How to switch between 12-hour and 24-hour time on a Google Pixel (Android 17)

Device

Android

Shown on

Google Pixel 10a, Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005)

App

Settings

Path

Settings › System › Date and time

Real screenshots

5 of 5 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

2 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open Date and time

   Open Settings, tap System, then Date and time. Automatic date and time was on at the top, so the Date and Time rows were greyed out.

   Done

2. 

   Tap 12-hour/24-hour format

   Scroll to More settings at the bottom. 12-hour/24-hour format said Automatic on ours. Tap it.

   Done

3. 

   Read the choices

   A Time format page opens: Applications will use your time format based on this setting. Automatic was selected: Apps use 12-hour/24-hour format based on app language.

   Done

4. 

   Pick 12-hour or 24-hour

   Tap 12-hour format (1:00 pm) or 24-hour format (13:00). We tapped 12-hour format. The change happens at once; there is no Save button.

   Done

5. 

   Check the status bar

   The clock at the top left changed from 08:33 to 8:33. The status bar shows no am or pm. We then set it back to Automatic.

   Done

If you do not see this option

• Looking for a Use 24-hour format switch? Google's help still describes one: open the Clock app, tap More, Settings, Change date & time, then Use 24-hour format. On our Android 17 Pixel it was the three-choice Time format page shown here. Source: Change your clock's display
• Time zone set by location? Google says your device may use location to set the time zone, and that only some devices can set it automatically. On ours Automatic time zone was on and Use location for time zone off. Source: Set time, date and time zone

  

• Clock odd in one app? With Automatic, the page says apps choose by their app language. Pick 12-hour or 24-hour to make every app use the same format.

If this does not work

• Time is wrong, not just the format? Google's Clock help says to turn on Automatic date and time. It was on on ours, which is why the Date and Time rows were greyed out. Source: Set time, date and time zone
• Status bar still looks the same? In the morning the difference is small: on ours 08:33 became 8:33, with no am or pm. Check again after 1 pm, when 13:00 becomes 1:00.

About this guide

Your Pixel can show 13:00 or 1:00 pm. On Android 17 the setting is a short list, not a switch.

The screenshots are from our Google Pixel 10a with Android 17 (build CP3A.261005.005), in Dark mode. Ours was on Automatic. We picked 12-hour format for the result shot, then set it back to Automatic.

Good to know

The locked screen can show the time too: how to turn on Always-on display on a Google Pixel.

In short: Settings, System, Date and time, 12-hour/24-hour format: Automatic, 12-hour or 24-hour.