Symptoms
- Clock shows a time that's clearly wrong
- Date resets after the phone restarts
- Time zone doesn't match your actual location
- Apps relying on accurate time (like banking apps) show errors
Likely causes
- CommonAutomatic date and time setting turned offManual time settings don't update automatically when traveling or after time changes like daylight saving.
- CommonNo internet or cellular connection to sync timeAutomatic time relies on a network connection to stay accurate.
- PossibleTime zone set incorrectlyAutomatic time zone detection can occasionally fail, especially indoors with weak GPS.
- Less commonVery old phone with a failing internal clock batteryOn older devices, a small internal battery keeps time when powered off; when it fails, the clock resets.
What to do
- Go to date and time settings and turn on 'set automatically.'
- Confirm the phone has an internet or cellular connection to sync.
- Manually check and correct the time zone if automatic detection seems wrong.
- Restart the phone after making changes.
- If the date consistently resets after every restart on an older phone, this may indicate a dying internal clock battery.
- Update the phone's software, since rare time-sync bugs are occasionally patched.
When to call a pro
If the date resets every time the phone restarts on an older device, a repair shop can check whether the internal clock battery needs replacing.
Safety
Generally low risk
Generally low risk for a careful person. Stop if anything looks different from what this guide describes.