How to Change the Time on an Apple Watch

How to Set Your Apple Watch Time Ahead

To set your Apple Watch time ahead of the actual time, use the Clock settings on the watch:

1. Open the Settings app on your watch, then tap Clock.
2. Tap +0 min.
3. Turn the Digital Crown and choose how many minutes ahead to set your watch. Apple's dial goes up to 59 minutes.
4. Tap the Done button.

Only the face moves. In Apple's words: "Your alarms, notifications, World Clock, and other times will still match the actual time." To undo it, repeat the steps and choose 0 minutes.

How to Fix the Wrong Time or Time Zone

To fix the wrong time or time zone, work on the paired iPhone. Apple's Apple Watch time article covers only 24-hour time and setting the face ahead; Apple's fix for a wrong time runs through the iPhone's Date & Time settings and ends with a restart of the paired watch:

1. Make sure the iPhone is connected to the internet.
2. Install the latest software update for the iPhone.
3. Open Settings, tap General, tap Date & Time, then turn on Set Time Automatically.
4. If a message says that updated time zone information is available, restart the iPhone and the paired Apple Watch.

For the time zone, also turn on Setting Time Zone: open Settings, tap Privacy & Security, tap Location Services, scroll to the bottom, tap System Services, then turn it on. That lets the iPhone use its current location to find the correct time zone.

If Set Time Automatically is dimmed (grayed out), Apple names two causes: a Screen Time passcode, or a corporate profile with device restrictions. Apple adds that the option might not be available with all carriers or in all countries and regions.

How to Switch to 24-Hour Time

To switch to 24-hour time, open the Apple Watch app on your iPhone, tap My Watch, tap Clock, then turn on 24-Hour Time. Afternoon and evening hours then show as 13

through 23

, so 8 PM appears as 20.

Other Time Settings

Three more settings give you other ways to check the time:

• Speak Time: in Settings on the watch, tap Clock, then turn on Speak Time. Hold two fingers on the watch face to hear the time.
• Chimes: in the same Clock settings, turn on Chimes to play a sound on the hour, then tap Sounds to choose Bells or Birds.
• World Clock: open the World Clock app, tap the List button, then the Add button, enter a city name, tap Search, then tap the city name to add it. Cities you add on your iPhone also appear on the watch.

How to Check It Worked

The change worked when the watch face shows the time you set, ahead of the actual time, while your alarms still ring at the actual time. After a time zone fix, check that Set Time Automatically is still on in the iPhone's Date & Time settings.