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How to Change the Date and Time on a Mac Manually

You may need to change the date and time when traveling

By Catherine Roseberry Catherine Roseberry Writer Catherine Roseberry is a former writer for Lifewire who has experience in technology consulting focused on mobile productivity. lifewire's editorial guidelines Updated on May 23, 2022 Tweet Share Email Tweet Share Email Apple Macs iPad

What to Know

Select the ​Time > Open Date & Time Preferences > Date & Time and clear Set date and time automatically.You may need to select the Lock at the bottom of the screen and enter your Mac password to make changes.To change time zones, select Time Zone tab > clear Set time zone automatically checkbox. This article explains how to change the date and time on macOS Catalina (10.15) through macOS Sierra (10.12).

How to Set the Date and Time on Your Mac Manually

When you start your Mac for the first time, macOS prompts you to select your time zone. It then sets the date and time automatically based on this setting. If you travel or want to reflect a different time zone for work, you can change the date and time on your Mac manually. Complete the following steps to change the date or time on your Mac desktop or laptop. Select the ​time indicator at the right side of the menu bar to open a drop-down menu. Then, click Open Date & Time Preferences. You can also open Date & Time preferences for all macOS versions, including Big Sur, by selecting System Preferences in the Dock and then selecting Date & Time. In the Date & Time tab, clear the check box next to Set date and time automatically. You may need to unlock the lock at the bottom of the screen and enter your Mac password to make changes. Select the clock face and drag the clock hands. Or, select the up and down arrows next to the time field above the clock to change the time. To change the date, select the up and down arrows next to the date field above the calendar or choose a date on the calendar. If you want to change time zones, select the Time Zone tab. Clear the check box beside Set time zone automatically using current location and then select a time zone on the map or use the menu beneath the map. Click the padlock when you are finished to prevent unauthorized changes. Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Get the Latest Tech News Delivered Every Day Subscribe Tell us why! Other Not enough details Hard to understand Submit More from Lifewire How to Set Your OS System Clock How to Reset Your Mac's PRAM or NVRAM (Parameter RAM) How to Change the Time on an iPad How to Fix It When Your iPhone Time Is Wrong How to Change the Time on Android Phones How to Turn on Location Services on a Mac How to Change the Time on a Kindle Paperwhite How to Share Your Google Calendar How to the Change Date on iPhone How to Fix It When the Time on Your Phone Is Wrong How to Adjust Your Time Zone in Gmail How to Schedule an Email in Gmail How to Change a Login Picture on Mac How to Use the iPad Calendar How to Schedule a Google Meet How to Make a Calendar In Excel Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up Newsletter Sign Up By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookies Settings Accept All Cookies