Fix the wrong time zone on your Mac

Why it happens

Your Mac picks its time zone in one of two ways: from where it thinks you are, or from a city someone chose by hand. If it was set by hand, it won't change when you travel. If it's automatic, it needs Location Services, and near a border it can guess the zone next door.

How to fix it

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

2. Switch on Set time zone automatically using your current location. Give it a minute with Wi-Fi on, and the time zone and clock should update by themselves.

   General›Date & Time›Set time zone automatically using your current location

3. If it picks the wrong zone, or you'd rather choose, switch that off. Choose your Time zone, then type a nearby large city in the city box and pick it from the list.

   macOS 26 Tahoe General›Date & Time›Closest city

   macOS 27 Golden Gate General›Date & Time›Time zone

4. Check the clock in the menu bar. It should now show the local time.

On macOS 26 the city box under the time zone is called Closest city. On macOS 27 it's labelled City, next to the Time zone pop-up. The automatic switch has the same name on both.

Still not fixed?

1. If the automatic switch is dimmed or doesn't help, Location Services may be off. Turn on Location Services, click Details… next to System Services, and switch on Setting Time Zone.

   Privacy & Security›Location Services›System Services›Details…

2. If the time zone is right but the minutes are off, switch on Set time and date automatically in the same Date & Time page and make sure you're online.

   General›Date & Time›Set time and date automatically

3. If it keeps flipping near a border, turn the automatic switch off and set your time zone and city by hand until you've moved on.

4. If settings are locked or greyed out on a work or school Mac, the organisation may set the time zone for you. Ask whoever manages it.

5. If the clock drifts or resets every time you shut down, even with everything set to automatic, contact Apple Support. That can point to a hardware problem worth checking.