How to Change the Time Zone on Your iPhone
Reading Time: 2 minutesTraveling with your iPhone or moving to a new location? Learn how to switch time zones on your iOS device.
The date and time displayed on your iPhone are determined by its time zone settings. Therefore, whenever you’re traveling to a different country, it’s essential to change your iPhone’s time zone to have the correct information in place.
There are two ways to change the time zone on your iPhone. You can let your iPhone do the work automatically or change it manually yourself. We’ll go through both methods below.
How to Change the Time Zone on Your iPhone Automatically
You can ensure that you’ll always have the correct time zone by turning on the Set Automatically option on your iPhone. Set Automatically detects your current location and changes your iPhone’s time zone accordingly. It works for places where there’s Daylight Saving Time as well.
To enjoy this convenient iPhone feature, simply go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle on Set Automatically.
If the Time Zone field keeps loading and doesn’t display a selected region, you need to return to the main Settings page. Head to Privacy & Security > Location Services. Toggle on Location Services if you haven’t.
Then, scroll down and tap System Services. Toggle on Setting Time Zone. Now, when you go back to Date & Time, you will see the selected city and time zone.
How to Change the Time Zone on Your iPhone Manually
If you prefer to retain more privacy on your smartphone and don’t want to have Location Services enabled, you can opt to change the time zone on your iPhone manually.
Go to Settings > General > Date & Time and toggle off Set Automatically. Next, tap the Time Zone field, key in the city name, and select from the list.
If the Set Automatically option is grayed out and you can’t turn it off, there are two potential fixes. First, you may need to disable Screen Time on your iPhone. To do so, go back to the main Settings page. Then, tap Screen Time > Turn Off Screen Time.
Another solution is to update your iPhone to the latest version of iOS. In Settings, go to General > Software Update to check if there’s an update available for your device.
If these two fixes don’t work for you, it may be due to your carrier, country, or region not allowing you to switch between automatic and manual. Also, if the iPhone has been configured with a corporate profile, such setting changes might not be allowed due to device restrictions.
Change Your iPhone Time Zone Easily
If you’re a frequent traveler, it’s best to let your iPhone change time zones automatically. This way, you won’t miss out on an important itinerary, event, or work meeting when you’re in different regions of the world.
However, if you prefer to change the time zone manually or you prioritize your privacy, your iPhone lets you do that too. For both methods, just ensure you have the correct settings we discussed on your device so that you can easily change your iPhone time zone without a hitch.