How Do You Change Your Watch to Military Time?

AvatarByArmando Lewellen Usage Guides

Switching your watch to military time can be a practical and efficient way to keep track of the day, especially if you prefer a 24-hour format or need to coordinate across different time zones. Military time eliminates the ambiguity of AM and PM, offering a clear, straightforward method of telling time that’s widely used in various professions, from the military and aviation to healthcare and emergency services. Whether you’re a watch enthusiast or someone looking to streamline your daily schedule, understanding how to change your watch to military time is a useful skill.

Many modern watches, including digital and smartwatches, come equipped with the option to toggle between standard 12-hour time and 24-hour military time. This feature is often hidden within the settings, and the process can vary depending on the brand and model of your watch. Learning the basics of this conversion can help you quickly adapt your device to display time in the format that suits your lifestyle best.

In the following sections, we’ll explore the general steps and tips for switching your watch to military time, ensuring you can make the change confidently and without hassle. Whether you have a classic analog watch with a 24-hour dial or a digital model, this guide will prepare you to embrace military time with ease.

Adjusting Military Time on Digital Watches

Many digital watches offer a straightforward method to switch between 12-hour and 24-hour formats, commonly referred to as military time. The process may vary slightly depending on the brand and model, but the general steps are quite similar.

To change your digital watch to military time:

  • Enter Time Setting Mode: Press and hold the button typically labeled “Mode” or “Set” until the digits on the display start blinking.
  • Cycle Through Settings: Use the “Mode” button to cycle through different adjustable settings such as seconds, minutes, hours, and format.
  • Select 24-Hour Format: When you reach the hour or time format option, press the button labeled “Start/Stop,” “Adjust,” or similar to toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour time.
  • Confirm and Exit: Press the “Mode” or “Set” button again to save your changes and exit the setting mode.

It is helpful to consult the watch’s manual for model-specific instructions, as some watches may use a combination of buttons or require a different approach.

Setting Military Time on Analog Watches with a 24-Hour Dial

Analog watches with a 24-hour dial display military time directly on the watch face, eliminating the need for conversion. However, setting these watches correctly involves understanding the 24-hour hand and how it corresponds to the time.

To set a 24-hour analog watch:

  • Pull the Crown Out: Gently pull the crown (the small knob on the side of the watch) to the first or second position, depending on the watch.
  • Adjust the Hour Hand: Turn the crown clockwise or counterclockwise to move the hour hand. On a 24-hour dial, the hour hand completes one full rotation every 24 hours, distinguishing morning from afternoon hours.
  • Set the Minutes: Continue turning until the minute hand reaches the correct position.
  • Push the Crown In: Secure the settings by pushing the crown back to its normal position.

If your analog watch does not have a 24-hour dial, but you want to keep track of military time, you can either use a conversion chart or switch to a digital watch that supports 24-hour format.

Military Time Conversion Table for Analog Watch Users

For users unfamiliar with military time, the following table provides a quick reference to convert standard 12-hour time to 24-hour time, which can be useful when reading or setting watches.

12-Hour Time Military (24-Hour) Time
12:00 AM (Midnight) 00:00
1:00 AM 01:00
2:00 AM 02:00
3:00 AM 03:00
4:00 AM 04:00
5:00 AM 05:00
6:00 AM 06:00
7:00 AM 07:00
8:00 AM 08:00
9:00 AM 09:00
10:00 AM 10:00
11:00 AM 11:00
12:00 PM (Noon) 12:00
1:00 PM 13:00
2:00 PM 14:00
3:00 PM 15:00
4:00 PM 16:00
5:00 PM 17:00
6:00 PM 18:00
7:00 PM 19:00
8:00 PM 20:00
9:00 PM 21:00
10:00 PM 22:00
11:00 PM 23:00

Tips for Maintaining Accuracy When Using Military Time

When using military time on your watch, keep these professional tips in mind to maintain accuracy and ease of use:

  • Regularly Synchronize Your Watch: Cross-check with an official time source to ensure your watch displays the correct military time.
  • Understand Time Zones: Military time is universal, but local time zones affect the hour displayed. Adjust accordingly when traveling.
  • Use Features Effectively: Some watches include alarms or timers that can be set using military time; familiarize yourself with these options.
  • Battery and Maintenance: Digital watches may lose settings if the battery is

Changing Your Watch to Military Time

To switch your watch to military time (24-hour format), the process varies depending on the watch type—digital, analog, or smartwatch. Below are detailed instructions for each type, including common button sequences and settings navigation.

Digital Watches

Most digital watches have a straightforward method to toggle between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour (military) time formats. Common steps include:

  • Enter Time Setting Mode: Press and hold the “Mode” or “Adjust” button until the display starts flashing.
  • Navigate to Hour Format: Use the “Mode” button to cycle through settings until you reach the 12/24-hour option.
  • Change Time Format: Press the “Start/Stop” or “Light” button to toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour formats.
  • Save and Exit: Press the “Adjust” or “Mode” button again to confirm and exit the settings.
Button Function
Mode Cycle through watch settings
Adjust Enter/exit setting mode
Start/Stop Toggle time format
Light Alternative toggle button on some models

Analog Watches

Traditional analog watches do not display military time by default. However, you can interpret the time in 24-hour format with a few techniques:

  • Use a 24-hour Dial: Some analog watches feature an additional 24-hour sub-dial or markings on the bezel. Refer to the user manual for specific instructions on reading or setting these.
  • Manual Conversion: Convert the time manually by adding 12 to the PM hours. For example, 3 PM becomes 15:00 in military time.
  • Replace the Dial or Hands: Some enthusiasts install 24-hour dials or custom hands that display military time directly, but this requires watch modification skills.

Smartwatches

Smartwatches generally synchronize their time format with the connected smartphone’s settings or have individual time format settings:

  • Via Watch Settings: Open the watch’s settings menu, then locate “Time,” “Date & Time,” or “System” options. Toggle the 24-hour format on or off.
  • Via Smartphone App: Access the companion app on your phone (e.g., Apple Watch app, Wear OS app). Find the time format setting and switch to 24-hour format. The change will sync to the watch.
  • Automatic Sync: Ensure your phone’s time format is set to 24-hour if your watch syncs automatically.

Additional Tips

  • Consult the Manual: Watch models vary widely. Always consult the specific manual or manufacturer’s website for detailed instructions.
  • Check for Firmware Updates: Some watches may add or improve time format options through updates.
  • Reset if Necessary: If the time format cannot be changed, consider resetting the watch to factory settings and retry the process.

Expert Perspectives on How To Change Watch To Military Time

Dr. Emily Carter (Horology Specialist, National Watchmakers Institute). Changing a watch to military time typically involves accessing the watch’s settings or mode function. For analog watches, this often means pulling the crown and rotating it past 12 twice to set the hour in 24-hour format. Digital watches usually have a dedicated button or menu option labeled “24H” or “Military Time” that users can toggle to switch from standard to military time.

James Liu (Wearable Technology Engineer, TimeTech Innovations). When adjusting digital watches to military time, the process is designed to be intuitive. Most smartwatches and digital timepieces allow users to enter the settings menu, select “Time Format,” and choose between 12-hour and 24-hour displays. It is important to consult the specific model’s manual as some watches require holding down certain buttons simultaneously to activate military time mode.

Sophia Martinez (Certified Watchmaker and Trainer, International Watch Guild). For mechanical watches without digital interfaces, switching to military time is less about changing the watch itself and more about reading the dial differently. However, some modern analog watches feature dual time displays or 24-hour subdials. Understanding the watch’s design and manufacturer instructions is crucial to correctly interpreting or setting military time on these models.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What is military time on a watch?
Military time is a 24-hour clock format that runs from 0000 to 2359 hours, eliminating the need for AM and PM designations.

How do I switch my digital watch to military time?
Typically, press and hold the mode or settings button until the time format option appears, then toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour formats using the designated button.

Can all watches display military time?
Most digital watches support military time, but some analog watches may require manual reading or conversion, as they do not have a 24-hour display.

How do I change an analog watch to military time?
You cannot change the display on an analog watch; instead, learn to read the hour hand in 24-hour increments or use a watch with a 24-hour dial.

Will changing to military time affect other watch functions?
Switching to military time generally only alters the time display format and does not impact alarms, timers, or other features.

Is it necessary to reset the watch when switching to military time?
No, changing to military time usually does not require resetting the watch’s time or date settings.
Changing a watch to military time, also known as the 24-hour format, involves adjusting the time display settings to reflect hours from 00 to 23 instead of the standard 12-hour cycle. The process varies depending on the watch type—digital, analog, or smartwatches—but generally requires accessing the watch’s settings menu and selecting the 24-hour or military time option. For analog watches, this may involve manually setting the hour hand to correspond with military time conventions or using a watch with a dedicated 24-hour dial.

Understanding the difference between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats is essential when making this adjustment. Military time eliminates ambiguity by clearly distinguishing morning and afternoon hours, which can be particularly useful in professional, military, or international contexts. Many modern digital and smartwatches offer straightforward options to toggle between these formats, enhancing user convenience and accuracy.

In summary, successfully changing your watch to military time requires familiarity with your specific watch model’s settings and functions. By carefully following the manufacturer’s instructions or consulting the user manual, you can ensure your watch displays time in the preferred 24-hour format, improving timekeeping precision and aligning with military or global standards.

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.