I just updated my iPhone 17 to iOS 26.5 and now the automatic clock setting keeps switching to Pacific time when I’m located in mountain time. I can just turn it off but would like to keep it on for when I travel etc.
iPhone 17, iOS 26
Living near a time zone boundary—like between Mountain Time (MT) and Pacific Time (PT)—can definitely confuse.
Devices often rely on GPS or network signals to auto‑detect the time zone, and if you’re close to the dividing line, they may switch back and forth depending on signal strength or location accuracy.
To avoid that inconsistency, it’s best to set your time zone manually in your device’s settings. That way, your clock stays stable and doesn’t jump between MT and PT unexpectedly.
Living near a time zone boundary—like between Mountain Time (MT) and Pacific Time (PT)—can definitely confuse.
Devices often rely on GPS or network signals to auto‑detect the time zone, and if you’re close to the dividing line, they may switch back and forth depending on signal strength or location accuracy.
To avoid that inconsistency, it’s best to set your time zone manually in your device’s settings. That way, your clock stays stable and doesn’t jump between MT and PT unexpectedly.
Here are a few things other users have reported improving location accuracy. I’ll list them for clarity, but if you need a path to locate the setting, let me know.
Those are settings other users have reported that have helped reduce errors in time zone transition areas.
Do you use a VPN?
Which city do you see in the Time Zone field in Settings > General > Date & Time? A city that does belong to your time zone?
Go to the Settings app on your iPhone. Tap General, then tap Date & Time. Turn off and Set to Manual, ...Read more
Change the date and time on iPhone
I don’t live anywhere near pacific time
No. These are all the same questions apple support asked me before saying “I dunno, just set it manually I guess”
iPhone 17 auto time zone wrong after iOS 26.5 update
