Ever glance at your iPhone and realize the clock just feels... off? Maybe you’re a military vet who can’t stand the 12-hour format, or perhaps you’re a traveler constantly confused by automatic time zone shifts that happen when you land in a new city. Changing it is simple. Mostly. But honestly, Apple hides some of the cooler customization features behind layers of menus that aren't exactly intuitive.
If you're trying to figure out how to change time display on iPhone, you probably aren't just looking for the 24-hour toggle. You might want to change the font on your lock screen, add a second clock for a long-distance partner, or fix a glitch where your phone thinks you're in Cupertino when you're actually in Chicago. Let's get into the weeds of how this actually works in iOS 17 and iOS 18.
The Basic Toggle: Switching Between 12 and 24-Hour Time
Most people just want to get rid of the "AM" and "PM." It’s a preference thing. To do this, you have to dive into the General settings. It isn't under "Display," which is where a lot of people first look. Open your Settings app. Tap General. Then, look for Date & Time.
At the very top, you’ll see the 24-Hour Time toggle. Flip it. Instantly, your status bar clock shifts from 1:00 PM to 13:00. It's a binary choice. Simple.
But there’s a catch. If you have a corporate-managed device or a specific Screen Time profile active, this might be greyed out. I've seen it happen. Usually, it's because of a "Profile" installed by an employer to ensure "accurate logging," which is honestly a bit overkill, but that's corporate IT for you.
Why Your iPhone Time is Wrong (and How to Force it to Be Right)
Ever had your alarm go off at the wrong time because your phone decided you lived in a different state? It’s infuriating. By default, iPhones use a feature called Set Automatically.
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This relies on your GPS and cellular data to ping a network time server (usually time.apple.com). Sometimes, the location services glitch. If you see the wrong time, don't just manually set it yet. First, go to Settings > Privacy & Security > Location Services > System Services and make sure Setting Time Zone is turned on.
If that's already on and the time is still wonky, go back to General > Date & Time. Toggle off Set Automatically. Now, a new field appears. You can tap the blue date/time and manually scroll the wheels.
The "Manual" Risk
Manual time is a double-edged sword. Sure, you can set your clock five minutes fast so you're never late. My grandmother used to do this with every wall clock in her house. On an iPhone, though, this breaks things.
Websites use SSL certificates that require your phone's time to match the server's time within a very narrow margin. If your phone is manually set to 2024 but it’s actually 2026, Safari will stop working. You'll get "Your connection is not private" errors everywhere. Basically, don't mess with the year or date unless you absolutely have to.
Customizing the Lock Screen Time Display
Since iOS 16, the way we look at the clock has changed. It's no longer just a static white font. You can actually make the time look like a piece of art, or at least something that doesn't look like a generic spreadsheet.
- Wake your iPhone but don't swipe up.
- Long-press on the Lock Screen.
- Tap Customize at the bottom, then select Lock Screen.
- Tap on the Clock.
This opens the "Font & Color" pane. You have several different typefaces to choose from. Some are thin and modern; others are thick, blocky, and vintage. You can even change the numerals. If you tap the globe icon in the top left of that pane, you can switch from Arabic numerals to Arabic Indic, Devanagari, or others.
You can also slide the color picker at the bottom to match your wallpaper. If you pick a color and it looks too bright, use the slider to dim the intensity. It's surprisingly deep for a phone setting.
The Depth Effect
Here is a pro tip: if you use a photo of a person or a pet as your wallpaper, the time display can actually go behind their head. This is the "Depth Effect." It only works if you don't have widgets on the lock screen. As soon as you add a weather widget or a battery bar under the time, the depth effect disappears. Apple prioritizes information over aesthetics in that specific trade-off.
Adding Multiple Time Zones to Your Screen
If you're working with a team in London or you just want to know when your friend in Tokyo is awake, you need more than one clock. You can't change the main system time to show two zones at once in the status bar, but you can use widgets.
Go to your home screen. Long-press an empty area until the icons jiggle. Tap the + button in the top left. Search for Clock.
You'll see options for "City" or "World Clock." The World Clock widget is the way to go. It shows four different cities. Once you place it, tap the widget while it’s still in "jiggle mode" to choose which cities appear.
Changing the Time Display for StandBy Mode
iOS 17 introduced StandBy, which turns your iPhone into a bedside clock when it’s charging and on its side. This is arguably the most useful "time display" update in years.
To change how the time looks here:
- Put your phone on a MagSafe or Qi charger.
- Turn it landscape (horizontal).
- Once the clock appears, swipe up or down to change the clock style.
There’s a "Solar" view that changes color based on the sun's position, and a "Big Clock" view that is readable from across a dark room. If you find the red tint annoying at night, you can disable "Night Mode" in the StandBy settings, though most people find the red light easier on the eyes when they wake up at 3:00 AM.
Dealing with the "AM/PM" Disappearance
A weird thing happens on iPhones with a "notch" or "Dynamic Island." In the top status bar, the phone often hides the "AM" or "PM" to save space, even if you are in 12-hour mode. You'll just see "9:41."
If you absolutely need to see the AM/PM indicator at all times, your only real option is to swipe down from the top right to open the Control Center. The full time display always lives there, tucked next to the battery percentage.
Troubleshooting Common Time Issues
Sometimes the "how to change time display on iPhone" question isn't about preference—it's about a bug.
Scenario A: The Time is Grayed Out. This is almost always a "Screen Time" restriction. Go to Settings > Screen Time > Content & Privacy Restrictions. If it's on, check if "Location Services" or "System Changes" are set to "Don't Allow."
Scenario B: The Time Zone is "Spinning."
If your phone is constantly searching for a time zone, it's draining your battery. This usually happens if you're in an area with poor GPS signal or if you're using a VPN. A VPN can spoof your location, making the iPhone think you're in London while your cell tower knows you're in New York. The conflict causes the "Set Automatically" feature to freak out. Turn off the VPN and see if it settles.
Real-World Use: The "Traveler's Fix"
If you travel across borders frequently, you might actually hate the automatic time change. Imagine you're on a layover in Dubai but your body is on New York time. You want your phone to stay on New York time so you don't miss a remote meeting.
In this case, go to General > Date & Time, turn off Set Automatically, and manually search for "New York" in the Time Zone field. This "locks" the display. Just remember to turn it back on when you get home, or you'll be the person wondering why your Uber arrived "four hours early."
Moving Forward With Your Settings
Changing the time display is a gateway into making the iPhone actually feel like yours. Most people leave the defaults on for years. Don't be that person.
Try this right now:
- Change your Lock Screen font to something bold and high-contrast.
- Toggle on 24-hour time for one day just to see if your brain adjusts (it's actually more efficient once you get used to it).
- Set up a World Clock widget if you have any family living in a different time zone.
Managing these small details reduces the friction of using your device every day. Whether it's fixing a timezone glitch or just making the clock purple to match your case, these steps ensure your iPhone works for your specific lifestyle rather than just being a "stock" device out of the box.