To change the time zone on Chrome, you must change the time zone of your operating system. Chrome does not have its own internal time zone setting; it relies entirely on the system time zone configured in Windows, macOS, or Chrome OS.
How to change time zone on Chrome: It's an OS setting
Google Chrome primarily uses the time zone set by your operating system for general browsing. This means there is no direct "change time zone" option inside the browser itself. To update the time zone Chrome displays, you need to adjust the date and time settings on your device. For detailed instructions on changing the time and time zone across various devices, see the general device settings guide.
Change the system time zone on Windows
- Open the Start menu and select Settings.
- Click on Time & Language, then select Date & time.
- Under the Time zone dropdown menu, choose the correct time zone for your current location.
- After making the selection, Chrome will automatically reflect the new time zone the next time you open or refresh a page.
Change the system time zone on macOS
- Open System Settings (or System Preferences on older versions).
- Click on General, then select Date & Time.
- Disable Set time zone automatically using current location if you want to set it manually.
- Choose your time zone from the map or the dropdown list. Chrome will then use this updated setting.
Change the time zone on a Chromebook
Chrome OS devices manage time zone settings through their standard Date and Time settings. Open the Quick Settings panel, click the gear icon to enter Settings, then navigate to Device and select Date & time. From there, you can choose your time zone manually or enable automatic detection. If the clock itself is wrong, you may also need to change the time on a Chromebook directly. If the time zone setting is grayed out by an administrator, you can request time zone unlock on a managed Chromebook. For a full walkthrough, refer to the dedicated Chromebook time change guide.
Override your time zone with Chrome DevTools for testing
Web developers can temporarily override the time zone for a specific website using Chrome DevTools. This is not a permanent change and only affects the page you are testing. Open DevTools (F12 or right-click and select Inspect), click the three-dot menu in the DevTools panel, select More tools, then Sensors. In the Sensors tab, you can set a custom time zone from the dropdown menu. This override will apply until you close DevTools or reset it.
A warning about time zone spoofing extensions
Some Chrome extensions claim to change the browser's reported time zone, but using them can sometimes lead to inconsistencies between the reported time zone, IP geolocation, and browser fingerprint, potentially making you more identifiable. These third-party tools do not actually change the system time zone and may interfere with how websites perceive your location and identity. For reliable and consistent results, changing the operating system time zone remains the recommended approach.
