How to Change to Military Time on iPhone: 1 Setting, Multiple Effects
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Time displays can be easy to misread when appointments, alarms, and messages use different formats. The 12-hour clock separates morning and afternoon with AM and PM, while the 24-hour clock uses a continuous sequence from midnight to the end of the day.
Military time commonly refers to this 24-hour format in everyday use. Instead of displaying 1:00 PM, an iPhone using this format shows 13:00. The iPhone setting is called 24-Hour Time, and changing it can affect multiple interfaces without necessarily controlling every app.
Because the 24-hour display is a formatting preference, learning how to change to military time on iPhone also means knowing which screens will follow the change.
1. How to Change to Military Time on iPhone
The option you need is already built into iOS. If you’re searching for how to change time to military time on iPhone, you don’t need to download another app or adjust the clock manually.
Follow these steps:
- Open the Settings app on your iPhone.
- Tap General.
- Select Date & Time.
- Turn on 24-Hour Time.
Once the switch is enabled, supported time displays change from the 12-hour format to the 24-hour format.
For example, 7:45 PM becomes 19:45, while 9:00 AM becomes 09:00. Once you know how to change to military time on iPhone, check the Lock Screen and Clock app to confirm that supported system displays use the 24-hour format.
The procedure for how to change to military time on iPhone takes only a few taps. You do not need to change your time zone, language, or region just to use the 24-hour clock.
2. Where the Switch Actually Applies and Where It Doesn’t
The 24-Hour Time option is a system-level display preference, but that does not mean every screen or app must present time identically. The result depends on whether a particular interface follows the iPhone’s formatting preferences or uses its own display rules.
Knowing how to change to military time on iPhone also means understanding that this is a system preference, not a command that every third-party app must follow.
Where 24-Hour Time Takes Effect
Apple’s built-in interfaces generally use the system time format when displaying times. Depending on the screen and feature, the change may be visible in places such as:
- Lock Screen and system displays: Time shown in system interfaces can switch to the 24-hour format.
- Clock app: Clock screens and other time displays can use 24-hour notation instead of AM/PM.
- Apple apps and notifications: Interfaces that rely on the system’s time-format preferences can also display times in the selected format.
If you’re figuring out how to change your clock to military time on iPhone, this single switch is the appropriate starting point. You do not need to modify each compatible Apple app individually.
Where the Setting Doesn’t Work
Third-party apps may handle time formatting differently. Some follow the iPhone’s system preference, while others use a format specified by the developer or provide their own controls.
For example, a scheduling app might display every appointment using a fixed 12-hour format even when the rest of the device uses 24-hour time. A business app may also follow a format chosen for consistency across multiple platforms.
This does not automatically mean the iPhone setting failed. The system preference can be enabled correctly while an individual app continues to show AM/PM.
3. Why an App Still Shows AM/PM After You’ve Made the Switch
If you’re following the steps for how to change to military time on iPhone and one app still shows AM/PM, compare its display with the Lock Screen or Clock app before changing the setting again.
The App Was Built to Ignore System Time Format Settings
Some apps format times independently instead of relying on the user’s preferred time format. Apple’s developer documentation explains that developers can use fixed date and time formats rather than formats that adapt to the user’s preferences.
When an app uses this approach for visible times, changing the system setting may not alter what appears on its screen.
The App Lets You Override the System Setting Inside Its Own Settings
Some apps provide a separate setting for time display.
Open the app’s settings and look for options such as Time Format, Use 24-Hour Time, or Regional Preferences.
The wording and location depend on the app. If an independent 24-hour option exists, you may need to enable it even when the iPhone’s main setting is already on.
The App Was Last Updated Years Ago and Doesn’t Support 24-Hour Format
An older app may rely on outdated formatting behavior or lack proper support for the system preference. Its age alone does not prove that it is incompatible, but limited updates can be one reason the display does not respond as expected.
Check the App Store for an available update. If the app remains unchanged, consult its support documentation or contact the developer to ask whether it supports 24-hour time.
The Developer Deliberately Chose to Keep a Specific Time Format
Some apps use a consistent format because of their purpose or the way information is shared. A service may standardize appointment times, for example, to match reports, records, or interfaces on other devices.
In that case, the developer may not offer a setting to follow the iPhone’s clock format. You can still use 24-hour time elsewhere on your iPhone, but changing the system preference will not necessarily override that app’s design.
>>> Read more: How to Schedule a Text on iPhone: 3 Ways to Control Messages Before They Send
4. How to Switch Back to the 12-Hour Format Later
You can restore the AM/PM display at any time. The same menu used for how to change to military time on iPhone also lets you return to the 12-hour format.
- Open Settings.
- Tap General, then Date & Time.
- Turn off 24-Hour Time.
Supported interfaces will return to the 12-hour format, displaying times such as 7:45 PM instead of 19:45. Apps that use their own formatting rules may continue to display time according to their individual settings.
If you’re searching for how to change time on iPhone to military time again later, remember that you only need to turn this switch on. There is no separate military-time mode to install or activate.
5. FAQs
Does changing to military time on iPhone also change it on my Apple Watch?
Do not assume the iPhone setting automatically changes the watch’s display. There is usually a separate control for the Apple Watch: open the Watch app on your iPhone, tap Clock, and turn on 24-Hour Time.
Check both settings if you want the two devices to use the same format.
Will switching to military time affect how alarms or timers are displayed?
The setting changes how supported times are displayed, not the intended time of an existing alarm. An alarm set for 7:00 PM should still be scheduled for that same time, but its display may change to 19:00.
Timers measure elapsed duration rather than distinguishing AM from PM, so switching formats does not change the duration you set.
Does this setting change the date format as well?
No. The 24-Hour Time switch controls time display. Date formatting is managed separately under Settings > General > Language & Region, where you can choose regional options such as date format and calendar format.
Can I set military time for just one app instead of the whole iPhone?
There is no general iOS switch that sets 24-hour time for only one third-party app. However, an individual app may provide its own time-format setting. Check its preferences if you want that app to use 24-hour time while the rest of your iPhone remains in the 12-hour format.
Is military time the same as the 24-hour format?
In everyday use, the terms commonly refer to the same clock system, which numbers the hours from 00 through 23. Strict military notation may omit the colon, for example, 1400 instead of 14:00, but the iPhone setting controls the 24-hour clock display, not a specialized military notation system.
>>> Read more: How to Record a FaceTime Call on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
6. Final Thoughts
The iPhone’s 24-Hour Time option is a single setting with effects across many system interfaces. Knowing how to change to military time on iPhone makes it easier to use a consistent clock format while recognizing that individual apps and Apple Watch may need separate adjustments.
For more practical tips on using technology in everyday life, explore the latest guides on the AirTalk Wireless blog.
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