How to Enable or Disable 24-Hour Time Format in Google Calendar

Introduction: Why Time Format Matters

Time format preferences,  whether 12-hour (AM/PM) or 24-hour (military time)—may seem like a minor personal setting, but they play a crucial role in clarity and productivity, especially when coordinating across teams, regions, and time zones.

Google Calendar allows you to toggle between 12-hour and 24-hour formats easily. Whether you’re trying to match your organizational standard, avoid AM/PM confusion, or align with international norms, knowing how to switch this setting and understanding its implications can improve your scheduling efficiency.

What Is the 24-Hour Time Format?

• 12-Hour Format: Uses AM and PM to distinguish morning and afternoon hours (e.g., 2:00 PM).
• 24-Hour Format: Displays time as a continuous count from 00:00 to 23:59 (e.g., 14:00 for 2:00 PM).

Why Choose 24-Hour Format?

• Avoids AM/PM confusion
• Preferred in logistics, aviation, military, and global teams
• More compact and standardized

Why Choose 12-Hour Format?

• Familiar to users in the U.S. and other regions
• Easier to read for non-technical users

Google Calendar supports both formats and lets you switch at any time.

Where This Setting Is Found

Google Calendar includes the time format setting under:

Settings → Language & Region → Time Format

This setting affects how all event times are displayed in the web interface—within event details, the calendar grid, and time pickers.

Note:

• On desktop, this setting is changed directly in Google Calendar.
• On mobile devices, time format is controlled by your device’s system settings.

How to Enable or Disable 24-Hour Time Format

On Desktop (Google Calendar Web App)

Steps:

1. Go to Google Calendar and sign in.
2. Click the Gear icon in the upper-right corner and choose Settings.
3. On the left-hand panel, click Language and Region.
4. Find the section labeled Time format.
5. Choose either:
   • 12-hour (AM/PM)
   • 24-hour
6. Changes are saved automatically, but it’s a good idea to refresh your calendar afterward to ensure the interface updates.

What Changes:

• Calendar grid now shows time in the chosen format.
• All event times update accordingly.
• Time picker menus will follow your selected format.

On Mobile (Android / iOS)

Google Calendar follows your device’s time format settings. You can’t change the time format directly from the app, but here’s how to do it on your phone:

For Android:

1. Go to Settings > System > Date & Time.
2. Toggle Use 24-hour format on or off.
3. Open Google Calendar again—the display will update automatically.

For iPhone/iPad (iOS):

1. Go to Settings > General > Date & Time.
2. Toggle 24-Hour Time on or off.
3. Reopen Google Calendar to view the change.

What Changes in Google Calendar When You Switch Formats

When you change the time format in Google Calendar, several parts of the interface adjust to reflect your selection. The most noticeable difference is in the calendar grid (especially in Day and Week views), where the time markers on the left-hand side will display either in 12-hour format with AM/PM labels (e.g., 1 PM, 2 PM) or in 24-hour format (e.g., 13:00, 14:00).

During event creation or editing, the time picker menus will also change. In 12-hour mode, you’ll see times presented with AM and PM options, while in 24-hour mode, you’ll see times ranging from 00:00 to 23:59, with no ambiguity between morning and evening hours.

Within your list of events and any detailed views, all event start and end times will reflect the format you’ve chosen. This applies not just in the web interface but also in print previews or agenda views.

Additionally, when you view or interact with shared calendars, the displayed time format usually matches your personal preference—Google renders the time based on your account settings. However, when it comes to public or embedded calendars, the format may depend on the calendar’s origin or the settings used when embedding, so the display could vary slightly from user to user.

It’s important to note that changing the time format is entirely cosmetic: it does not affect the actual time of any event, its timezone, or how others see the time on their end (unless they use the same format). It simply modifies how time is shown in your interface for clarity and comfort.

Use Cases for Switching Time Formats

When 24-Hour Format Is Better:

• International teams: Avoids regional ambiguity
• High-frequency scheduling: Easier to see hour transitions
• Military, aviation, logistics, and healthcare: Industry standards
• Personal preference: Cleaner, more compact interface

When 12-Hour Format Is Better:

• General users in U.S. and similar locales
• Less tech-savvy teams
• For printed or shared schedules that use AM/PM

What to Do If the Format Doesn’t Change

1. Refresh Your Browser

After changing the setting on desktop, reload your browser tab to reflect the new format.

2. Clear Cache or Try Another Browser

Sometimes changes are cached. Try opening your calendar in an incognito window or clear your cache.

3. Confirm You Saved the Setting

Although the setting often saves automatically, double-check if the format stuck after navigating away.

4. Check Language/Locale Settings

In some cases, your Google account’s language and region settings influence time display. For example:

• “English (United States)” may default to 12-hour
• “English (UK)” or “German” might default to 24-hour

Adjust accordingly under Settings > Language and Region.

5. Mobile App Still Shows Wrong Format

Make sure you’ve changed your device settings — the app does not have its own time format setting.

6. Managed Workspace Accounts

If you use Google Workspace (formerly G Suite), your admin may control regional settings. Contact your admin if your format resets or is restricted.

Switching between 12-hour and 24-hour time formats in Google Calendar is quick but impactful. It improves scheduling clarity, reduces misunderstandings, and aligns better with personal or team preferences.