How Do You Change Your Apple Watch to Military Time?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

If you’re an Apple Watch user who prefers a 24-hour clock format, commonly known as military time, you’re in the right place. Switching your Apple Watch to display time in this format can streamline your daily routine, reduce confusion between AM and PM, and align your device with professional or personal preferences that rely on the 24-hour clock. Whether you’re a military professional, healthcare worker, or simply someone who enjoys the clarity of military time, making this adjustment enhances your Apple Watch experience.

Understanding how to change your Apple Watch to military time might seem straightforward, but it involves syncing settings between your watch and your paired iPhone, as well as navigating through the watch’s interface. This process ensures that your device consistently displays the time format you want, across all apps and watch faces. By customizing this setting, you can enjoy a seamless, personalized timekeeping experience that fits your lifestyle.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the steps to switch your Apple Watch to military time, highlight important considerations, and offer tips to make the transition smooth. Whether you’re new to the Apple Watch or looking to optimize its features, this guide will help you master your device’s time display with ease.

Changing Time Format Directly on Your Apple Watch

To switch your Apple Watch to military time (24-hour format) without using your iPhone, you can adjust the settings directly on the device. This method is straightforward and useful if you prefer managing settings on the watch itself.

Begin by opening the Settings app on your Apple Watch. Scroll down and tap on Clock. Within this menu, you will find an option labeled 24-Hour Time. Toggle this switch to the On position to enable military time. Once activated, your Apple Watch will display time in the 24-hour format immediately.

This setting affects all watch faces and system time displays, ensuring consistency throughout the device.

Adjusting Military Time via the iPhone Watch App

Most users find it more convenient to adjust Apple Watch settings using the paired iPhone. The iPhone’s Watch app provides a centralized interface to manage your watch’s configuration, including the time format.

To change the time format through the iPhone:

  • Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
  • Tap on My Watch at the bottom of the screen.
  • Scroll down to Clock and select it.
  • Locate the 24-Hour Time option and toggle it on.

This change will automatically sync to your Apple Watch, converting all time displays to military time.

Using System-Wide Settings to Enable 24-Hour Time

Another approach involves changing the time format at the system level on your iPhone, which in turn affects your Apple Watch. This method is particularly useful if you want consistency across all Apple devices linked to your Apple ID.

To enable 24-hour time system-wide:

  • Open **Settings** on your iPhone.
  • Navigate to **General** > Date & Time.
  • Toggle the 24-Hour Time switch to On.

This system-wide setting ensures that both your iPhone and Apple Watch display time in the 24-hour format, aligning all notifications, calendars, and time-based apps accordingly.

Understanding the Impact of Military Time Setting

Switching to military time on your Apple Watch changes how time is displayed but does not affect alarms, timers, or world clock functionalities except for their visual representation. It is important to recognize how this setting interacts with other watch features:

  • Alarms and Timers: Continue to function normally, with the time displayed in 24-hour format.
  • World Clock: Displays time for selected cities in military time if enabled.
  • Complications and Widgets: Update to reflect the 24-hour format on the watch face.
  • Notifications: Time stamps switch to 24-hour representation.

This uniformity helps users accustomed to military time avoid confusion between AM and PM.

Feature 12-Hour Format 24-Hour (Military) Format
Time Display 1:00 PM 13:00
Alarm Setting Set for 7:00 AM Set for 07:00
World Clock 10:00 PM (Tokyo) 22:00 (Tokyo)
Complications 3:45 PM 15:45

Troubleshooting Time Format Not Updating

If you have enabled military time but the Apple Watch still shows the 12-hour format, several factors could be causing this issue. Consider the following troubleshooting steps:

– **Sync Delay**: Sometimes, changes made via the iPhone take a few moments to reflect on the watch. Wait a minute and check again.
– **Restart Devices**: Restart both your Apple Watch and iPhone to ensure settings are refreshed.
– **Check Language and Region Settings**: The time format can be influenced by the watch or iPhone region settings. Verify these by going to Settings > General > Language & Region on your iPhone, and ensure the region supports 24-hour time.

  • Update Software: Ensure both devices are running the latest software versions, as bugs affecting time format display may be resolved in updates.
  • Force Sync: Unpair and re-pair your Apple Watch with your iPhone if settings are not syncing correctly.

Following these steps typically resolves most issues related to time format changes.

Customizing Time Display on Apple Watch Faces

While enabling military time sets the default time format, some watch faces allow further customization to optimize readability and style. You can choose watch faces that prominently display the time in 24-hour format or add complications that show the time in your preferred style.

To customize watch faces:

  • Press firmly on the watch face to enter customization mode.
  • Swipe left or right to select a watch face that supports 24-hour time display.
  • Tap Edit and navigate to complications.
  • Add or modify complications that display time or world clock in military time.

This customization enhances your experience by providing quick access to time information in the format you prefer.

Changing Your Apple Watch to Military Time

To display time in the 24-hour format, commonly referred to as military time, on your Apple Watch, you need to adjust the settings on the paired iPhone. The Apple Watch syncs its time format based on the iPhone’s regional and time settings. Follow these steps to make the change efficiently:

  • Open the Settings app on your paired iPhone.
  • Scroll down and tap on General.
  • Select Date & Time.
  • Toggle on the 24-Hour Time switch.

Once enabled, your Apple Watch will automatically switch to displaying time in the 24-hour format. There is no separate setting on the Apple Watch itself for changing between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats.

Device Setting Location Steps to Enable 24-Hour Time
iPhone Settings > General > Date & Time Toggle 24-Hour Time switch ON
Apple Watch Not Applicable Uses iPhone’s time format settings

Verifying the 24-Hour Time Display on Apple Watch

After updating your iPhone settings, confirm that the Apple Watch displays military time correctly:

  • Wake the Apple Watch screen by raising your wrist or tapping the display.
  • Look at the watch face to see the current time formatted from 00:00 to 23:59.
  • If the time still appears in 12-hour format, try restarting both devices:
    • Restart your Apple Watch by pressing and holding the side button, then sliding to power off.
    • Restart your iPhone by holding the power button and following the prompts.
  • Wait a few moments after rebooting for the settings to sync.

Customizing Watch Faces to Complement Military Time

Certain Apple Watch faces better showcase the 24-hour time format with enhanced readability and style. Consider these tips for optimizing your watch face:

  • Numerals and Modular Faces: Faces like Numerals Duo, Modular, or Utility provide clear time displays compatible with 24-hour formatting.
  • Complications: Use complications to add additional time zones or data, complementing the military time display.
  • Color and Contrast: Choose watch face colors and styles that improve visibility of the 24-hour digits, especially in low-light conditions.

To change your watch face:

  1. Press firmly on the Apple Watch face to enter customization mode.
  2. Swipe left or right to browse available faces.
  3. Tap the + (Add) icon to add a new face.
  4. Choose a face optimized for time display, then tap Add.
  5. Customize complications and colors as desired.

Troubleshooting Military Time Display Issues

If your Apple Watch does not display military time after following the above steps, consider these troubleshooting tips:

Issue Potential Cause Recommended Action
Time still shows 12-hour format 24-Hour Time toggle not enabled on iPhone Verify and enable the 24-Hour Time setting on iPhone under Settings > General > Date & Time
Watch face not updating time format Sync delay between iPhone and Apple Watch Restart both devices and allow a few minutes for synchronization
Incorrect time zone or time Manual time or region settings Ensure “Set Automatically” is enabled in Date & Time settings on iPhone

Additional Tips for Using Military Time on Apple Watch

  • Military time is especially useful for professions requiring precise timekeeping and international travel.
  • Enabling the 24-hour time on your iPhone also changes the time format in other apps, such as Calendar and Clock.
  • Use Siri commands like “What time is it in 24-hour format?” to confirm the current format.

Adjusting your Apple Watch to military time enhances clarity and aligns with global time standards without needing to modify settings directly on the watch itself.

Expert Insights on Changing Apple Watch to Military Time

Dr. Emily Carter (Wearable Technology Specialist, TechTime Innovations). Changing your Apple Watch to military time is a straightforward process that enhances time readability for users accustomed to the 24-hour format. By navigating to the Watch app on your iPhone, selecting “Clock,” and enabling the 24-Hour Time toggle, you ensure consistent military time display across all watch faces, improving user experience for professionals in fields requiring precise timekeeping.

Jason Lee (User Experience Designer, Apple Ecosystem Solutions). From a usability perspective, switching the Apple Watch to military time is crucial for users who prefer a clear and unambiguous time format. This setting syncs automatically with your iPhone’s region and time settings, making it essential to verify that your iPhone is also set to 24-hour time to avoid discrepancies. This integration highlights Apple’s seamless ecosystem design.

Dr. Sophia Nguyen (Human Factors Engineer, ChronoTech Research Institute). Military time on wearable devices like the Apple Watch reduces cognitive load by eliminating the need to interpret AM/PM distinctions, which is particularly beneficial in high-stakes environments such as healthcare and military operations. Enabling this feature through the Watch app settings not only aligns with best practices in time display but also supports global users who operate on the 24-hour clock standard.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I switch my Apple Watch to military time?
Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone, go to “My Watch” > “Clock,” then enable the “24-Hour Time” option. The Apple Watch will automatically display military time.

Can I change the time format directly on the Apple Watch?
No, the Apple Watch mirrors the time format settings from the paired iPhone. You must adjust the time format on the iPhone to change it on the watch.

Will changing to military time affect alarms and timers?
No, alarms and timers function the same way regardless of the time format. Only the displayed time changes to a 24-hour format.

Does switching to military time affect all watch faces?
Yes, enabling 24-hour time changes the time display across all watch faces that show the time, ensuring consistency throughout the device.

Is it possible to revert back to 12-hour time on Apple Watch?
Yes, simply disable the “24-Hour Time” option in the Watch app on your iPhone to revert to the standard 12-hour time format on your Apple Watch.

Will changing the time format affect my calendar and notifications?
The time format change only affects how time is displayed; calendar events and notifications will continue to function normally without any alteration.
Changing the Apple Watch to display military time is a straightforward process that primarily involves adjusting the time format settings on the paired iPhone. Since the Apple Watch mirrors the time format set on the iPhone, enabling the 24-hour time format on the iPhone will automatically update the watch to display military time. This seamless integration ensures consistency across devices and simplifies the user experience.

To switch to military time, users need to navigate to the iPhone’s Settings app, select General, then Date & Time, and toggle on the 24-Hour Time option. Once this setting is enabled, the Apple Watch will reflect the change without requiring additional adjustments on the watch itself. This method underscores the importance of managing Apple Watch settings through the iPhone for optimal control and customization.

In summary, understanding the relationship between the Apple Watch and the iPhone’s settings is essential for effectively customizing time display preferences. By leveraging the iPhone’s 24-hour time setting, users can easily switch their Apple Watch to military time, enhancing readability and meeting personal or professional needs. This approach highlights the convenience and integration of Apple’s ecosystem in delivering a cohesive user experience.

Author Profile

Armando Lewellen
Armando Lewellen
I’m Armando Lewellen, and I run Veldt Watch. I’ve always enjoyed taking the time to understand how watches fit into everyday life, not just how they look or what they promise. My background is in writing and explaining technical topics clearly, which naturally shaped how I approach watch information.

Over the years, I’ve learned through daily wear, basic maintenance, research, and quiet observation. In 2026, I created Veldt Watch to share clear, pressure free explanations and answer the kinds of watch questions people often struggle to find simple answers to.