Modern smartphones Honor work under the control of a shell MagicOS or EMUIthat offer a high degree of customization of appearance. However, many users are faced with a misunderstanding of how exactly the data displayed on the desktop is edited. The time and date widget is often perceived as a static image, but in fact it is a direct reflection of the device's system settings. Changing the numbers on the main screen does not occur through a long press on the widget itself, but through a deep dive into the system parameters menu.
The setup process may seem confusing due to the abundance of items in the menu, but the logic of the operating system Android is the same for most devices. To adjust the clock readings, you will need to go to the section responsible for managing system resources. It is important to understand that if the automatic time detection function over the network is activated on your device, manual editing will be blocked until it is turned off.
In this article we will analyze in detail all the steps necessary to correctly set the time parameters. We will look at both standard methods through settings, as well as the nuances of working with widgets of different sizes. We will also pay attention to problems when the time is lost or displayed incorrectly after a reboot.
Preparing to change the system time
Before you start manually editing the parameters, you need to make sure that you have access to the main settings of your smartphone. Typically, this requires unlocking the screen and finding the Settingsicon that looks like a gear. In some cases, if the interface is heavily modified by the theme, the icon may be hidden in the system utilities folder.
The key point is to understand the difference between automatic synchronization and manual input. Most users prefer to trust the operator's network, as this guarantees high accuracy and automatic change of time zones when traveling. However, there are situations when the automation fails or you need to set a specific time to test applications.
⚠️ Attention: If you disable automatic synchronization, the phone will stop adjusting the time when switching to summer/winter time or when changing the region. You will have to ensure that the data is up to date yourself.
It is also worth checking the battery charge status. Although changing time settings is not an energy-intensive operation, suddenly turning off the device while saving system settings may cause some services to not work correctly. Make sure that the charge level is sufficient for easy operation of the menu.
Navigation through the Honor settings menu
Interface MagicOS may vary slightly depending on the firmware version and model of your Honor. However, the basic menu structure remains the same. You need to scroll down the list of options to the block usually called "System" or "Advanced Settings". In older versions of the shell, the desired item may be located immediately in the main list.
To quickly access the desired section, you can use the search function inside the settings menu. Click the magnifying glass icon at the top of the screen and search for "date" or "time." The system will automatically highlight the desired item, which will save you time when navigating through numerous submenus.
Inside the time management section you will find several switches. The most important of them is "Auto-adjust time". It is this toggle switch that blocks the possibility of manual editing. While it is active (highlighted in blue or green), all other fields will be inactive for clicking.
- 📱 Open the "Settings" application on the main screen.
- ⚙️ Find the "System and updates" section or simply “System.”
- 🕒 Select “Date and Time” in the list of system options.
- 🔓 Disable the “Automatic time adjustment” switch for manual access.
Use the settings search if you can’t find the item you need in a long list. This works faster than manually sorting through categories.
Disabling automatic synchronization
Once you get to the menu Date and time, first of all pay attention to the top of the screen. The main switches are located there. To be able to change the numbers on the display, you must deactivate the function of receiving time from the network operator. Just click on the slider opposite the inscription "Auto-adjust time".
After disabling this function, the “Time” and “Date” fields will become active. You can now click on them and bring up the system scroll wheel or numeric keypad to enter new values. Please note that changing the time may affect the operation of some applications that depend on the exact system time, for example, banking clients or instant messengers.
Also in this menu there is often a separate switch for "Auto time zone settings". If you're traveling and want your phone to detect your region, but still want to manually adjust the minutes, you'll have to turn both off. Otherwise, the phone may try to correct your manual change, returning the time according to geolocation.
⚠️ Attention: When manually setting the time, make sure that you have selected the correct time zone in the list below, otherwise the difference with the real time of your region may be several hours.
Some users mistakenly believe that disabling synchronization only affects the clock. In fact, this action also stops the automatic update of the date, so if the date changes, you will have to make changes manually.
Manually setting the time and date
Once the lock is removed, the editing process becomes intuitive. Click on the line Time. A selection interface will appear on the screen, which may look like spinning reels with numbers or a standard numeric keypad, depending on the version Android. Set the desired hours and minutes, then confirm the action with the “OK” button.
The calendar is set up in the same way. Click on the field Date and select the current day, month and year. Pay special attention to the year, since when resetting the settings or storing the phone for a long time without a battery, the system could roll back to factory settings, for example, to 2015 or 2018.
☑️ Checking the correctness of the settings
It is important to remember about the display format. In the same menu you can switch between 12-hour and 24-hour format. This affects not only the home screen widget, but also the time display in the status bar (at the top of the screen) and in notifications. The choice of format is a taste preference and does not affect the operation of the system.
| Parameter | Description | Impact on the system |
|---|---|---|
| Auto-setting the time | Receiving data from a cell tower | Blocks manual editing |
| Time zone | Geo referenced time | Shifts the time by a specified number of hours |
| Time format | 12-hour or 24-hour cycle | Changes only the visual display |
| Automatic date setting | Synchronizing the calendar with the network | Requires disabling to manually enter the date |
Customizing and moving the time widget
Often users want not just to change the time, but to move it on the main screen or change the display style. The time widget Honor is a separate interface element that can be edited. To do this, you need to go to the desktop editing mode by making a long tap on a free area of the screen or pinch with two fingers.
In the menu that opens, select the section Widgets (or “Add-ons”). There you will find several watch options: digital, analog, with date, with weather and others. You can drag the option you like to the main screen, replacing the old one. This allows you to customize the appearance of your smartphone to suit your needs.
If you want to resize an existing widget, tap on it and hold your finger until a frame with resizing markers appears. By pulling the corners, you can stretch the clock to show more information, such as city and temperature, or shrink it to a minimum.
Why is the widget showing the wrong time?
If the widget displays a time that differs from the system time, try deleting it and adding it again. Sometimes the widget cache is not updated correctly after changing the time zone or manually editing the settings.
It is worth noting that some themes downloaded from the store Themescan completely replace the standard time widget with their own. In this case, changing the system time will still be correct, but the visual style will be dictated by the theme.
Solving problems with time reset
Sometimes users are faced with a situation where, after rebooting the phone, the time goes back several hours or years. Most often, this indicates a discharge of the internal battery that powers the watch when it is turned off, or a software glitch in the time service. In modern smartphones, this problem is less common, but it is possible.
If the time is constantly reset, check the power saving settings. Aggressive power saving modes can disable network modules in the background, preventing the phone from syncing when turned on. Try adding the System Interface application or time services to the exception list to optimize the battery.
Another reason may be that the SIM card is not working correctly. If the phone cannot register with the operator's network, it will not receive time data. Try removing and reinserting the SIM card, making sure that it is working properly and the balance is positive.
⚠️ Attention: If the problem with resetting the time is permanent and is not solved by the settings, this may indicate a hardware malfunction of the motherboard. In this case, it is recommended to contact a service center.
For diagnostics, you can also try resetting the network settings. This will not delete your personal data, but will return the mobile network and Wi-Fi connection settings to factory settings, which often helps restore synchronization.
Stable operation of the watch depends not only on the menu settings, but also on the quality of communication with the operator and the state of Android system services.
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why can’t I change the time manually on my Honor?
Most likely, you have the function enabled "Automatic time adjustment". Go to Settings → System → Date and time and turn off this switch. Only after this, the fields for manual input will become active.
How to return the time widget to the main screen if I accidentally deleted it?
Take a long time Click on an empty area of the desktop, select Widgets (or "Add-ons"), find "Clock" in the list and drag the desired option onto the screen. You can choose any style from those offered by the system.
Does changing the time zone affect the operation of the alarm clock?
Yes, it does. Alarm clocks Android are tied to system time. If you manually change the time zone or time, the alarm will sound at the new set time. With automatic synchronization, the phone itself will adjust the call time when changing the region.
Is it possible to display the time of a second city on the main screen?
The standard widget usually shows only local time. To display the time of other cities, it is recommended to install third-party widgets from the application store or use weather widgets, which often have the function of displaying the time in the selected city.
What to do if the time is displayed in squares or hieroglyphs?
This is a problem with the fonts. You may have installed a third-party theme or font that does not support Cyrillic or numbers. Return the standard font in the settings Screen and brightness → Font and text size or change the theme to the standard one.