Let's do the timewarp again ...
The yearly springing forward of time for much of the US is upon us, and this inevitably leads to folks new to the platform wondering what they have to do to their Android so things work right after the switch. If this sounds like you, we've got good news:
Nothing.
This is the best thing you'll never have to do for your phone!
Unless you've went into the settings and switched away from the automatic network time and time zone settings (in which case you already know what to do) you won't have to do a thing. Your Android will check the network for the correct date and time and switch itself on it's own, changing the system time so that things like calendars and alarms will still be right. The same thing applies next week when other parts of the world move an hour ahead, and still apply in six months when we go back. Alex, I'll let you know what the future is like and send you the lottery numbers you asked for.
One thing Android can't do is make up for the hour of sleep you lost, so brew an extra cup of coffee instead of fiddling with the settings on your Android.
Reader comments
Does the switch to Daylight Saving Time mean I have to do stuff to my Android?
So hey. Set my alarm as usual and guess what? It went off am hour early. Wonder why? Couldn't have nothing to do with ANDROID not having an ARIZONA TIME ZONE COULD IT. Automatic my arse.
I hate to say it, but this article just isn't true. In MOST cases, a user will have to do nothing. In some cases, weird Android/OEM/carrier bugs wreak havoc on the data and time. I have two phones (both Droid Maxx) that insist on moving me forward an hour even though I'm in Hawaii where there is no change. I had to disable auto time zone and manually set it to Hawaii time to get it to stop. All my other devices automatically moved, but the Droid Maxx will not behave. So, before making fun of an iPhone for not being able to auto-adjust, maybe send a "fix your stuff" message to Motorola.
I have DST problems in Arizona too. The carriers systems set the device times right (both my iPhone and a work provided Galaxy4)
But now I can't get ANY of my calender times to show the correct time. All my appointments are an hour earlier. I triple checked my calender time zones (Mountain Standard Time) on both phones as well as the device times. I used a work around to change the calender to Mountain Daylight Time and the appointment times were correct, but my appt reminders are still an hour early!
GRRRR!!!!!
Yes!!!!!! I just read an article on my local news app, and there is new a House Bill which proposes that Texas join Hawaii and Arizona in doing away with Daylight Savings Time here. It is scheduled for a public hearing this Wednesday. Got my fingers crossed.
Of course, there is another senator who wants to conduct a study...ugh! More wasted tax dollars...
Posted via the Android Central App
Here in Arizona, where it's always GMT -7, and the skies are not cloudy all day, my Moto360 and Droid MAXX decided they were in some land where people know how to adjust their time pieces. Thought I was late until I saw a 40-year old analog clock that set me straight. Had to set the time zone manually on the Droid, even though there is an "Arizona Time" line.in the auto-time zone.
I have Rocky Horror Picture Show tunes stuck in my head now. Thanks, Jerry.
We are in Arizona which is it's own timezone (MST). My husband's S5 and my S4 keep trying to change to MDT with is WRONG. We had to turn off auto time zone for now. That will be a PITA when we are traveling in a month, but he uses the alarm to get up in the mornings and it has to be the right time. I think this is a Verizon problem, but I don't feel like calling them right now.
Same thing on my Droid MAXX and Moto360. VZW seems to be behind the power curve when it comes to updating anything. My work T-Mobile HTC One 8 is just fine.
This article doesn't exactly tell the whole truth. I've had android phones that needed rebooting after the time change, so they can retrieve the right time from the cell tower. Thankfully they did it right this year and the only things I need to fix are my microwave and stove.
You just reminded me. Checked the microwave all zeros. Stove too. We must have had a power outage yesterday lol.
After the time change my Droid Turbo now refuses to set an alarm for any day this upcoming week between 2am and 259am.... Thanks in advance
Buy an alarm clock for this weekend next year. Alarm did not go off for 2:35am Monday after daylight saving time change. Phone must have reset after midnight however. 2am hour has returned. Sorry I wasn't awake to see it happen.
Posted via the Android Central App
Well, on lollipop (Nexus 7 and Moto X 2014), the clock app refuses to set an alarm between 2am and 2:59. Which I need. Any wisdom?
My Droid Turbo automatically updated. The only trouble is I live in Arizona and had to unchecked let network provide time zone Even though Arizona is in a no daylight savings zone Moto couldn't get it right now I can lay In bed for another hour
Posted via the Android Central App
My daughter-in-laws Droid Turbo here in Phoenix changed too. So did husband's Windows phone. My S5 behaved as it should and did not change.
Posted via Android Central App
Like the cliche says: "If only one user is helped by this... Blah, Blah, Blah" But it is true. Based upon the comments from all the experts, I am guessing that few will admit that they still stumble upon articles like this that fills in some small hole in their expansive knowledge base. I read articles like this looking for those nuggets. Even the comments are good. I never thought about the American Indian nations as being exceptions to DST. Good article, Jerry.
Plus, I am guessing that these articles are partly the result of the slow Android News Cycle and Inevitable Journalistic Burnout and Jet Lag after MWC.
Posted via the Android Central App with my ancient but lovable rooted S3.
I have a galaxy 5 and no change in time how do I change it manually?
Reboot the phone. If that doesn't work, then you'll have to go into Settings > and Date (in the system grouping).
My time did not change so what's the deal?
Nearly every clock in my automatically set themselves. Even my atomic wireless clock on the wall does this. I love modern clock technology!
Posted via Android Central App
Everyone is missing the greatest part of DST. When we switch them back in the fall extra hour before last call. Hey that rhymes.
Posted via the Android Central App
...Marge and you know it rhymes
Next article..."How do I answer calls"...
Posted via Serenity
"six months when we go back"? More like 7 or 8, depending on country.
Via AC app on my HP TouchPad (Schizoid PAC-ROM 4.2.2)
Brilliant subheading. Now I gotta go get my Tim Curry on. "Just be it.. Don't dream it."
Posted via the Android Central App
I like short, straight-to-the articles,
BTW, I've noticed on many android devices that if you set the date/time manually (to some days ago, for example), it will still get auto-updated after an hour or so. Hope it got fixed.
I don't understand why people get upset over stupid articles. Yes it's stupid. I haven't had a clock in the past 5 years that doesn't update itself. But you have to remember we live in a content driven world. You guys would be complaining if AC wrote nothing the entire weekend. Its just filler. Nobody forced you to read it.
Posted via the Android Central App
Yes, you must do the mandatory factory reset. Whenever you fall back or spring forward a factory rest is required, otherwise your Android will brick.
This is one of the dumbest headlines I've ever to see from you guys, utter trifle.
Posted via the Android Central App
Forgot us Canadians also lol
Posted via the Android Central App
Well just be happy in the old days 90's we had to sacrifice Tandy 1000, computers to the Sun god. It was rough to find them, if you didn't sacrifice it right there was no daylight savings time.
Posted via the Android Central App
Back in the old days we did virgins but hey, whatever works
Posted by my soon to be retired Note 3
Google Now is showing me a card reminding me of it too
https://farm8.staticflickr.com/7593/16559492230_2f5c0b1668_b.jpg
Gotta love it.
I loved day light savings as a kid. It meant I could stay out later. The rule in my house was once the street lights come on its time to go in.
All you messing with time time should just join us here in Arizona and keep your clocks the same all year. I never understood that whole day light savings thing the rest of the country does.
Posted via the Android Central App
Exactly. Daylight savings was invented. It's not necessary. Someone give me a really good reason why it should still exist.
Posted via the Android Central App
Just to piss people off! ;)
Posted via the Android Central App
http://www.webexhibits.org/daylightsaving/c.html
Amen to that!
Posted via the Android Central App
It was invented to give farmers an extra hour of daylight for planting and for harvesting.
It is not really needed anymore with modern tech
Posted by my soon to be retired Note 3
Not to be argumentative, but if the farmers want an extra hour of daylight, why don't they just get up an hour earlier, instead of the government forcing it on everyone. Also, a lot of businesses are operational 24/7 these days, so, there's no benefit for them - they still use the same amount of power.
Posted via the Android Central App
Back in the old days, it was not a question of getting up earlier, it was about having the daylight to see things.
Posted by my soon to be retired Note 3
if they got up an hour earlier its the same thing. Set their alarm clock back an hour.Leave the rest of us be.
It's a twice a year inconvenience for some. I don't see what the big deal is.
It's stupid, and if you often look at logs in GMT time, you have to remember to factor for DST or not.
Plus, why screw with sleep cycles? It's not healthy.
Posted via Bacon or Shamu
No it isnt. If you move daylight an hour you have an extra hour to plant or harvest. Think 1800's not 1990
Posted by my soon to be retired Note 3
You do realize that regardless of DST the number of daylight hours doesn't change, right? Even in the 1800s. They don't have an extra hour to plan or harvest because of DST.
jasonaward: My point exactly!
Posted via the Android Central App
No, but they have an extra hour of daylight. It isn't about time changing, it is about the available hours of daylight.
No they don't have an extra hour of daylight. It's not like one day they have x hours of daylight, and then the next day they have x + 1 hours of daylight. They still have roughly the same amount of daylight the day before and the day after DST takes effect.
Ugh, they have it at a better time of day. So do the rest of us. Get over it.
"Better" is an opinion. I don't think it's "better", so i don't have to "get over it."
better is an opinion yes. But you kinda do have to get overy it. It already happened. And it'll happen again next year. Babies.
Lol overy
Farmers didn't want it. Done for farmers benefit is a myth. I don't know that anyone really has a definitive reason for it.
Posted via Android Central App
it was ww1 related (1916) and implemented by Germany I believe to conserve coal resources. I also think it is no longer needed.
Because I like when it's light out till 10 pm in Michigan in June and July.
Posted via the Android Central App
tHANKS, oBAMA!
Because in giant chunks of the world it really makes a difference to have an extra hour of sunlight in the evening than at 5am.
Neither have i!! I just leave my clock the same as always!
Wish we could ignore it in Texas too. Here in south Texas, the LAST thing we need is an extra hour of SUN in the summer. I just wish they would leave the time alone. I also worry for all the kids waiting for school buses or walking to school in the dark. Some of the buses go by before 6:30 am.
Posted via the Android Central App
They want to do that here in Missouri, but only if surrounding states do it too.
Posted on my Samsung Galaxy Note 4.
Unless you are in the Navajo Nation in 4 Corners or Yuma County. I hated when they first started automating devices to do DST but didn't have provisions for places like AZ, HI, Eastern IN, or just having your device ignore it. Had to go around twice a year changing clocks and I thought I gave all that up when I moved here from CA in the 80s.
Posted via the Android Central App
If you ask Google Now when is daylights saving It'll asks if you want to set a reminder.
If you have Google now as your launcher it would be in the news cards.
Posted on my Sexy Note 4
I get off work an hour earlier tomorrow! I don't sleep much but I love getting off early... FTW
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So will there be 23 hours in every day now, or just the one?
Posted via the Android Central App
Really hoping this is a joke...
Posted via the Android Central App
It's an android question
Posted on my Sexy Note 4
Ummm... What now?
Posted via the Android Central App
I don't want to grow old any quicker :)
Lol fair enough
Posted via the Android Central App
Pretty sure people haven't had to do anything to their cellphones to adjust for DST since long before Android even existed. Cellular networks have been automatically adjusting time for DST since the 1990s. Is this article really necessary? What's next, an article that points out that if you throw your Android phone in a fire that it won't work anymore?
You don't have to read it.
Note 4
My Nexus 4 was in a fire. Still works.
That cracked me up:)
Note 4
I'll Duct Tape my Note 4 to my back and take a shower. I'll let you know how it turned out. You can write an article about it:)
Note 4
My Galaxy Nexus used to feel like it was on fire when plugged in and uploading videos over lte to Google drive, I literally couldn't hold it, it would always get so hot
It didn't catch fire, so I don't think Jerry will write an article about that:)
Note 4
I do not go over to iMore but did they do an article on the most recent version catching on fire yet?
i know it was a terrible phone but that is even harsh for me....
My n4 cracked horribly on a 2 foot drop
via the beastly NOTE 4
Horror story coming soon to the s6. Glass back and front is never the way to go.
Posted by my soon to be retired Note 3
The S6's glass back is Gorilla Glass, though, right? Correct me if I'm wrong, but I think previous phones with glass backs didn't bother to use high-end toughened glass on the backs. I'm at least cautiously optimistic that this may be less of a shitshow than the Nexus 4, Z3, etc.
While I do believe you are right with it being GG, it is not shatterproof. One good drop and it is gone.
I guess I just do not share your optimism but it has yet to be seen. Maybe it will be more durable.
My nexus 4 has held up quite well really. Not sure how they will compare. I am a Note guy myself. Kinda hoping they don't go this way with it..
I suppose it's easier to be optimistic about a product that I'm almost certainly not going to buy. But optimistic or not, the bottom line is that even if it is GG4 and really shatter-resistant, having a glass back doubles that chance that your phone will end up with at least one broken face.
+1
I enjoyed the article too.
My old Samsung Galaxy S3 survived a fire a year ago as well as my old HTC Evo 3d that was in a drawer
Posted via...The One
Nothing. This isn't an iPhone.
Actually you don't need to do anything on an iPhone either.
His joke went over your head.
The iPhone for several years, even with new iOS updates, it kept getting the time change wrong.
My head too:(
Note 4
That's because people were holding it wrong!
Yep! You didn't set out your iPhone in the morning so it could sense the different time in sunrise. Based on the fact all iPhone defects are supposedly user caused.
Posted via the Android Central App
that was sarcasm as well.
http://new2.fjcdn.com/comments/Implying+jersey+shore+lacks+brains+that+s...
This is true all the way up to iP5. The bases of his joke.
Posted via the Android Central App
u
Posted via the Android Central App
BINGO. I think it's *finally* fixed in iOS 8x but as the telecom admin once upon a time, that issue was my worst nightmare every damn year. (Flawless Apple my a$$) >:(
Posted via the Android Central App
Even the original Razr flip phones from 2005 automatically updated. All my phones from 2003 and on all updated automatically.
I miss flip phones :-(
Posted via the Android Central App
http://rover.ebay.com/rover/1/711-53200-19255-0/1?ff3=4&pub=5575095911&t...
Dont ever say that I didn't try and help you :-)
Looks kinda cool, but I doubt it'd work on Verizon so I'm kinda SOL with these types of phones unfortunately
Posted via the Android Central App
My original Nextel Direct Connect phone, the flippin colorless screen Motorola i530 did this as well. ;)
This particular one survived being in the pocket of my father's when he was searching for survivors in a burning building before he retired from the fire department.
Here's a pic for nostalgia
http://1drv.ms/18sLSY4
Posted via Android Central App via my Sprint Tab 3 LTE.
With your level of perception & intelligence, nobody will be surprised you are an iPhone owner.
You don't have to do anything with the iPhone. Same as Android.
Note 4
I love how hardcore these articles on Android Central are nowadays :P
Millions of people switch to or start using Android every year. This article should get more hits than their more technical "hardcore" articles.
I don't really care for the "Android for dummies" articles either, but the great part about it is you don't have to read them.
Wish there were articles like this back in 2009 with my D1 and I was learning what android was. I didn't start hitting these sites till 2011, and stuck to forums to learn about everything android.
Yes-it means you must upgrade to the latest and greatest Android device. Do this twice a year and your phone experience should be satisfactory.
Via Nexus 6: "Takin updates for granted."