing it once fixes both.

Key Takeaways

  • Time settings are in Settings > General > Date & Time, and most iPads keep time set to automatic by default.
  • Turn off the toggle for "Set Automatically" if you want to change the time manually instead of letting your iPad sync with the network.
  • You can change the time zone, the time itself, and whether the clock shows 12-hour or 24-hour format all from the same screen.
  • If automatic time is on, your iPad will override any manual change you make within a few seconds.

Turning off automatic time so you can set it manually

By default, your iPad has a toggle called Set Automatically turned on. This means your device syncs with Apple's time servers and ignores any manual changes you try to make. If you want to set a custom time, you must turn this toggle off first.

Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and look for the toggle next to "Set Automatically." Tap it once to turn it off. The toggle will turn gray, and the time fields below it will become editable.

Once you turn off automatic time, your iPad will keep whatever time you set, even if it is wrong. It will not correct itself. If you turn automatic time back on later, your iPad will jump back to the correct time within seconds.

Changing the time manually

After you turn off "Set Automatically," tap the time field. You will see hour and minute fields appear. Tap the hour field and use the plus and minus buttons to change the hour, or tap directly in the field and type the number. Do the same for minutes.

If your iPad is set to 24-hour time, the hour field will go from 0 to 23. If it is set to 12-hour time, you will also see an AM/PM toggle. Adjust both until the time matches what you want.

The change takes effect immediately. You do not need to tap a save button or restart your iPad.

Changing your time zone

Your time zone setting controls what time your iPad displays. If you travel or move, you may need to change this. In the Date & Time settings, tap Time Zone. A search field appears where you can type the name of a city or region.

Type the name of a major city in your time zone — for example, "New York" for Eastern Time or "Los Angeles" for Pacific Time. Tap the result to select it. Your iPad will update the displayed time to match that zone.

If "Set Automatically" is on, your iPad will detect your time zone using your location and network, so you usually do not need to change this manually. Turning it off gives you control if automatic detection is wrong.

Switching between 12-hour and 24-hour time format

Your iPad can display time as 12-hour (with AM/PM) or 24-hour (military time). This setting is in Date & Time. Look for the toggle labeled 24-Hour Time. Tap it to turn the format on or off.

When 24-hour time is on, the clock shows hours from 0 to 23 instead of 1 to 12. For example, 2:30 PM becomes 14:30. This change affects the time display everywhere on your iPad — the lock screen, status bar, and all apps that show the time.

What to do if the time keeps changing back

If you set a manual time and it changes back within seconds, "Set Automatically" is still on. Go back to Settings > General > Date & Time and make sure the toggle is off. If it is already off but the time still changes, restart your iPad: hold the power button until the slider appears, slide to power off, wait 10 seconds, then hold power again to turn it back on.

If the time still reverts after a restart, your iPad may be reconnecting to Wi-Fi or cellular and syncing with the network time. Disconnect from Wi-Fi temporarily to test whether that is the cause. If you need the time to stay manual, keep "Set Automatically" off and stay disconnected from networks that force time sync.

Why your iPad time might be wrong in the first place

If automatic time is on but your iPad shows the wrong time, the issue is usually a network or location problem. Your iPad gets its time from Apple's servers, which use your location to set the time zone. If location services are off or your Wi-Fi connection is poor, the sync may fail or use an old cached time zone.

To fix this, turn on Wi-Fi and location services, then go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle "Set Automatically" off and back on. This forces your iPad to re-sync. Wait a few seconds for the correct time to appear.

Frequently Asked Questions

Will changing the time on my iPad affect my alarms or reminders?

Yes. If you set the time backward, alarms scheduled for times you just passed will not go off. If you set the time forward, alarms between the old time and new time will be skipped. Reminders work the same way. Change the time only if you understand this will affect scheduled notifications.

Can I set a different time on my iPad than on my iPhone?

Yes. Each device has its own time setting. However, if both have "Set Automatically" on, they will both sync to the network and show the same time. To set them differently, turn off automatic time on at least one device and set it manually.

What if I do not see the Date & Time option in Settings?

Make sure you are in the right place: Settings > General. Scroll down if you do not see Date & Time immediately. If it is still missing, restart your iPad and try again. Date & Time is a standard setting and should always be present.

Does changing the time affect my iPad's battery or performance?

No. Changing the time does not drain battery or slow down your iPad. However, keeping "Set Automatically" off means your iPad will not sync time with the network, which uses a tiny amount of power. The difference is not noticeable.