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How to Change the Time and Date on Your Phone, Computer, and Smart Devices

Change your device’s date, clock, or time zone using its built-in settings, with platform steps and fixes for automatic time detection.
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Open your device’s built-in Date & Time settings. First check whether the clock value is wrong or whether the clock is correct but showing the wrong time zone: automatic date/time and automatic time-zone detection can be separate controls. To make a manual change, turn off the corresponding automatic setting first. Menu names vary by device model, software version, carrier, and region.

How to change the time and date on an iPhone, iPad, or Apple Vision Pro

Connect the device to the internet, then open Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. Apple says this sets the date and time based on the time zone.

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For automatic time-zone detection on iPhone, check Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services > Setting Time Zone. If a new time-zone information message appears, restart the device and any paired Apple Watch.

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To set the time or date yourself, turn off Set Automatically, then choose a time zone or tap the date to edit the date and time. This option may be unavailable with some carriers or in some regions, and a Screen Time passcode or corporate profile can make it unavailable. Apple Support’s date and time instructions cover these controls.

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How to change the time and date on a Mac

Connect the Mac to the internet. In Date & Time settings, enable automatic date and time and automatic time zone to let the Mac update both. Apple also advises checking Location Services and the time-zone or system-customisation options under System Services, then restarting if automatic zone detection is not working.

For a manual change, switch off both automatic date/time and automatic time zone before entering the values. See Apple Support’s instructions for the relevant settings.

How to change the time and date on an Android phone or tablet

Google’s general route starts in the Clock app: open Clock > More > Settings > Change date and time. Turn on Automatic date and time to update the clock automatically. If available, turn on Automatic time zone as well.

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To choose a time zone manually, open Change date & time, turn off automatic setting if shown, then select Time zone. Android menus and capabilities differ: some devices use location to determine the zone, some only support location-based zone setting, and some do not offer automatic time-zone selection. Google’s Android Help explains the general process.

On Samsung Galaxy devices, look under Settings > General management > Date and time. Samsung says automatic date and time uses the mobile network, and controls can vary by model. See Samsung Support for its device-specific guidance.

How to change the time and date in Windows 10 or Windows 11

Open Start > Settings > Time & language > Date & time.

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  • For an automatically updated clock, turn on Set time automatically.
  • To set the date or time manually, turn that setting off and select Change.
  • For automatic time-zone selection, turn on Set time zone automatically.
  • To select a zone yourself, turn that setting off and choose a zone from the menu.

Microsoft says daylight-saving changes are automatic when automatic time-zone selection is on. When it is off, use the separate daylight-saving control if available or adjust the time manually. The steps are in Microsoft Support’s Windows date and time guide.

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Windows 10 support status: Microsoft ended support for Windows 10 on October 14, 2025. The date and time controls described above remain relevant to the setting itself, but this is not a statement that Windows 10 continues to receive support.

How to change the time and date on a smart TV

Apple TV

On Apple TV HD and Apple TV 4K running tvOS 10 or later, open Settings > General > Date & Time and turn on Set Automatically. For a manual zone, turn that option off and choose Settings > General > Time Zone. Apple’s date and time support page lists the steps.

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Android TV and Google TV

There is no single menu path for every television. Sony documents layouts including Device Preferences > Date & time, with alternatives depending on the platform and model. A VPN network environment can also make a TV’s displayed time differ from the location. If the path does not match your screen, use the maker’s instructions for the exact model. See Sony’s model-specific support guidance.

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How to change the time on a Wi-Fi router or appliance

TP-Link routers

For the TP-Link router models covered by its instructions, sign in to the router’s web interface and open Advanced > System Tools > Time Settings. Depending on the model and firmware, you can use internet time, enter the date and time manually, choose a local time zone, and set daylight-saving start and end. TP-Link also documents controls in the Tether app under the router’s More > System section. See TP-Link’s time-setting guide; menus and features are model- and firmware-dependent.

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Samsung appliances

Samsung says a Family Hub refrigerator defaults to the current date and time when connected to Wi-Fi and provides a separate guide for setting its clock. Samsung range clocks may need to be set again after a power outage. Because appliance menus differ, follow the instructions for your exact product at Samsung Support.

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Why is my device showing the wrong time?

  1. Identify what is wrong. If the minutes and date are wrong, check automatic date/time. If the clock value seems right but the local hour is wrong, check the time zone. These may be separate controls on Android and Windows. Google and Microsoft document both settings.
  2. Check the connection the device relies on. Apple directs users to connect iPhone, Mac, and Apple TV to the internet for automatic settings. Samsung says Galaxy automatic time uses the mobile network.
  3. Check location access if the device uses it for the time zone. On iPhone, verify the Setting Time Zone system service. Android’s location-based behavior depends on the device and its settings.
  4. Turn off the relevant automatic option before editing manually. Manual date/time or zone fields may not appear until the matching automatic control is disabled.
  5. Look for restrictions or updates. On Apple devices, carrier or regional availability, Screen Time, or a corporate profile can affect the setting. If detection remains wrong, check for pending device updates as well.
  6. For a TV or router, match the instructions to the model. A VPN can affect a TV’s apparent local time, while router system time can affect time-based functions such as parental controls. Consult the maker’s guidance for the exact model and firmware.

Automatic or manual: which should you use?

Automatic date/time and automatic time-zone detection are convenient when the device has the network or location access it needs. They are usually the simplest choice for routine travel when they work. A manual setting gives you direct control over the value or named time zone, but you must update it yourself when circumstances change. Choose the setting that matches the problem: changing the date/time does not fix a wrong time zone, and changing the zone does not fix an inaccurate clock.

Keep the device’s clock accurate. Samsung Support warns, “Many apps and websites will not operate correctly, and you may see security warnings, if the time and date is not accurate.” Apple Support says, “Making manual adjustments to time settings in order to change app behaviour (like game timers) isn’t recommended.”

Product prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on Amazon at the time of purchase will apply.

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