Level 1

13 points

Apple watch time changes when away from the phone

Hi,

On occasion I will forget my iphone at home when I go out. I am not going to another time zone, just downtown. After being away for short while, my watch (Series 5 Cellular) time increases by an hour. After I return, it reverts to the correct time. What makes it change that hour? Currently we are on daylight savings time which means the time in general is already 1 hour ahead of standard time, so that cant be an issue. The watch would be two hours ahead of standard time. I am aware that the time on the watch is related to the iphone, but what possesses the watch to change that hour. Is there some sort of base time programmed into the watch? through Iphone? Can the watch support its own time Zone?

It certainly reduces the usefulness of the watch as a watch.

Thanks,

Apple Watch

Posted on Apr 16, 2020 5:06 AM

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29 replies

Jim Dysart Author

Level 1

13 points

May 8, 2020 9:30 AM in response to markthefishguy

Hello All.,

Thanks for the input. I would like to be able to check the time zone on the watch independently form the iphone but I din't think that is possible. With respect to Daylight Savings time (UTC-3:00), it appears that the watches are moving an hour ahead (UTC-2:00). Atlantic Standard Time is UTC-4:00 (Fall back) so the watches are going to the time zone in Greenland, not AST. The only way to get to that would be if the watch somehow adds an hour separately from the time zone change. That would normally be related to location. So maybe the watch somehow thinks it is still set at AST (which is now the time in the eastern time zone), so adds another hour to move to ADT when not told the correct time by the iPhone.

Forutnately, I am never far from my phone so it seldom happens.

Apple should be able to figure out if it is time zone setting on the watch, or a communication issue with Bell.

Are there any Rogers customers with the issue?

Thanks again for the interest.

May 19, 2020 12:48 PM in response to brokenmatt

Big news! Half an hour ago, my wife and I noticed that both our watches were showing the correct time on a walk without our phones. This was the first time it ever worked properly since the time change. We went yesterday and it was still faulty. Anyone else noticed that it’s fixed now?

May 21, 2020 7:31 AM in response to aferg25

Ha ha! love it!

In New Brunswick, the Apple signal (akin to the Batman signal) that would shine in the night sky for support will now lay dormant. Like Batman having successfully intervened, Apple staff can now stand down and address the next Apple signal shining in the night sky from away!

Apr 28, 2020 3:12 PM in response to j.andre.daigle

I have the same issue

Apr 28, 2020 5:18 PM in response to Jim Dysart

kind of ironic that a very expensive watch can't keep the time. I am curious how many people have the same issue and when Apple will provide a fix. Thanks to Ginette for "chiming" in.

Apr 29, 2020 4:20 AM in response to j.andre.daigle

nope. did not work (removing other world clock)

May 8, 2020 5:17 AM in response to Jim Dysart

I have the same problem. New Brunswick and Bell.

May 10, 2020 6:27 AM in response to Jim Dysart

Apple Support, this is obviously not an isolated incident, what is the plan to resolve this issue?

aferg25

Level 1

4 points

May 21, 2020 7:03 AM in response to j.andre.daigle

In Saint John, NB; a bronze watch will now be erected at King’s Square!

aferg25

Level 1

4 points

Apr 29, 2020 7:24 AM in response to Jim Dysart

I have this exact problem as well in the Maritimes of Atlantic Canada, AST. Once the phone is not paired with the watch, it jumps an hour ahead when connected to cellular. I have had Apple download the diagnostics from my phone and watch and send to the engineers. They are puzzled. The only next step we can think is if a patch is made or contact the provider to understand why this is going ahead an hour when on cellular. I love to go for a walk with just the watch and leave the phone at home, then noticed it went an hour ahead. It is not a major issue as it fixes the time when it is picked back up with the phone/wifi, but would be nice to find a resolution sometime soon. This has only happened within the last couple months.

Jim Dysart Author

Level 1

13 points

May 20, 2020 11:21 AM in response to aferg25

So I haven't changed or updated anything since I started this thread. I did a deliberate test of turning off my phone yesterday to confirm that the bug has been squashed as reported above. Presumably Bell (or Apple) figured it out in response to many reporting the issue to them (I was not one).

Now my watch can tell time by itself again.

Apr 29, 2020 4:30 AM in response to Jim Dysart

It's daylight savings,go into the phone settings/general/date & time and turn off set automatically.

May 10, 2020 6:35 AM in response to markthefishguy

This is not apple support,they are here;

Get Support

aferg25

Level 1

4 points

May 19, 2020 1:01 PM in response to Mathimilou

Would you look at that. It now seems to be fixed! Let's all rejoice! Would love to know what the issue was!

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Apple watch time changes when away from the phone