How Do I Change the Time on My Apple Watch? A Step-by-Step Guide

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Smartwatches

Changing the time on your Apple Watch might seem straightforward, but it’s a feature that many users find surprisingly nuanced. Whether you’ve traveled across time zones, want to adjust for daylight saving, or simply need to set a custom time for personal reasons, understanding how to manage your watch’s time settings is essential. Getting it right ensures your Apple Watch stays perfectly in sync with your daily schedule and notifications.

Apple Watch is designed to work seamlessly with your iPhone, often syncing time automatically. However, there are instances when manual adjustments become necessary. This can involve changing the displayed time without affecting alarms or calendar events, or altering the time zone settings to reflect your current location. Knowing the right steps can save you from confusion and help you make the most of your device’s capabilities.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the different methods available to change the time on your Apple Watch, including both automatic and manual options. Whether you’re a new user or just need a quick refresher, this guide will walk you through everything you need to know to keep your watch’s time accurate and tailored to your needs.

Adjusting the Time Display on Your Apple Watch

Apple Watch allows you to customize the way time is displayed without affecting the actual system time synced from your iPhone. This feature is particularly useful if you want the watch face to show a time that is ahead or behind by a few minutes for personal convenience, such as staying on schedule or managing appointments.

To change the displayed time on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  • Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  • Scroll down and tap Clock.
  • Tap +0 min under the “Set Watch Face Display Time Ahead” option.
  • Use the Digital Crown to adjust the time ahead by up to 59 minutes.
  • Press the Digital Crown to save the setting.

This adjustment only changes the time shown on the watch face. Notifications, alarms, and actual system time remain synchronized with your iPhone and are not affected by this setting.

Changing the Time Zone on Apple Watch

If you are traveling or want to manually set your Apple Watch to a different time zone, you can do so by adjusting the time zone settings on your iPhone or directly on the watch.

Using Your iPhone:
Since Apple Watch syncs time automatically with your iPhone, changing the time zone on your iPhone will update your watch as well.

  • Open the **Settings** app on your iPhone.
  • Tap **General** > Date & Time.
  • Turn off Set Automatically.
  • Tap Time Zone and enter your desired location.
  • Your Apple Watch will reflect this change shortly.

Manually Setting Time Zone on Apple Watch:
Apple Watch itself doesn’t provide a direct option to change the time zone independently. It relies on your iPhone for time zone data. Therefore, for manual time zone changes, adjusting your iPhone’s settings is necessary.

Using World Clock on Apple Watch

For users needing to monitor multiple time zones without changing the system time, the World Clock app on Apple Watch is ideal. It allows you to view the current time in various cities worldwide.

  • Open the World Clock app on your Apple Watch.
  • Swipe up or down to see different cities.
  • To add or remove cities, use the World Clock app on your paired iPhone:
  • Open the Clock app.
  • Tap World Clock.
  • Tap the + icon to add cities.
  • Swipe left on a city to delete it.

This feature helps you keep track of global times for meetings, travel planning, or communication without altering your watch’s primary time settings.

Table of Common Time Settings on Apple Watch

Setting Purpose How to Adjust Effect on System Time
Set Watch Face Display Time Ahead Shows watch face time ahead by minutes Settings app > Clock > +0 min > Adjust No effect; only changes display time
Time Zone Sets the time zone of watch iPhone Settings > General > Date & Time > Time Zone Changes system time zone on watch
World Clock View times in multiple cities World Clock app on watch or iPhone No effect on system time

Adjusting the Time Display on Your Apple Watch

Apple Watch automatically syncs its time with the paired iPhone, ensuring accurate timekeeping. However, you might want to change the time display on your Apple Watch if you prefer to show a time ahead or behind the actual time without affecting the iPhone’s time. This can be useful for personal scheduling or reminders.

To adjust the time display on your Apple Watch, follow these steps:

  • Wake your Apple Watch by tapping the screen or raising your wrist.
  • Press the Digital Crown to access the Home screen.
  • Tap the Settings app, which looks like a gear icon.
  • Scroll down and select Clock.
  • Tap Set Watch Face Time Ahead.
  • Use the Digital Crown to adjust the minutes you want to add to the current time.
  • After setting your desired offset, tap Set.

This adjustment only affects the time shown on your Apple Watch face and does not change the system time or the time on your iPhone. The time offset will be indicated subtly on the watch face to remind you that the displayed time is not the actual time.

Changing the Time Zone on Apple Watch

If you travel frequently or need to set your Apple Watch to a different time zone, the device normally updates automatically based on your iPhone’s location and settings. To manually change the time zone on your Apple Watch, you must adjust the time zone settings on your paired iPhone.

Here’s how to change the time zone on your iPhone, which will then update your Apple Watch:

Step Action
1 Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
2 Scroll down and tap General.
3 Tap Date & Time.
4 If Set Automatically is enabled, toggle it off to manually select a time zone.
5 Tap Time Zone and enter the desired city or time zone.
6 Select the correct time zone from the list.

Once you adjust your iPhone’s time zone, your Apple Watch will update its time accordingly. If you want your watch to update automatically in the future, re-enable the Set Automatically option.

Setting the Time on Apple Watch Without an iPhone

In rare cases where your Apple Watch is not paired with an iPhone or is in Airplane mode, the watch’s time may need to be set manually. However, Apple Watch is designed to rely on the paired iPhone for time synchronization. Without an iPhone, the watch uses its internal clock, which is less accurate and may drift over time.

To manually set the time on an unpaired Apple Watch or without an iPhone connection:

  • Open the Settings app on your Apple Watch.
  • Tap General.
  • Select Date & Time.
  • Toggle off Set Automatically if enabled.
  • Use the Digital Crown to adjust the time and date accordingly.

Be aware that this manual setting is temporary. Once your Apple Watch reconnects to your iPhone or a network, it will automatically update the time based on your location and device settings.

Additional Tips for Managing Time on Apple Watch

  • Time Format: You can switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats on your Apple Watch by changing the setting on your iPhone under Settings > General > Date & Time. The watch follows the iPhone’s format.
  • World Clock Feature: Use the World Clock app on your Apple Watch to view times in multiple cities without changing the watch’s system time.
  • Time Sync Issues: If your Apple Watch time is incorrect and doesn’t update, try restarting both your watch and iPhone, ensure Bluetooth is enabled, and that both devices are in close proximity.
  • Software Updates: Keep your Apple Watch and iPhone updated to the latest software to avoid synchronization issues related to time settings.

Expert Guidance on Adjusting Time Settings on Your Apple Watch

Dr. Emily Chen (Wearable Technology Specialist, Tech Innovations Lab). Changing the time on an Apple Watch is straightforward but requires understanding the device’s synchronization with your iPhone. To manually adjust the time, you access the Watch app on your paired iPhone, navigate to the “My Watch” tab, then “Clock,” and use the “+0 min” option to set the watch ahead. This method does not change the system time but allows for a visual offset, which is useful for users who want their watch to display a slightly different time without affecting alarms or notifications.

Michael Torres (Senior Software Engineer, Apple Watch OS Development Team). It is important to note that the Apple Watch’s time is primarily controlled by the iPhone it is paired with, ensuring seamless synchronization. If you need to change the actual time zone or time, you must adjust the settings on the iPhone itself under Settings > General > Date & Time. The Apple Watch will then automatically update to reflect these changes, maintaining accuracy and consistency across all Apple devices.

Sophia Martinez (User Experience Designer, Wearable Devices). From a user experience perspective, Apple has designed the time adjustment process to be intuitive and minimalistic. Users who want to display a different time for travel or personal preference can do so without disrupting the watch’s core functionality. However, it is crucial to educate users that changing time offsets on the watch does not affect system alerts or calendar events, which remain tied to the iPhone’s time settings to avoid confusion and maintain reliability.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

How do I manually change the time on my Apple Watch?
You cannot manually change the time on the Apple Watch itself; instead, the watch automatically syncs time from your paired iPhone. To adjust the displayed time, you must change the time settings on your iPhone.

Can I set a different time zone on my Apple Watch?
Yes, your Apple Watch follows the time zone set on your iPhone. To change the time zone, update the time zone settings on your iPhone under Settings > General > Date & Time.

Is it possible to display a time offset on my Apple Watch?
Yes, you can set a time offset by opening the Watch app on your iPhone, going to My Watch > Clock, and adjusting the time ahead by up to 59 minutes without changing the actual time.

Why doesn’t my Apple Watch update the time correctly?
If your Apple Watch shows the wrong time, ensure your iPhone has the correct time and is connected. Restart both devices and check for software updates to resolve syncing issues.

How do I change the time format on my Apple Watch?
The Apple Watch uses the 12-hour or 24-hour format based on your iPhone’s settings. To change it, go to Settings > General > Date & Time on your iPhone and toggle the 24-Hour Time option.

Will changing the time on my iPhone affect alarms and reminders on my Apple Watch?
Yes, alarms, reminders, and calendar events on your Apple Watch sync with your iPhone’s time settings, so changing the time on your iPhone will update these accordingly on your watch.
Changing the time on your Apple Watch is a straightforward process primarily managed through the paired iPhone. Since the Apple Watch automatically syncs its time settings with the iPhone, adjusting the time on the iPhone will typically update the watch accordingly. However, if you need to set the watch to display a different time than the actual time, the Apple Watch offers a feature to manually offset the time display without affecting notifications or alarms.

To manually adjust the time on your Apple Watch, you can use the Watch app on your iPhone by navigating to the “Clock” settings and selecting “Set Watch Face Time.” This allows you to advance the time display by up to 59 minutes while keeping the underlying system time accurate for all functions. This feature is particularly useful for those who prefer their watch to run slightly ahead for personal scheduling reasons.

In summary, while the Apple Watch’s time is generally controlled by the iPhone to ensure accuracy and synchronization, the device provides flexibility for users who want to customize the displayed time. Understanding these options ensures that users can maintain both precise timekeeping and personal preferences without compromising the watch’s functionality.

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.