Manually Change the Date and Time on a Mac

When you start your Mac for the first time, macOS prompts you to select your time zone, and then sets the date and time automatically based on this setting. If you travel or want to reflect a different time zone for work, for example, you can change the date and time on your Mac manually.

Complete the following steps to change the date or time on your Mac desktop or laptop.

If you need to change the date or time for a specific reason, make the adjustments in the Date & Time preferences screen, which you open by clicking the ​time indicator at the top right corner of your Mac's menu bar.

On the time indicator drop-down menu, click Open Date and Time Preferences to get to the Date & Time preferences screen.

You can also click the Preferences icon in the dock and select Date & Time to open the Date & Time preferences screen.

If the Date & Time screen is locked, click the lock icon in the lower left corner to unlock it and allow changes.

Uncheck the box next to the Set date and time automatically. Click the clock face and drag the hands to change the time, or use the up and down arrows next to the time field above the digital clock face to adjust the time. Change the date by clicking the up and down arrows next to the date field above the calendar.

If you just want to change time zones, click the Time Zone tab and select a time zone from the map.

Clicking Save ensures that the new time you have set is saved until you change the time again.

Optionally, click the lock icon so no one else can make any further changes, and the adjustments you just made will stay in effect until you need to change the date or time again.