How to Change Date and Time on Your iPhone in Just a Few Steps

Having the right date and time on your iPhone isn’t just about knowing what hour it is. It’s what keeps everything on your device running smoothly. From your Calendar events to Reminders and even email syncing, accurate time settings make sure nothing slips through the cracks. Usually, your iPhone handles this automatically by detecting your current location and adjusting for daylight saving time.

But if you’ve noticed your clock showing the wrong time or date, don’t worry. I’ve got you covered. In this guide, I’ll walk you through how to manually or automatically change the date and time on your iPhone so it stays perfectly in sync wherever you are.

How to Change the Time on Your iPhone or iPad Manually

By default, your iPhone configures the time zone when you set up the device for the first time. But if you prefer setting it yourself, here’s what you need to do:

1. Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2. Go to General → Date & Time.
3. Turn off Set Automatically.
   
4. Tap Time Zone and select your preferred city.
5. Adjust the date and time manually at the bottom of the screen.
   

If the Set Automatically toggle is grayed out, it could be due to certain restrictions or settings, which I’ll explain later in this article.

How to Change the Time Zone on Your iPhone Automatically

If you travel frequently and don’t want to keep changing the time manually, you can allow your iPhone to update it automatically based on your current location. Here’s how:

1. Open the Settings app.
2. Tap Privacy & Security.
3. Select Location Services and make sure it’s turned on.
   
4. Scroll down and tap System Services.
5. Turn on Setting Time Zone.
   
6. Go back to Settings → General → Date & Time.
7. Toggle on Set Automatically and make sure your iPhone has an active internet connection.
   

If you see a message saying “Updated time zone information available,” restart your iPhone to apply the changes.

Why You Can’t Change the Time Settings on Your iPhone

If you find that the Set Automatically option is dimmed or disabled, it could be due to one of the following reasons:

1. Screen Time Restrictions: Screen Time prevents users from changing the clock to bypass app limits. To fix this, disable Screen Time or wait for the restriction period to end.
2. Carrier Settings: Some network providers control automatic time updates. You can try updating your carrier settings or contacting your service provider for assistance.
3. Location Services Disabled: Make sure Location Services are enabled, as your iPhone uses them to determine your time zone.
4. Device Management Policies: If your iPhone was issued by your workplace or school, the administrator might have restricted the ability to change the date and time.
5. Regional Availability: In certain countries, automatic time setting might not be supported.

Final Thoughts

Having the correct date and time on your iPhone ensures your alarms, reminders, and calendar events work properly. Hopefully, this guide helped you fix any issues with incorrect time or time zone on your device.

If you’re still facing trouble, drop your question in the comments below. I’ll do my best to help you out.

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• How to keep your iPhone screen on for a longer time
• How to set timer on iPhone camera to take hands-free photos