Changing the date and time on smartphones Honor seems like a simple task - until you encounter settings being locked, synchronization failure, or the absence of an edit button. Unlike most Android devices, phones Honor (especially models on Magic UI and EMUI) often hide these parameters in non-obvious sections or require additional steps to unlock.

In this article we will look at all current methods changes dates - from the standard menu to bypassing restrictions through ADB and the engineering menu. We will separately dwell on typical errors (for example, when the date is reset after a reboot) and explain why on some models Honor 70/80/90 the editing option may be blocked by the manufacturer. If you need to roll back the date for testing applications, bypass time limits in games, or simply correct incorrect settings, you will find working solutions here.

1. Standard method: through system settings

The most obvious method is to use the built-in date and time menu. However, Honor the path to these settings may differ depending on the firmware version (Magic UI 7.0+ or EMUI 12/13) and regional build.

To open the menu:

  1. Go to Settings (gear icon on the main screen).
  2. Scroll down and select System and updates (on some models simply System).
  3. Click Date and time.

If the option Set date is active, just tap on the field and select the desired values in the calendar. If the button is inactive (gray), then it is enabled. To enable it. disable: automatic synchronization. To disable it:

  • 🔄 Move the slider Automatic (network) to position Off
  • 📅 Now the Date, Time and Hour belt fields will become available for editing.
💡

On some models Honor X6/X7 the date menu may be hidden in the section Additional → Managing date and time. If you don’t find it, use the search in the settings (magnifying glass at the top of the screen).

After changing the date We recommend restart the devicethat the changes apply to all system processes (especially important for time-sensitive applications, such as banking or gaming).

📊 Which version of Magic UI does your Honor use?
Magic UI 7.0 or newer
Magic UI 6.0
EMUI 12/13
I don’t know
Other

2. If the date is reset after a reboot

A common problem on Honor (especially after updates or factory resets) - automatic reset of the date to the current time every time you turn on the phone. This happens due to:

  • 🔋 Module failure RTC (real time clock).
  • 📡 Conflict with servers synchronization Huawei/Honor.
  • 🛠️ Incorrect access rights to system files (relevant after root access or firmware).

Solutions:

  1. Disable automatic synchronization (see section 1) and set the date manually.
  2. Reset network settings: 
    Settings → Mobile network → Reset network settings

    This will delete saved Wi-Fi and cellular settings, but often solves the time synchronization problem.

  3. Update the firmwareOn some models Honor 50/60 The date bug was fixed in security patches.
What to do if the date is reset due to a dead battery?

On older models Honor (until 2019) with a full battery If the battery is discharged, the RTC module could be reset. In this case, only replacing the battery or flashing it via eRecovery.

If the problem persists, proceed to the methods from the following sections (especially the method with ADB, which bypasses system limitations).

3. Changing the date through the engineering menu (for advanced)

The engineering menu (##4636##) on Honor allows you to manually adjust system parameters, including the date. This method is suitable if the standard settings are locked, but requires caution - incorrect actions can lead to failures.

Instructions:

  1. Open the application Phone and enter the combination: 
    ##4636##

    On some models Honor Magic a code may be required ##2846579## → ProjectMenu → Background settings.

  2. In the engineering menu, select Testing → Date & Time settings.
  3. Disable the option Automatic date & time and set the values manually.

Make a backup copy of your data|Battery charge > 50%|Remember the current network settings|Do not interrupt the process of changing parameters-->

On Honor models with Magic UI 7.1+, the engineering menu may be locked - in in this case, use ADB (section 4).

After changing the date through the engineering menu required:

  • 🔄 Restart the phone.
  • 📱 Check the operation of time-sensitive applications (for example, Google Pay or Tinkoff).

4. Using ADB to force a date change

If all the previous methods did not work (for example, on Honor 90 Pro with the latest firmware), remains ADB (Android Debug Bridge). This method requires connecting the phone to the computer, but is guaranteed to bypass any system restrictions.

What you will need:

  • 🖥️ A computer with ADB drivers installed.
  • 📱 Enabled USB debugging on the phone (Settings → About phone → Number assembly - tap 7 times to unlock developer mode).
  • 🔌 USB cable (preferably original).

Step-by-step guide:

  1. Connect Honor to the PC and open the command line (cmd on Windows or Terminal on macOS/Linux).
  2. Check the device connection: 
    adb devices

    Your phone's serial number should appear.

  3. Disable automatic synchronization: 
    adb shell settings put global auto_time 0

    adb shell settings put global auto_time_zone 0

  4. Set the date in the format YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS (for example, January 1, 2023, 12:00): 
    adb shell date -s 20230101.120000
💡

The ADB command changes the date at the system level, so the changes will apply even to blocked applications (for example, to bypass time restrictions in games).

To return automatic synchronization, do:

adb shell settings put global auto_time 1

adb shell settings put global auto_time_zone 1

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware Honor after using ADB, you may need to restart your smartphone to apply the changes. Also note that frequent date changes via ADB may raise suspicions of anti-cheats for some games (for example, PUBG Mobile or Genshin Impact).

5. Resetting network and time settings

If the date on your Honor is displayed incorrectly (for example, it shows 1970 or a future date), the problem may lie in damaged configuration files. In this case, it will help partial reset —it does not affect personal data, but restores system parameters.

How to reset:

  1. Open Settings → System and updates → Reset.
  2. Select Reset network settings (this will also reset the time settings).
  3. Confirm the action and wait until the reboot.

After reset:

  • 🔄 The date and time will return to the factory settings (automatic synchronization).
  • 📶 You will have to reconnect to Wi-Fi and set up the mobile network.
  • ⚙️ We recommend immediately disabling automatic synchronization (if you need a fixed date).
💡

If after a reset the date is still lost, check the operation of the GPS module - sometimes faults in determining the location affect time synchronization.

On models Honor Magic 4/5 after the reset, you may need to re-activate the services Huawei Mobile Services (HMS). To do this:

  1. Open Settings → Accounts → HMS.
  2. Click Update HMS Core.

6. Problems with the date on specific Honor models

Some smartphones Honor have unique bugs related to date and time. The table below shows typical problems and solutions for popular models:

Model Problem Solution
Honor 50/60 The date is reset after updating the firmware Roll back to the previous version via eRecovery or use ADB
Honor Magic 3/4 It is impossible to disable automatic synchronization Use the engineering menu or ADB (sections 3–4)
Honor X8/X9 The date in the status bar is displayed incorrectly Reset settings launcher (Settings → Applications → Launcher → Storage → Clear cache)
Honor 70/80 When manually changing the date, the error "Invalid value" occurs Set the time zone manually (Settings → Date and time → Time zone), then repeat changing the date

If your model is not in the table, check firmware version (Settings → About phone → Magic UI version) and compare with the latest updates on Honor official website. Sometimes date bugs are fixed in security patches.

Why can the date “jump” on Honor Magic 5 by itself?

Some devices with Snapdragon 8 Gen 2 processor experience conflicts between the hardware clock (RTC) and software synchronization. The solution is to disable the "Use local time" option in the date settings.

7. How to check whether the date has changed correctly

After changing the date to Honor it is important to make sure that the new settings are applied to all system processes. Here's how to do it:

  1. Check in the status line: Pull the notification curtain down - the date and time should be displayed correctly.
  2. Test via the command line: 
    adb shell date

    The command will display the current system date and time.

  3. Check in applications: Open Google Calendar or Clock —if the date is wrong, it means the changes were not applied to the user profile.

If the date in the status line and applications is different:

  • 🔄 Restart the phone.
  • 📱 Check if synchronization via account is enabled Huawei ID (Settings → Accounts → Huawei ID → Synchronization).
  • 🛠️ Clear application cache Settings (Settings → Applications → Settings → Storage → Clear cache).

⚠️ Attention: On some models Honor (for example, Honor Play 40) after changing the date, services Google Playmay stop working. In this case, you will have to reset the settings Google Services Framework:

Settings → Applications → Show system → Google Services Framework → Storage → Clear data

FAQ: Frequently asked questions about changing the date on Honor

Is it possible to change the date on Honor without root access?

Yes, all the methods in this article (except for editing system files) work without root access. For most tasks, standard settings or ADB are sufficient.

Why did banking applications stop working after changing the date?

Banking applications (for example, SberBank Online or Tinkoff) are tied to server time. If the date on the phone is very different from the real one, the application will block access for security reasons. The solution is to return the current date or use the application in the browser.

How to roll back the date for testing applications?

For testing you can use ADB (section 4) or applications like Fake GPS (requires developer mode to be enabled). Please note that some applications (for example, WhatsApp) can block your account if time tampering is detected.

On my Honor there is no “Set date” option. What to do?

This is typical for devices with corporate policies (for example, issued by the employer) or firmware from operators (MTS, Beeline). Try:

  1. Use ADB (section 4).
  2. Reset settings to factory settings (Settings → System → Reset).
  3. Contact support Honor for unlocking.
Is it possible to change the date on Honor via Recovery Mode?

No, in the mode Recovery (turned on by buttons Power + Volume Up) there are no options for changing the date. This mode is only intended for resetting, updating the firmware or cleaning. cache.