Keeping accurate time on your iPhone is more important than you might think. From waking up on time with alarms to syncing your calendar events or checking the correct time zone while traveling, the clock on your iPhone is at the center of your digital life. If the time is ever wrong, even by a few minutes, it can throw off everything.
Thankfully, Apple makes it easy to adjust your device’s time settings. In this comprehensive guide, you’ll learn how to change time on iPhone, how automatic time settings work, when to manually set the time, how to switch time zones, and what to do if your iPhone time is stuck or showing incorrectly.
⏰ Why Might You Need to Change the Time on iPhone?
Before diving into how to do it, let’s look at a few scenarios where changing your iPhone’s time may be necessary:
- You’re traveling to a different time zone
- You want to disable automatic time updates
- You’re experiencing incorrect time display
- Your alarm goes off at the wrong time
- Calendar events are showing in the wrong hours
- You live in a location that doesn’t observe Daylight Saving Time
- You prefer to manually set time for testing apps or screen time control
🔧 How iPhone Sets the Time by Default
Out of the box, your iPhone is configured to automatically set the date and time based on your location using Apple’s time servers.
This automatic system works in most cases and is enabled by:
- Location Services
- Carrier-provided time data
- iOS time servers
When connected to Wi-Fi or cellular networks, your iPhone updates time automatically when you cross into a new time zone.
📍 How to Enable or Disable Automatic Time Setting
🔹 Steps:
- Open the Settings app.
- Scroll down and tap General.
- Tap Date & Time.
- Toggle the switch next to Set Automatically:
- ON (default): Time updates based on your location.
- OFF: Allows you to manually change the time and date.
If Set Automatically is grayed out, it may be restricted by:
- Screen Time settings
- Carrier restrictions
- Location services turned off
We’ll cover how to unlock that later.
🕒 How to Manually Change Time on iPhone
If you prefer to set the time manually (for accuracy, consistency, or testing), you can do that in just a few taps.
🔹 Step-by-Step Guide:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Turn off Set Automatically.
- Tap the time or date field that appears.
- Use the rotating scroll dials to adjust:
- Time (hours and minutes)
- Date (day, month, and year)
- Tap the back button to exit.
Your iPhone will now display the manually set time, regardless of your time zone or current location.
🌐 How to Change Time Zone on iPhone
If you’re planning a trip or live in an area with special time rules, you can manually choose your time zone.
🔹 How to Do It:
- Open Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Turn off Set Automatically.
- Tap Time Zone.
- Enter your city or region in the search bar (e.g., “Tokyo,” “New York”).
- Select the correct result from the list.
Your device will now display the local time based on that time zone.
🔄 When Does iPhone Automatically Change Time?
Your iPhone will automatically update time if:
- You travel across time zones
- Daylight Saving Time begins or ends
- Your carrier updates location-based time
- You restart your device with automatic settings enabled
As long as Location Services and Set Automatically are on, your iPhone should keep up with these changes.
📵 What If “Set Automatically” Is Grayed Out?
Sometimes the “Set Automatically” switch is disabled or grayed out, preventing manual time changes.
🔹 Causes:
- Screen Time Restrictions – If you have parental controls or downtime rules enabled
- Device Management Profiles – On work or school devices
- Location Services Disabled – iPhone can’t verify time zone
🔹 Fix: Screen Time Restriction
- Go to Settings > Screen Time.
- Tap Content & Privacy Restrictions.
- Enter your passcode (if required).
- Tap Location Services > System Services.
- Enable Setting Time Zone.
Then return to Settings > General > Date & Time, and you should be able to manually toggle the setting.
🔌 How to Check If Your iPhone Has the Correct Time
It’s always a good idea to double-check your time accuracy.
- Open Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Check if “Set Automatically” is on.
- Compare your time with a trusted external source (e.g., wall clock, another phone, or computer).
You can also go to the Clock app and tap the World Clock tab to compare global times.
🛠️ What to Do if iPhone Time Is Wrong
If your iPhone is showing the wrong time, try the following:
1. Restart Your iPhone
A simple reboot can often fix syncing issues.
2. Toggle Airplane Mode
- Turn Airplane Mode ON, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off.
3. Toggle Set Automatically
- Turn it OFF, wait a few seconds, then turn it ON again.
4. Update iOS
- Go to Settings > General > Software Update and install the latest version.
5. Reset Location Settings
- Go to Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Location & Privacy.
6. Check Carrier Settings
- Go to Settings > General > About – if a carrier update is available, a prompt will appear.
📅 Time vs. Date Settings – Can You Change the Date Too?
Yes. Once Set Automatically is off, you can also change the date manually by:
- Tapping the Date field in Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Selecting the correct day, month, and year.
- Exiting the settings once the change is made.
This is useful when:
- Testing app functionality
- Scheduling across different time zones
- Using the device in countries with different calendars
🕘 12-Hour vs. 24-Hour Time Format – How to Change It
You can also switch between AM/PM (12-hour) and military time (24-hour) formats.
🔹 How to Do It:
- Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
- Toggle 24-Hour Time ON or OFF.
This changes how time is displayed on your lock screen, control center, and system apps.
💡 Bonus Tip: Use World Clock for Multiple Time Zones
If you often work or communicate with people in other time zones, you can add multiple time zones to the Clock app.
🔹 How:
- Open the Clock app.
- Tap World Clock (the globe icon).
- Tap the “+” icon.
- Type a city or time zone name.
- Tap to add it.
Now you can see what time it is in different cities at a glance.
Summary Table: iPhone Time Settings Overview
| Feature | How to Use It |
|---|---|
| Set Time Automatically | Settings > General > Date & Time > Toggle ON |
| Manually Change Time | Turn OFF auto, then adjust time manually |
| Set Time Zone Manually | Tap “Time Zone” and enter location |
| Enable/Disable 24-Hour Format | Toggle “24-Hour Time” setting |
| Fix Grayed Out Time Option | Check Screen Time or restrictions |
| Reset Incorrect Time | Restart, toggle airplane mode, or update iOS |
Final Thoughts
So, how do you change the time on iPhone in 2025? It’s a simple process, but one that gives you better control over how your device functions—whether you’re traveling, troubleshooting, or just trying to match up with a different schedule.
By following this guide, you can easily switch between automatic and manual time settings, correct any glitches, and customize the way time is displayed on your device. The ability to manually set time and time zones adds flexibility for users who want more control over their device’s behavior.
The best part? Once it’s set right, your iPhone keeps everything from calendar reminders to alarms running perfectly on time.
Would you like a printable checklist for time-related iPhone settings or a guide on how to schedule Focus Modes based on time?