To change the time on a Chromebook, open Settings, go to Date and time, and set your Time zone. Turn off automatic time zone if you want to pick one yourself, then choose your zone from the list. The clock, the lock screen, and Google Chrome all update together.
Before you start
- Applies to: All Chromebooks running ChromeOS.
- You need: Your own account. On school or work Chromebooks, an administrator may lock the time zone.
- Time: Under a minute.
How do I change the time zone on a Chromebook?
ChromeOS sets the clock from your network, so the fix for a wrong time is almost always the time zone.
- Open Settings from the launcher, or click the clock in the system tray and select the gear icon.
- Go to Date and time. In newer ChromeOS this sits under System preferences. If you cannot find it, type time zone in the Settings search bar at the top.
- Find Time zone. To pick one yourself, turn off Set automatically or choose Choose from list.
- Select your time zone from the list. The change applies right away.
Changing the time here also updates the lock screen, so you do not need to set that separately. If the clock was wrong inside Google Chrome, this fixes that too.
How do I switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time?
In the same Date and time section, turn Use 24-hour clock on or off to change how the time appears in the system tray.
Frequently asked questions
Why is my Chromebook showing the wrong time?
The time zone is usually set automatically to the wrong location. Open Date and time, turn off Set automatically, and choose your correct time zone from the list.
Can I type an exact time on a Chromebook?
No. ChromeOS keeps the clock in sync over the network, so you control it by choosing the correct time zone rather than typing a time.
Does changing the time also change the lock screen?
Yes. The lock screen uses the same system clock, so it updates automatically.
Related guides
- How to Show Date on Chromebook Taskbar
- How to Rotate the Screen on a Chromebook
- Airplane Mode on a Chromebook
Setting the correct time on a Chromebook comes down to the time zone in Date and time, and once you set it, the clock, lock screen, and browser all stay in sync.
