How do I change the time format in Windows from 12-hour to 24-hour?

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Language & region → Regional format → Additional date, time & regional settings → Change date or time formats. In the Short time dropdown, select a format using capital "H" (such as HH:mm) for 24-hour time, or lowercase "h" with "tt" (such as h:mm tt) for 12-hour time with AM/PM.

How do I set my time and time zone manually in Windows?

Open Settings (Win + I) → Time & Language → Date & time. Turn off "Set time automatically," then click "Change" to manually enter the date and time. To set the time zone manually, also turn off "Set time zone automatically" and choose your zone from the dropdown.

Why won't Windows let me change the time manually?

If the "Change" button is greyed out, the "Set time automatically" toggle is still on — switch it off first. If you still cannot change it after that, check that your Windows account has administrator privileges, since standard user accounts may be restricted from changing system time.

How do I fix Windows showing the wrong time zone automatically?

Windows often gets the time zone wrong when location services are disabled. Go to Settings → Privacy & security → Location and ensure location access is turned on, then go back to Date & time and toggle "Set time zone automatically" off and on again, or set it manually using the dropdown.

What is the difference between Short time and Long time format in Windows?

Short time format controls how the clock appears in the taskbar and most apps (e.g. 2:30 PM). Long time format includes seconds and is used in some file properties and system dialogs (e.g. 2:30:45 PM). Both can be customized independently in the Regional format settings.

How do I sync my Windows clock with an internet time server?

Go to Settings → Time & Language → Date & time → Additional clocks and time settings (or "Sync now" in newer Windows versions). Windows uses time.windows.com by default; you can change the server under the Internet Time tab in the Control Panel Date and Time dialog.

Windows 10 & 11

How to Set Time & Change Time Format in Windows

Two complete step-by-step guides: setting your time/time zone manually, and switching between 12-hour and 24-hour format.

Set Your Time and Time Zone Manually in Windows

Use this when your clock drifts, shows the wrong time zone, or you need to set a specific time for testing purposes.

1
Open Settings
Press Win + I to open Windows Settings, or click the Start menu and select the gear icon.
2
Go to Time & Language
In the Settings window, click "Time & Language" from the left sidebar (or the main menu on Windows 11).
3
Open Date & Time
Click "Date & time" to see your current time, date, and time zone settings.
4
Turn off "Set time automatically"
Toggle off the "Set time automatically" switch. This unlocks manual control over the clock.
5
Click "Change"
Under the manual section, click the "Change" button next to the date and time fields.
6
Enter the correct date and time
Manually type or select the correct date and time, then click "Change" to confirm.
7
Set your time zone manually
Also toggle off "Set time zone automatically" if needed, then choose your correct time zone from the dropdown list.

Manually setting the time disables automatic internet time sync. Remember to turn "Set time automatically" back on once you no longer need manual control, to avoid future clock drift.

Change Time Format in Windows (12-hour ↔ 24-hour)

Switch your taskbar clock and system-wide time display between 12-hour (AM/PM) and 24-hour format.

1
Open Settings → Time & Language
Press Win + I, then navigate to "Time & Language" in the sidebar.
2
Click "Language & region"
Select "Language & region" from the Time & Language menu.
3
Open "Regional format"
Scroll down and click on "Regional format" to access detailed formatting options.
4
Click "Additional date, time & regional settings"
This opens the legacy Control Panel dialog with full format customization.
5
Select "Change date or time formats"
Under the Region section, click this link to open the Customize Format dialog.
6
Choose 12-hour or 24-hour format
In the "Short time" or "Long time" dropdown, select a format using "h" (12-hour) or "H" (24-hour) notation — for example, h:mm tt for 12-hour with AM/PM, or HH:mm for 24-hour.
7
Click Apply, then OK
Confirm your changes. The new time format will appear immediately in the taskbar clock.

Format codes reference: "h" = 12-hour, "H" = 24-hour, "mm" = minutes, "ss" = seconds, "tt" = AM/PM indicator. Example: HH:mm:ss displays as 14:30:45.

Need to check the time in another city first?

Use the world clock to find the correct local time anywhere before setting it manually in Windows.

Open World Clock