Daylight saving time ends at 2:00 a.m. local time on Sunday, November 1, 2026, when clocks go back one hour to 1:00 a.m. Phones change automatically, using the time sent by your carrier's network or the internet. If yours still shows the old time, the fix almost always takes less than a minute: turn on automatic time, check your time zone, or restart the phone.
Is daylight saving time ending for good? Not yet. The House passed a bill in July 2026 to make daylight saving time permanent, but it has not become law, so clocks still go back on November 1, 2026 and forward again in March 2027.
Quick fix: the 30-second checks
- Restart your phone. It asks the network for the time again when it starts.
- Turn Airplane Mode on, wait 10 seconds, then turn it off. This reconnects to the network and often corrects the time.
- Make sure automatic date and time is on (steps for iPhone and Android below).
- Check the time zone is right, especially if you live near a time zone line or just travelled.
How to fix the time on an iPhone
- Open Settings, then General, then Date & Time.
- Turn on Set Automatically. If it is already on, turn it off and back on.
- Check the Time Zone shown under it. If it is wrong, tap it and pick your city, or turn Set Automatically back on.
- If the time zone keeps going wrong, go to Settings, then Privacy & Security, then Location Services, then System Services, and turn on Setting Time Zone.
- Restart the iPhone.
If Set Automatically is greyed out, it is usually blocked by Screen Time or a work profile. Go to Settings, then Screen Time, then Content & Privacy Restrictions, and allow changes, or ask whoever manages the phone.
How to fix the time on Android (Samsung, Pixel and others)
- Samsung Galaxy: open Settings, then General management, then Date and time. Turn on Automatic date and time, and Automatic time zone.
- Google Pixel and most other Android phones: open Settings, then System, then Date & time (or search for Date and time). Turn on Set time automatically and Set time zone automatically.
- If the time zone is still wrong, turn off the automatic time zone, tap Time zone, choose your Region, then pick your city or zone.
- Open the Clock app, go to Settings, and check Home time zone and Use location. A wrong home time zone here can make the clock look an hour off.
- Restart the phone.
Why isn't my phone changing time zones?
Phones work out the time zone from your location or from the cell tower they connect to. If Location Services is off for setting the time zone, or your nearest tower is across a time zone line, the phone can pick the wrong zone and be off by an hour. Turning on location for time zone (iPhone: Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services, System Services, Setting Time Zone; Android: Use location to set time zone) usually fixes it. If you live right on a border, set the zone by hand.
Why your phone might not have changed
| Cause | What you'll see | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Automatic time is off | The clock never changes on its own | Turn on automatic date and time |
| Wrong time zone | Time is off by one hour or more all the time | Set the time zone, or let location set it |
| Weak or no signal overnight | Time is right on Wi-Fi but changed late | Restart, or toggle Airplane Mode |
| Near a time zone border | Phone picks up a tower in the next zone | Set the time zone by hand |
| Old or unsupported phone | Phone has not had updates in years | Set time by hand; consider an upgrade |
| Work or school profile | Date and time settings are locked | Ask the person who manages the device |
Will my alarms still go off at the right time?
Yes. Alarms on iPhone and Android follow the phone's clock, so a 7:00 a.m. alarm still rings at the new 7:00 a.m. If your phone's clock is wrong, though, the alarm will be wrong too, which is the main reason to fix it before Sunday night. Calendar events keep their times as well, as long as the time zone is set correctly.
Other things a wrong clock can break
- Two-factor codes. Authenticator apps make codes based on the time, so a clock that is even a minute off can make codes fail.
- Smartwatches. Most get their time from the phone, so fix the phone first and the watch follows.
- Car screens. Many cars have their own clock. Check the car's settings or reconnect the phone.
- Some apps and websites, which refuse secure connections when the date or time is far off.
Still wrong? Check with your carrier
If automatic time is on, the time zone is correct, and the clock is still wrong after a restart, the problem may be the network time from your carrier in your area. Turning on Wi-Fi usually fixes it, because the phone can then use internet time. If it keeps happening, contact your carrier and mention the time is wrong with automatic time on.
No service, slow data, dropped calls: start with the 30-second checks.
Phone troubleshooting guide →Frequently asked questions
When does daylight saving time end in 2026? +
Did the clocks go back last night? +
Do I need to change my phone's clock? +
Why did my phone change at the wrong time? +
Will my alarm go off at the right time after the change? +
When do clocks go forward again? +
Which states don't change their clocks? +
Why is my Samsung phone not updating the time? +
Why is my phone not changing time zones? +
Why is my automatic date and time wrong on Android? +
Is daylight saving time becoming permanent? +
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Jean Gilles has researched personal finance, consumer technology, and wireless pricing for over a decade. He founded ShopCellPlans in 2019 and writes every review on the site.