Apple Watch changing timezone when not Bluetooth connected to iPhone

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Level 1

8 points

Apple Watch changing timezone when not Bluetooth connected to iPhone

Hello,

my Apple Watch 9 changes time zone to the local one whenever it’s not connected to my iPhone via Bluetooth.

this is extremely annoying and I haven’t found any way of preventing this behaviour.

searching online, Mr Google AI says that it’s supposed to do so, as it’s a core feature of the Apple Watch, but we all know AI is very often lying (sorry, “hallucinating”), so I’ve come here to see if this is truly a feature or just an oversight from Apple.

[Re-Titled by Moderator]

Apple Watch Series 9, watchOS 11

Posted on Aug 5, 2025 03:51 AM

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Answer 1

iPotatoed Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 6, 2025 01:31 PM in response to Ingo2711

That opens another can of worms. I have several time zone clocks on my world clock app, specifically because my job involves a lot of travelling across many time zones. Why can’t I set the “alternate” time zone in my watch and instead have to use my iPhone to do it? Mysteries at Apple…

It seems like Apple wants the watch to be an appendage of the iPhone, not a stand-alone device, so they are purposely limiting its functionalities for no valid reason at all, at least form a user perspective.

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Answer 2

Ingo2711

Level 9

77,823 points

Aug 7, 2025 05:21 AM in response to iPotatoed

You could set up multiple Watch faces, each one showing different time zone complications.

The iPhone is needed to sync notifications, apps and other information, for example watchOS updates, which is much easier done on the iPhone than on the watch, especially if you use a non cellular model.

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Answer 3

iPotatoed Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 7, 2025 06:10 AM in response to Ingo2711

I just want my watch to NOT switch to the local timezone when not in BT contact with my iPhone.

Everything you are proposing is workaround “solutions” to a problem that shouldn’t be there in the first place. This is just bad design, I don’t understand why I have to jump through all those hoops instead of Apple doing the sensible thing.

also, you can stop trying to sell me Apple products: I’ve been a shareholder since 2011, I love the company and I’m perfect comfortable in the Apple ecosystem. But one has to admit when things are badly designed or implemented: not everything is perfect. It’s not a cult.

”Music works as expected” says nothing about its design value: if you have low expectations, it works as expected. I have far higher expectations, so I’m able to realise it’s extremely poorly designed, it’s clunky, slow, uselessly complicated and its primary purpose seems to be to sell you their subscription, not helping you manage your music library, find lyrics, cover art, etc

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Answer 4

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,752 points

Aug 7, 2025 06:26 AM in response to iPotatoed

The vast majority of people who wear watches... ANY kind of watch, whether smart or not, want to see the local time where they are, not the time somewhere else.

Instead of trying to force the watch to display the time for a different time zone, why don't you just select one of the watch faces that can display multiple time zones simultaneously?

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Answer 5

iPotatoed Author

Level 1

8 points

Aug 7, 2025 01:05 PM in response to KiltedTim

Well, I’m clearly not the vast majority of people, nor are the other hundreds that have chimed in past threads about this same issue, now closed by Apple Support.

We are just asking for an option to have the timezone fixed on the Apple Watch, irrespective of iPhone connection.

We don’t want to impose our vision on others, we just want the option.

Why is it so difficult?

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Answer 6

KiltedTim

Level 10

220,752 points

Aug 7, 2025 01:09 PM in response to iPotatoed

iPotatoed wrote:

We are just asking for an option to have the timezone fixed on the Apple Watch, irrespective of iPhone connection.

We don’t want to impose our vision on others, we just want the option.

Why is it so difficult?

You are not talking for Apple. Your rant is wasted here. Go tell Apple what you want. This is a user forum. Apple isn't here. We have no control over how it works.

https://apple.com/feedback

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