How to change the time on a Chromebook
Chromebooks set the time and date automatically from the internet, so there is no option to type in a time. To change the hour shown, change the time zone: select the time at the bottom-right, open Settings, then System preferences → Time zone.
Change the time zone on a Chromebook
- Select the time in the bottom-right corner of the screen.
- Select Settings (the gear icon).
- Go to System preferences and select Time zone.
- Choose Set automatically to let the Chromebook work out your zone, or Choose from list and pick one.
With Set automatically, turning on Use Wi-Fi or mobile networks to determine location makes the zone more accurate, and helps if you use a VPN. On older versions of ChromeOS the setting is under Settings → Advanced → Date and time.
Use a 24-hour clock
In Settings → System preferences, turn on Use 24-hour clock.
Can you change the date or time by hand?
No. A Chromebook always takes its time and date from the internet, which keeps it accurate for sign-ins and secure websites. If the date or time is wrong, it is almost always the time zone, or the Chromebook hasn't been online yet.
Chromebook showing the wrong time?
- Wrong by exactly an hour or more: the time zone is wrong. Pick the right one from the list, or turn on Set automatically.
- Wrong time zone on a school Chromebook: schools can fix the time zone for every device. Ask your school's IT team.
- Wrong after being off for a long time: connect to Wi-Fi and wait a minute, or restart the Chromebook while it is online.
- "Your clock is behind" or "ahead" in Chrome: the Chromebook hasn't synced yet. Connect to the internet and restart.
Check that it worked
Open the online clock on the device. It compares the device clock with internet time servers and tells you if it is off, and by how much.
Questions people ask
How do I change the time on my Chromebook?
You can't type in a time: Chromebooks set it automatically. Change the time zone instead in Settings, System preferences, Time zone.
How do I change the date on a Chromebook?
The date is set automatically from the internet and can't be changed by hand. If it is wrong, check the time zone and make sure the Chromebook is online.
How do I get a 24-hour clock on a Chromebook?
Open Settings, go to System preferences and turn on Use 24-hour clock.
Why is my Chromebook time wrong?
Usually because the time zone is wrong. Set it automatically or choose the right one from the list. School Chromebooks may have the time zone set by the school.
Sources
Last updated October 24, 2026. Menu names can differ slightly between versions. Found a step that's changed? Tell us.