Mac showing the wrong time or date? How to fix it

howtosimply.com/guides/mac-showing-the-wrong-time-or-date-how-to-fix-it/ · Checked October 2026 · MacBook Neo · macOS 27.0.1

8 of 8 steps with real screenshots · 1 official source below

Device

Mac

Shown on

macOS 27.0.1 (MacBook Neo)

App

System Settings

Real screenshots

8 of 8 steps

Checked

October 2026

Sources

1 official, linked below

Step by step

1. 

   Open System Settings, General, Date & Time

   Choose Apple menu > System Settings…, click General in the sidebar, then click Date & Time.

   On our MacBook Neo, General is highlighted in the sidebar, below Wi-Fi, Bluetooth, Network, VPN and Battery, and the Date & Time page opens on the right.

   Done

2. 

   Switch on Set time and date automatically

   Turn on the switch next to Set time and date automatically.

   Apple says the Mac needs an internet connection to fetch the time.

   Done

3. 

   Check the source

   The time server is shown next to Source. On our MacBook Neo it reads Apple (time.apple.com.), with a Set… button beside it.

   Click Set… only if you need to enter a different server.

   Done

4. 

   Switch on the automatic time zone

   Turn on Set time zone automatically using your current location.

   Apple says this needs Location Services: System Settings, Privacy & Security, Location Services, on, and Setting time zone switched on under System Services.

   Done

5. 

   Unlock the setting if asked

   On our MacBook Neo, a dialog showed "Date & Time is trying to unlock system settings."

   Use Touch ID, or click Use Password… and enter your Mac password.

   Done

6. 

   Check the time zone

   Read the Time zone and Time zone city rows. On our MacBook Neo they show Central European Summer Time and Berlin - Germany.

   Done

7. 

   Check the 24-hour setting

   If the time is right but looks unusual, for example 14:00 where you expect 2:00 PM, change the 24-hour time switch on the same page.

   On our MacBook Neo it is on, and Date and time reads 11. Oct 2026 at 0:39:55.

   Done

8. 

   Restart the Mac

   Choose Apple menu > Restart….

   Done

If you do not see this option

• No Date & Time in the sidebar On our MacBook Neo it sits inside General: click General, then Date & Time.
• A switch will not change Clicking it opens "Date & Time is trying to unlock system settings." Use Touch ID or click Use Password….
• No field to pick a city With the automatic time zone on, our MacBook Neo only shows Time zone and Time zone city as read-only rows. Apple says you choose a city after switching the automatic time zone off. Source: Set the date and time automatically on your Mac

If this does not work

• The time is still wrong Apple says the Mac needs an internet connection to fetch the time. Check that you are online, then restart with Apple menu > Restart…. Source: Set the date and time automatically on your Mac
• The time zone is still wrong Apple says the automatic time zone needs Location Services, with Setting time zone switched on under System Services in Privacy & Security. Source: Set the date and time automatically on your Mac
• The time server is blocked On a company network, click Set… next to Source and enter the server your IT support gives you.
• Apps still show the old time Restart the Mac with Apple menu > Restart…. Source: Set the date and time automatically on your Mac

About this guide

A wrong clock makes websites show security warnings and gives files wrong dates; the automatic setting fixes it in nearly every case.

Screenshots: MacBook Neo, macOS 27.0.1, dark mode.

Good to know

In a company network, a firewall may block the time server. Ask your IT support which server to enter.

The same problem on the phone: iPhone showing the wrong time: how to fix the date and time.

Sign-in problems that come from a wrong clock: Messages not working on a Mac: 8 things to check.

In short: Apple menu > System Settings… > General > Date & Time > Set time and date automatically on > Set time zone automatically using your current location on > Apple menu > Restart…