How to make Calendar app ignore time zones?

I read many comments on this forum describing confusion over time zones in the Calendar app. I know of two options: time zone override off and time zone override on. Although they work differently both options mess with time zones in some way. Why can’t Apple add a third option: ignore time zones and just record what I type.


maybe that option does exist somewhere and I just can’t find it. Can anybody give me some advice?


I mostly use an iPad mini 6 but also iPhone 16 and MacBook Pro.

iPad mini 6, iPadOS 26

Posted on Jan 10, 2026 8:06 AM

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6 replies

Jan 14, 2026 6:31 AM in response to Rob Ryd

Rob Ryd wrote:

I appreciate what you are saying, and I understand that what I think of as a problem, most people probably think of as a benefit. But different people see things in different ways. I don’t wish Apple to remove what they already do, I’m just wishing they would add an option for people who see things the way I do (and I doubt if I am the only one). But this forum isn’t about criticizing Apple, it’s about helping each other, so I thank you for your comments.

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Jan 13, 2026 11:16 AM in response to Rob Ryd

Events kinda really have to have a time zone.


But I'm not sure why this is an issue. When you create an event, Calendar.app will just default the time to your current system's time zone setting. You never have to look at it or worry about it.


If you're trying to something like an alarm that goes off at, say, 9am every day, then use the Reminders app rather than Calendar.app. Reminders are triggered based on the local clock.

Jan 13, 2026 2:50 PM in response to Rob Ryd

> ... I looked up her flight on my calendar, and it said not 1:30, but 11.30.


Actually, it didn't say either. It said 1:30 EST and it made the visual adjustment on the calendar to show you what time that would be in Arizona, where you were.


You have to look at this from both directions.


What if this was the other way around and YOUR WIFE was looking at the calendar and saw an 11:30 am flight time? She'd be bored at the airport for two extra hours.


Let's take this a step further.... let's say her flight takes, what, 4 hours? So she enters into the calendar a 4-hour flight event starting at 1:30pm EST. You can now look at the calendar and know exactly what time you have to pick her up from the airport (around 3:30pm, allowing for a 4 hour flight and a 2 hour timezone difference). However, by your reckoning, this event should have been showing on the calendar as running from 1:30pm to 5:30pm, leaving her hanging in baggage claim for 2 hours.


Even worse would be flying the other way around, where the calendar showed 1:30PM but the flight was actually leaving at 11:30am. You'd end up at the airport after the flight has left, and the airlines aren't going to compensate you for missing the flight because you misread the calendar.


I think it's unreasonable for everyone to have an intrinsic knowledge of the time of an event in some far-flung (or even adjacent) time zone (especially in Arizona which has a different DST schedule from the rest of the country), and to know the intent of the person who created the event. Do you really know the location where whoever added the event to a calendar was at the time? The local time is far more important for most users.

Jan 13, 2026 2:24 PM in response to Camelot

Here’s an example: We live in Arizona. Recently my wife traveled to Florida, and entered her return flight into Calendar, leaving Florida at 1:30 PM. We share calendars, so the day of her return I looked up her flight on my calendar, and it said not 1:30, but 11.30. Yes I know, that’s Arizona time, but I don’t want to know the Arizona time for a flight leaving Florida. Sure, I can make the adjustment in my head, but I’d rather not have to. If I enter 1:30 I want so see 1:30.

Jan 13, 2026 7:31 PM in response to Camelot

I appreciate what you are saying, and I understand that what I think of as a problem, most people probably think of as a benefit. But different people see things in different ways. I don’t wish Apple to remove what they already do, I’m just wishing they would add an option for people who see things the way I do (and I doubt if I am the only one). But this forum isn’t about criticizing Apple, it’s about helping each other, so I thank you for your comments.

How to make Calendar app ignore time zones?

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