How to change the time on the Android screen: 5 methods and solutions to problems

Displaying the correct time on the screen of an Android smartphone is a seemingly simple task, but sometimes it turns into a real puzzle. You may have noticed that the clock on the notification panel suddenly went wrong after a system update, a flight to a different time zone, or even for no apparent reason. In some cases, the problem lies in automatic synchronization with the network, in others - in manual settings that accidentally went wrong.

This article will not just tell you, how to change the time on Android, but will also explain why it can go wrong, how to avoid common mistakes when setting up, and what to do if standard methods do not work. We will consider solutions for all versions of the system - from outdated Android 7 Nougat to the latest updates Android 15, and will also touch on specific cases, for example, when the time is lost after replacing the battery or firmware.

We will pay special attention hidden settings, which manufacturers seem to Samsung, Xiaomi or Huawei hide in their shells (One UI, MIUI, EMUI). You will learn how to bypass operator restrictions if it blocks time changes, and what to do if, after changing the time zone, applications (for example, Google Calendar or WhatsApp) display events incorrectly.

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1. Standard method: changing the time through Android settings

The most obvious and universal method is to use the built-in system settings. It works on 99% of devices, regardless of Android version or shell manufacturer. Here's how to do it:

1. Open the application "Settings"** (gear icon in the menu or on the desktop).
2. Scroll down and select section System (on some devices — Advanced or General settings).
3. Tap on item Date and time.
4. Disable the slider Auto-detection of date and time (if it is active).
5. Click Set time and manually select the desired hours and minutes.
6. Similarly set Set date and Time zoneif required.

On devices with shell MIUI (for example, Redmi Note 12 or POCO X5) the path may be slightly different: Settings → Additional settings → Date and time. There is also an option Use 24-hour formatthat affects the display of time in the status line.

⚠️ Attention: On some smartphones Samsung (for example, Galaxy S23 or A54), after manually changing the time, a notification may appear Network time and device time do not match. This is not an error - the system just warns that automatic synchronization is disabled.

If after changing the time it gets lost again, check:

• 🔄 Automatic time zone update: in the same date and time settings there may be a separate slider for automatic zone detection by location. Disable it if it interferes.
• 📡 Synchronization with the operator's network: Some SIM cards (for example MTS or BeelineTry to temporarily remove the SIM or switch to On an airplane.
• 🔋 Charge saving: in Energy saving or Ultra-economical synchronization modes time may turn off.

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2. Quick time change through the notification panel (widget)

Not everyone knows, but on many smartphones you can change the time directly from the lock screen or notification panel without going into settings. This method works on devices with Android 10 and newer, unless the manufacturer has disabled this feature.

Here's how to do it:

1. Swipe down from the top edge of the screen to open the notification panel.
2. Tap and hold the current time in the upper right corner (next to the battery and network icons).
3. If the widget supports quick editing, a window with time and date settings will appear.
4. Change the values and save the changes.

On smartphones Google Pixel (for example, Pixel 7 Pro) this method works stably, but on Samsung Galaxy you may need to first add a widget Clock to the home screen:

• Long press on an empty space on the desktop → Widgets.
• Find a widget Clock (usually from Google or manufacturer).
• Drag it onto the screen and configure the time display.

⚠️ Attention: On some firmware (for example, ColorOS from Oppo/Realme) quick time changes via the widget may be reset after reboot. In this case, use the standard method from the first section.

If the time widget is not in the list, this means that the manufacturer has removed it from the shell. In this case, only manual configuration through “Settings” or the methods from the following sections will help.

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3. Changing the time via ADB (for advanced users)

If standard methods do not work (for example, due to operator restrictions or corporate policy), you can change the time via Android Debug Bridge (ADB). advanced users and requires connecting the smartphone to the computer.

Here are step-by-step guide:

1. Enable Developer mode on the smartphone:
   • Go to Settings → About phone.
   • Click 7 times on Build number (a notification will appear You have become a developer!).
   • Go back to Settings → System → For Developers.
   • Activate USB Debugging.

adb devices

adb shell

su

date -s YYYYMMDD.HHMMSS

To change the time zone via ADB, use the command:

setprop persist.sys.timezone Europe/Moscow

(replace Europe/Moscow with the desired zone, for example, Asia/Shanghai).

⚠️ Attention: Using ADB without root access may not save the changes after a reboot. Also some manufacturers (for example, Huawei) block commands for changing time via ADB in the latest firmware.

Enable developer mode

Activate USB debugging

Install ADB on PC

Connect the original USB cable

Check the connection with the command `adb devices`-->

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4. Why does the time on Android get lost by itself?

If the time on your smartphone is regularly reset or lags, the reasons may be either software or hardware. Let's look at the most common ones:

• 📶 Synchronization with the operator's network: many SIM cards (especially Tele2 or Yota) force the time to be updated via NITZ (Network Identity and Time Zone). If the network is unstable, the time may be lost.
• 🔋 Battery or RTC controller failure: on older devices (for example, Samsung Galaxy S7 or Meizu MX5) when the battery is discharged below 10%, the hardware time may be reset.
• 🛠️ Incorrect firmware: if you installed custom software (for example, LineageOS), it could have a bug with time synchronization.
• 🌍 Time zone conflict: when crossing borders or using a VPN, the time may "jump" between zones.
• 🤖 Google services error: if disabled Google Services Play, automatic synchronization stops working.

How to diagnose the problem?

1. Check if the time is wrong airplane mode (without a SIM card and network). If not, the operator is to blame.
2. Install an application like ClockSync or Network Time from Google Play and see what time servers are in use.
3. Run the battery test through the engineering menu (code ##4636##) - if the voltage drops below 3.4V, a replacement may be required.

⚠️ Attention: On devices with MediaTekprocessors (for example, Redmi 9A or Infinix Hot 12) sometimes resetting the settings Radio Interface Layer (RIL) through the engineering menu (##36446337##) helps. But this can lead to loss of network!

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5. Correcting the time through the engineering menu (codes)

If standard methods do not help, you can try resetting the time settings via engineering menu. Each manufacturer has its own codes, but most of them work on most devices.

Here are the most effective combinations:

• 📱 General time reset: ##36446337## (works on Samsung, LG, Sony).
• 🔄 Reset NITZ (network time): ##4636## → Phone information → Select network type → LTE only (sometimes helps in case of 2G/4G conflicts).
• ⚙️ Reset RTC: ##786## (works on Huawei i Honor).
• 🌐 Manual synchronization: ##1472365## (for Google Pixel and Android One).

After entering the code:

1. Select an item related to time (for example, RTC Reset or Time Sync).
2. Confirm the reset (the device may reboot).
3. After turning on, manually set the correct time.

⚠️ Attention: Not all codes work on new devices (for example, Android 13+). On Samsung Galaxy S22 and newer, the engineering menu may be blocked by the manufacturer. It is also not recommended to change other settings in the engineering menu without understanding their purpose!

If the codes do not work, try an alternative method:

1. Install the application MTK Engineering Mode (for MediaTek) or Qualcomm Service Menu (for Snapdragon).
2. Go to section Time & Date or Network Time.
3. Reset to factory time settings.

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6. Solving time problems after updating or firmware

One of the most common causes of time failure. — incorrect system update or installing custom firmware. For example, after updating to Android 14 many users Xiaomi and Realme are faced with the fact that the time in the status line is displayed incorrectly, although it is correct in the settings.

Here's how to fix it:

If the time is wrong after the OTA update:

• 🔄 Reset the cache: go to Settings → Applications → Three dots → Show system → Google Play Services → Storage → Clear cache.
• 📥 Update Google services: go to Google Play, find Google Play Services and click Update.
• ⚙️ Enable automatic synchronization: Settings → Date and time → Automatic detection of date and time (turn the slider on and off 2-3 times).

If the problem appeared after installing custom firmware:

• 📌 Check the firmware version: some assemblies LineageOS or AOSP do not support automatic synchronization. Install the patch NitzFix via Magisk.
• 🔧 Edit build.prop: add a line ro.config.nitz=1 to force synchronization with network.
• 🛠️ Reflash the RIL module: If the time is lost due to problems with the modem, find a patch for your model in thematic forums (for example, 4PDA).

On devices Samsung after flashing the firmware via Odin can help:

In the engineering menu (*#0011#) press Menu → Back → Service Mode → [1] Debug Screen → [6] Common → [6] NV Rebuild → [1] RTC Reset.

⚠️ Attention: If you are using firmware from the forums, make sure that it is designed specifically for your model and region. For example, firmware for Samsung Galaxy A52 (SM-A525F) will not be suitable for SM-A525M, even if the devices are externally identical.

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7. How to change the time display format (12/24 hours)

Many users want to not only change the time, but also change it display format —for example, switch from 24-hour to 12-hour (AM/PM) or vice versa. simple:

Method 1: Through system settings

1. Open Settings → System → Date and time.
2. Click on Time format (or Use 24-hour format).
3. Select the desired option.

Method 2: Through language settings

• Go in Settings → System → Language and input.
• Select a language, for example English (USA) —it uses the 12-hour format by default.
• Go back to the time settings and check the changes.

On devices Samsung One UI the path may be different:

1. Settings → General settings → Date and time → Time format.
2. Select between 24 hours and 12 hours (AM/PM).

If the option is missing, it means that the manufacturer has removed it from the shell. In this case, it will help:

• 📱 Installing the launcher: for example, Nova Launcher or Action Launcher allow you to configure the time display on the main screen.
• ⚙️ Using ADB: command settings put system time_12_24 24 (for 24-hour format) or settings put system time_12_24 12 (for 12-hour clock).

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8. Applications for automatic time synchronization

If the built-in Android tools do not cope, third-party applications come to the rescue. They are useful when:

• The time is lost due to problems with it. network.
• You need synchronization with precise servers (for example, NTP).
• Automatic switching of time zones when traveling is required.

Top 5 applications for setting the time:

How to set ClockSync for maximum accuracy:

1. Install the application and open it.
2. In the section Time servers select the one closest to you (for example, ru.pool.ntp.org for Russia).
3. Activate the option Auto-sync and set the interval (recommended 1 hour).
4. In the settings, enable Dray correction