If you prefer “17:30” to “5:30 PM,” or you want your Apple Watch to match the 24-hour clock used where you live, you can switch the watch’s time format in a few seconds. The setting is in the Watch app on your iPhone, under Clock. This guide shows how to turn 24-hour time on or off, how it relates to your iPhone’s time setting, and how to fix watch faces that still show 12-hour time.
Quick Answer
On your iPhone, open the Watch app, tap My Watch > Clock, and turn 24-Hour Time on (or off for 12-hour time).
Turn On 24-Hour Time on Apple Watch
- Open the Watch app on your paired iPhone.
- Tap the My Watch tab.
- Tap Clock.
- Turn on 24-Hour Time.
The watch face updates right away. To go back to 12-hour time with AM and PM, turn the switch off.
Does It Follow My iPhone?
The Watch app has its own 24-Hour Time switch, so you can set the watch independently. Your iPhone’s format is in Settings > General > Date & Time > 24-Hour Time. If you change the region in Settings > General > Language & Region, the default time format may change on both devices, so check the Watch app afterward.
Watch Face Still Shows 12-Hour Time?
- Analog faces always show hands on a 12-hour dial. Choose a digital face, such as Modular, Modular Compact or Numerals Duo, to see 24-hour digits.
- Some faces let you choose a 24-hour dial in their edit options (for example, faces with a sun or world time dial). Touch and hold the face, tap Edit, and swipe through the options.
- Restart the watch if the change doesn’t appear.
Other Clock Settings Worth Knowing
- Set the watch ahead: on the watch, go to Settings > Clock, tap +0 min, and turn the Digital Crown to show the time up to 59 minutes fast. Alarms and notifications still use the real time.
- Chimes: make the watch tap or chime on the hour in Clock > Chimes.
- Speak Time and Taptic Time: hold two fingers on the watch face to hear or feel the time.
Cleaning up old alarms too? See how to delete an alarm on iPhone.
Not seeing a setting mentioned in a guide? Check your watchOS version first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I change the time format on the watch itself?
The 24-Hour Time switch is in the Watch app on your iPhone. On-watch Clock settings handle options like setting the time ahead.
Why don’t I see a 24-Hour Time option?
Update your iPhone and Apple Watch to the latest software. In some regions and versions, the option may be tied to your iPhone’s Date & Time settings.
Does 24-hour time affect alarms?
Alarms show in the same format as the clock, but they ring at the same actual time.
Summary
- Open the Watch app on your iPhone.
- Tap My Watch > Clock.
- Turn 24-Hour Time on or off.
- Use a digital watch face to see 24-hour digits.
Kermit Matthews runs Live2Tech from just outside Philadelphia. He started on a university help desk, spent years as the IT person for small businesses, and has been writing tech guides full time since 2020. Each guide is checked on a device he owns, and re-checked when a menu moves. More about Kermit.