MacOS: Change Date & Time settings

MacOS: Change Date & Time settings

MacOS: Change Date & Time settings


Use Date & Time settings to set or change the date and time on your Mac. When the date and time are correct, time stamps on emails, messages, and files are accurate. 
To change these settings, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click General  in the sidebar, then click Date & Time on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)

Date & Time options

Option
Description
Set time and date automatically
Have the date and time on your Mac set automatically using a network time server. Click Set, then type the address of your network time server. If your Mac isn’t connected to the internet, it connects when you choose this option.
Date and time
View the date and time automatically set on your Mac. To manually set the date and time on your Mac, turn off “Set date and time automatically,” click Set, enter the date and time, then click Set.
24-hour time
Use a 24-hour format for the time shown in the menu bar. For example, instead of 3:00 PM, show 15:00.
Set time zone automatically using your current location
Have the time zone on your Mac set automatically based on your current location. Note: Location Services must be turned on in order to determine your current location.
Time zone
The time zone automatically set on your Mac. To manually set the time zone on your Mac, turn off “Set time zone automatically using your current location,” click Set, enter a city in the text field, choose a city from the list, then click OK.
Closest city
A major city in your desired time zone. To change the city, turn off “Set time zone automatically using your current location,” click Set, enter a city in the text field, select the full city name from the list, then click OK.

You can choose how the date and time appear in the menu bar.

Tip: Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.

Change how dates, times, and more appear

You can change the format used by your Mac and apps to display dates, times, numbers, currencies, and more.

  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click General  in the sidebar, then click Language & Region on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Click the pop-up menu next to Region, then choose a geographic region to use the region’s date, time, number, and other formats.
    The formats that appear depend on the selected region and current language.
  3. To customize formats, do any of the following:
    1. Calendar: Choose the type of calendar used to display dates and times.
    2. Temperature: Select the preferred temperature format, such as Celsius.
    3. Measurement system: Select the preferred measurement system, such as Metric.
    4. First day of week: Choose the first day of the week.
    5. Date format: Choose the date format, such as day, then month, then year.
    6. Number format: Choose the format for numbers, such as when a comma appears.
    7. List sort order: Choose the sort order for names. This option is available only for some primary languages.
    8. Term of address: Choose your preferred term of address (feminine, masculine, or neuter) to make your device feel more personal. Turn on “Share with all applications” so that all apps personalize how they address you. These options are available for these supported languages.
Tip: If you want to show the date in the menu bar or change how the time is shown, open Control Center settings, go to Menu Bar Only on the right (you may need to scroll down), then click Clock Options.

Set the date and time automatically on your Mac

You can have the date and time set automatically using a network time server. Be sure your time is correct so time stamps on emails, messages, and files are correct.
  1. On your Mac, choose Apple menu  > System Settings, click General  in the sidebar, then click Date & Time on the right. (You may need to scroll down.)
  2. Turn on “Set time and date automatically,” click Set, then enter a network time server for your region.
  3. Turn on “Set time zone automatically using your current location.”
Tip: Click the date and time in the menu bar to open Notification Center.

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