Daylight savings time issue

After turning my time zone to automatic last week, the daylight savings adjustment for Atlantic time seems to have issues. I used to always use manual clock setting to stay locked to Atlantic time but changed to automatic at an Apple support rep’s request when running diagnostics on something unrelated. I have never needed to intervene or do anything to correct the time on time changes any other time.


I was working overnight and watched the time switch and successfully change on its own after 1:59 to 3:00 am. Now over an hour later, I see it is only 3:12. (Screenshot taken slightly earlier at 4:03) Sometime in the last hour, the time changed back for no apparent reason.


When going to the world clock, I see it knows that in Halifax, it is 4:12 but for some reason the time has changed back out of daylight savings time or into eastern time on its own on my phone.


If I had been using my phone for an alarm, working the opposite shift, it would wake me up an hour late.


iPhone 14 Pro, iOS 26

Posted on Mar 7, 2026 11:23 PM

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9 replies

Mar 7, 2026 11:44 PM in response to Leah L

You may try some of these steps. Please check after each step...


  1. Sometimes, a simple restart can resolve temporary software glitches. Turn off your iPhone, wait for a few seconds, and then turn it back on.
    1. Restart the device. That's it.
    2. Still not solved --> Force restart iPhone - Apple Support
  2. If you're using a VPN, disable it and check if the error goes away. Go to Settings > General > VPN & Device Management and turn off any active VPNs. Disabling a VPN only from the iPhone settings may not completely turn it off. To fully disable it, you need to switch it off from the VPN service provider’s app or remove the configuration profile they installed. Only then is the VPN truly off, which can help if it’s causing issues with cellular or Wi-Fi connectivity. If your device has network connectivity issues, check for ...
  3. Reset Network Settings: Settings > General > Transfer or Reset iPhone > Reset > Reset Network Settings: Only network settings are removed.
    1. When you reset network settings, previously used networks and VPN settings that weren’t installed by a configuration profile or mobile device management (MDM) are removed. Wi-Fi is turned off and then back on, disconnecting you from any network you’re on. The Wi-Fi and Ask to Join Networks settings remain turned on.
    2. To remove VPN settings installed by a configuration profile, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the configuration profile, then tap Remove Profile. This also removes other settings and accounts provided by the profile. See Install or remove configuration profiles on iPhone in this guide.
    3. To remove network settings installed by MDM, go to Settings > General > Profiles & Device Management, select the management, then tap Remove Management. This also removes other settings and certificates provided by MDM. See “Mobile device management (MDM)” in the iOS Deployment Reference.
    4. Reset your Network Settings. Tap Settings > General > Reset > Reset Network Settings. This also resets Wi-Fi networks and passwords, cellular settings, and VPN and APN settings that you've used before.
  4. If the issue persists, you can try resetting all settings on your iPhone. This will not erase your data but will reset all personalized settings to their default values. Go to Settings > General > Transfer & Reset > Reset > Reset All Settings and confirm the action. Note that you will need to reconfigure your settings afterward. All settings—including network settings, the keyboard dictionary, the Home screen layout, location settings, privacy settings, and Apple Pay cards—are removed or reset to their defaults. No data or media are deleted.
    1. Reset All Settings: Return iPhone settings to their defaults - Apple Support:- Return iPhone settings to their defaults
    2. You can return settings to their defaults without erasing your content.
    3. If you want to save your settings, back up your iPhone before returning them to their defaults. For example, if you’re trying to solve a problem but returning settings to their defaults doesn’t help, you might want to restore your previous settings from a backup.
  5. Make sure you have the latest updates installed.
    1. Update Over-the-Air (OTA) —> Update your iPhone or iPad - Apple Support (IN)
    2. Update using iTunes/Finder —> Update your iPhone, iPad, or iPod touch - Apple Support (IN)


If none of the above steps resolve the issue, it is recommended to reach out to Apple Support or visit an authorized service center for further assistance. They can provide specific guidance based on your device model and iOS version.



Mar 9, 2026 10:30 AM in response to Leah L

Leah L wrote:

So the point of this is.. many people use their phones as an alarm. If the phones need to be reset after the time change are they supposed to set an alarm at 3 am to reset their phone? This defeats the purpose of having automatic time management

Maybe a misunderstanding. I said reset the phone after a major change by yourself, like messing around with manual bate and time setting. This Manual setting will cause problems and is a major non-recommended intervention.

Set it to automatic, restart the phone, then the wake up alarm will always be at the correct time next change of daylight savings, no reset required.

I get up at 8am on the Sunday of our changes and it is always correct.


If you are unfortunate enough to need to be woken up at the exact time the Time zone changes are being made it is better to rely on an additional clock that mess with the phone settings - there can't be more than a handful of people in that situation.

Mar 8, 2026 11:26 PM in response to KiltedTim

No I am not using a VPN. There is one place about a 45 minute drive from here that is close enough to the border to go to eastern time, but I am not close enough to it to ever trigger the time zone to change. (I have been using my phone in this location for over 10 years and it’s never jumped to eastern time or another network)

Mar 9, 2026 10:57 AM in response to LD150

The phone had already been reset after this setting change and had around 7 days on both the updated setting and IOS 26.3 when this occurred.


I generally don’t need to be awake at 3am but if I waited until my normal alarm for day shift of 5am and it were actually 6am at the time that is why I’m saying it would be too late at that point. It doesn’t really seem normal to have to set an extra alarm or timer to check that the automatic setting is working properly. I have never needed to do this on any other update or my previous phones




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Daylight savings time issue

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