WhatsApp doesn't have its own time-format setting, because it copies your phone's clock. To get 12-hour time, turn off the 24-hour option in your phone's Date and Time settings, then close and reopen WhatsApp. On an iPhone that's Settings, General, Date and Time, then switch off 24-Hour Time.
If you've been hunting through WhatsApp's Chats and Account menus for a clock option, you can stop. It isn't hiding in there. Message times, call logs and the time stamps on your Status all follow whatever your phone uses, so the fix happens outside the app and takes under a minute.
Why there's no switch inside WhatsApp
Most apps borrow the time format from the phone instead of building their own. That keeps every app on your phone showing the same clock, and it means one change fixes them all. The catch is that WhatsApp can't help you directly. The setting sits in your phone, and the steps depend on the phone you own.
Below are the routes for stock Android, Samsung and iPhone. Menu names shift between versions and brands, so if a name looks different on your phone, search its settings for the words 24-hour.
Android: stock Android phones
This covers Pixel phones and others running plain Android.
- Open Settings.
- Tap System, then Date and time.
- Turn off Use locale default. This one catches a lot of people, because while it's on, your region decides the format.
- Turn off Use 24-hour format.
- Force close WhatsApp and open it again.
Android: Samsung phones
- Open Settings.
- Tap General management.
- Tap Date and time.
- Switch off Use 24-hour format.
- Force close WhatsApp and reopen it.
Other brands usually follow one of these two layouts. If yours doesn't, search your settings for the words date and time and look for the 24-hour switch. While you're in Android settings, you might also like my explainer on WhatsApp keyboard settings on Android, which covers the other thing people expect to find inside the app.
iPhone: change the clock for WhatsApp
- Open Settings.
- Tap General.
- Tap Date and Time.
- Switch off 24-Hour Time.
- Swipe WhatsApp away in the app switcher and open it again.
Your messages will now show AM or PM instead of the 24-hour style. Chats you've already received are updated too, because WhatsApp only changes how the time is displayed. The messages themselves are untouched.
When the format won't change
Sometimes the switch is greyed out, missing, or you've turned it off and WhatsApp still shows the 24-hour clock. This table covers the usual causes.
| What you see | Likely cause | What to try |
|---|---|---|
| The switch is greyed out on an iPhone | Screen Time restrictions or a work profile may be managing it | Check Screen Time restrictions on the phone, or ask whoever manages the profile |
| The Android switch won't move | Use locale default is still on | Turn off Use locale default first, then the 24-hour switch |
| Phone shows 12-hour time but WhatsApp still shows 24-hour | WhatsApp hasn't refreshed | Force close the app and open it again, or restart the phone |
| The format flips back after a restart | Your region format forces a default | Look for the Region or language settings and pick a region that uses 12-hour time, or search for Region |
| The times look wrong, not just the format | Automatic date and time is switched off | Turn on the automatic date and time option in the same menu |
If your messages show odd times because they're stuck rather than because of the format, that's a different problem. My guide to fixing WhatsApp messages that are not delivering covers it.
What changes once you switch
The new format shows up in a few places, not just the chat bubbles. It helps to know where to look so you can see the change straight away.
- The small time under each message in a chat.
- The time beside each chat in your main chat list.
- The call log, where each call shows when it started.
- Message info, which shows when a message was delivered and read.
- The time stamps on Status updates.
Everything else on your phone changes at the same time. Your alarm clock, calendar and lock screen will all follow the same setting, which is usually what you want. If you'd rather keep a 24-hour lock screen clock but see 12-hour time in WhatsApp, that isn't possible, because WhatsApp has no way to choose its own.
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WhatsApp on your computer
The WhatsApp desktop app and WhatsApp in a web browser follow the computer's clock, not your phone's. Changing your phone won't change them. To switch the computer to 12-hour time, open its own date and time or region settings and look for a 24-hour option. On a Mac, look in System Settings under General, then Language and Region. On Windows, look under Time and language, then Language and region. In both cases you can search the settings for the word 24-hour and get there quickly. Restart the WhatsApp window afterwards, or refresh the browser tab if you use WhatsApp on the web.
If you travel or switch time zones
Changing the format doesn't touch your time zone, but the two sit side by side in the same menu, so it's easy to knock the wrong one. If your chats suddenly show times that look hours out, check that the automatic date and time option is on. Your phone then picks up the right time zone from the network when you land somewhere new.
It's also worth knowing that your contacts see their own clock, not yours. A message you send at what looks like 9:00 PM to you will show the equivalent local time on their phone, in whichever format they use. Neither of you needs to match.
A quick way to check it worked
Open any chat and look at the little time under the last message. If it shows AM or PM, you're done. If it doesn't, work down the table above. The usual culprit is the locale switch on Android or a managed setting on iPhone. For other questions about the app, the WhatsApp help guide is a good next stop.
Frequently asked questions
Does changing the format change my old messages?
Yes, the display changes everywhere in the app, old chats included. Only the way the time is shown changes. The messages and their real times stay the same.
Can I use 12-hour time in WhatsApp only?
No. WhatsApp follows the clock format your phone uses, so the change applies to every app that reads it.
Does this change my time zone?
No. The 12-hour or 24-hour choice only changes how the time is written. Your time zone is set separately in the same Date and Time area.
Do I need to reinstall WhatsApp for the new format to show?
No. Close the app fully and open it again. If it still shows the old format, restart the phone. A reinstall isn't needed and puts your chat backup at risk for no reason.
Why is the 24-hour switch greyed out on my iPhone?
Screen Time restrictions or a work profile can lock it. Check those, or ask the person who manages the phone.
