Change 24-Hour Clock to 12-Hour Time on Any Device

Updated 5 November 2026 · Standard formula, shown below

Changing from a 24-hour clock to a 12-hour clock makes times display with AM or PM—for example, 18:30 becomes 6:30 PM. The steps depend on whether the clock is on a phone, computer, watch, or another device; you usually only need access to its settings.

What You’ll Need

The device whose clock you want to change.
Permission to change its settings. A work- or school-managed device may restrict this option.

Step-by-Step

Identify where the clock appears. Decide whether you want to change the time display on a phone, computer, smartwatch, or a particular app. A setting on one device does not necessarily change clocks in other apps or on connected devices.
Open the device’s settings. Look for a section named Date & time, Time & language, General, or Clock. If you cannot find it, use the Settings search box and search for “24-hour,” “time format,” or “time.”
Find the 24-hour time option. The control may be labeled 24-hour time, Use 24-hour format, or 24-hour clock. It may be under a setting for the system, region, language, or date and time.
Turn off the 24-hour format. Switch the option off or choose a 12-hour format if the device presents a list. Some systems use the opposite label, such as 12-hour clock; in that case, select or enable it.
Check the displayed clock. Close settings and look at the status bar, lock screen, taskbar, or clock app. A time in the afternoon should now include PM—for example, 18:30 should appear as 6:30 PM.
Change other clocks separately if needed. A clock inside an app, car, appliance, or watch may have its own format setting. Repeat the search in that device or app rather than assuming the phone or computer setting controls it.

Common Mistakes

Changing the time zone instead of the format. Time zone settings affect what local time the clock shows. They do not switch between 24-hour and 12-hour notation. Leave the time zone unchanged unless it is actually wrong.
Changing the language or region unnecessarily. Some devices group time format with regional preferences, but changing the whole region can also affect dates, numbers, or other preferences. Look for a dedicated format switch first.
Expecting every app to follow the system. Many apps use the device setting, but some have their own display preference. Check the app’s settings if only one clock remains in 24-hour format.
Misreading noon and midnight. In a 12-hour clock, noon is 12:00 PM and midnight is 12:00 AM. 12:00 PM is not midnight, and 12:00 AM is not noon.
Assuming the clock itself is wrong. If the displayed hour has changed unexpectedly, check the time zone and automatic date-and-time settings separately. A format change should not alter the actual time.

Tips

Use Settings search rather than browsing every menu, especially when menu names differ between device models or software versions.
Look at a time after midday to confirm the change: 13:00 should display as 1:00 PM. A morning time such as 9:00 may look the same in both formats.
If the option is a switch, verify its meaning from the label. Turning off “24-hour time” usually enables 12-hour display, while turning on “12-hour clock” does the same thing.
For a shared or managed device, ask its administrator before trying to change a setting that is disabled or controlled by a policy.

Troubleshooting

The setting is hard to find: Search the Settings app for “24-hour” or “time format.” If that brings up no results, check Date & time, Language & region, General, or the clock app’s own settings. Menu wording varies by device and software release.

The clock still shows 24-hour time: Confirm that the correct switch was changed, then close and reopen the clock or app. If the device has a separate setting for its lock screen or status bar, check that too. Restarting the device can help if the display has not refreshed, but is usually not the first step.

Only one app ignores the change: Open that app’s settings and look under display, preferences, date and time, or regional format. If it offers no format control, it may use its own fixed display or require an app update.

The option is missing or unavailable: The device may use a regional preference, provide no user-selectable format, or be managed by an organization. Check its help documentation or ask the administrator. Avoid changing unrelated region or time-zone settings as a workaround.

The time itself is now incorrect: Changing clock format should only change how the same time is written. Check automatic date and time and the selected time zone; correct those only if they are inaccurate. Then verify the format setting again.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does changing to a 12-hour clock do?
It displays the day in two cycles, using AM for midnight through the morning and PM for noon through the evening. For example, 20:15 becomes 8:15 PM.

Does this change the actual time?
No. It changes the way the time is displayed, not the clock’s time, date, or time zone.

How do I change 24-hour time to 12-hour time on an iPhone?
Open Settings, tap General, then Date & Time, and turn off 24-Hour Time. Menu wording can vary slightly with software updates.

How do I change the clock on an Android phone?
Open Settings and search for “24-hour.” If search is unavailable, look in System or General management, then Date & time, and turn off Use 24-hour format. The menu path varies by manufacturer.

How do I change a Windows clock to AM and PM?
Open Settings and look under Time & language and Language & region for regional-format options. If needed, open the classic Region settings and choose a short-time format that uses h:mm tt rather than HH:mm. Avoid changing the region itself unless it is incorrect.

Why does one device or app still use 24-hour time?
It may have a separate clock-format preference or may not follow the system setting. Check its own settings; a managed device may also prevent changes.

Method: the standard formula for this calculation, rounded as each result states. See how the calculators work or report an error.