To use military time on a Google Pixel 4a, open Settings, tap System, then Date & time. Turn off Use locale default, then turn on Use 24-hour format. Your clock then shows times like 14:30 instead of 2:30 PM. You can also make the same change from the Clock app.
This guide covers the Pixel 4a and Pixel 4a (5G). The original screenshots were taken on a Pixel 4a running Android 11; Google lists the Pixel 4a among phones that no longer receive Android version or security updates, so most will be on Android 13 or earlier, where the Date & time menu works the same way. It also explains why the 24-hour switch can be grayed out, how to read military time, and how to switch back.
What Military Time Means on Your Phone
“Military time” is the everyday name for the 24-hour clock. Instead of starting over at 12 with AM and PM, the hours keep counting from 0 to 23. Midnight is 00:00, noon is 12:00, and 3:00 PM is 15:00. Your Pixel uses the 12-hour or 24-hour format based on your region (its locale) until you choose otherwise.
Changing the format affects how times appear on your phone, such as in the status bar and the lock screen clock. It doesn’t change the actual time or your time zone.
How to Use Military Time on the Google Pixel 4a
- Swipe up from the bottom of the Home screen to open the apps list. Result: all your apps appear.
- Tap Settings. Result: the main Settings menu opens.
- Scroll down and tap System. Result: system options such as languages and date & time appear.
- Tap Date & time. Result: the date, time and time zone settings open.
- Turn off Use locale default. Result: the Use 24-hour format switch becomes available.
- Turn on Use 24-hour format. Result: the clock in your status bar changes to 24-hour time right away.
Turn On 24-Hour Time From the Clock App
Google’s Change your clock’s display help page gives a shortcut through the Clock app:
- Open the Clock app. Result: your alarms or clock appear.
- Tap More (the three dots), then Settings. Result: Clock settings open.
- Tap Change date & time. Result: the same Date & time screen from System settings opens.
- Tap Use 24-hour format. Result: your phone switches to military time.
The Clock app’s settings also let you show seconds (Display time with seconds) and choose an analog or digital style.
Why the 24-Hour Switch Is Grayed Out
If you can’t tap Use 24-hour format, Use locale default is still on. When it’s on, your Pixel follows your region’s standard format and locks the manual choice. Turn Use locale default off and the switch becomes available.
If your region already uses 24-hour time, you may see military time with Use locale default on. Turning it off lets you pick 12-hour time instead.
How to Read Military Time
For times from 1:00 PM to 11:59 PM, add 12 to the hour. To go back, subtract 12 from any hour above 12.
| 12-hour time | 24-hour (military) time |
|---|---|
| 12:00 AM (midnight) | 00:00 |
| 1:00 AM | 01:00 |
| 9:30 AM | 09:30 |
| 12:00 PM (noon) | 12:00 |
| 1:00 PM | 13:00 |
| 3:45 PM | 15:45 |
| 6:00 PM | 18:00 |
| 9:15 PM | 21:15 |
| 11:59 PM | 23:59 |
Spoken military time drops the colon, so 15:45 is “fifteen forty-five,” and times before 10:00 often keep the leading zero, as in “oh-nine-thirty.”
How to Switch Back to 12-Hour Time
Go to Settings > System > Date & time and turn off Use 24-hour format. To let your phone follow your region again, turn Use locale default back on instead.
Other Date and Time Settings on the Same Screen
- Set time automatically: uses the time from your network. Turn it off only if you need to set the time manually.
- Set time zone automatically: updates your time zone as you travel. Turn it off to pick a time zone yourself.
- Date and Time: available to edit only after automatic time is off.
Menu names here can vary slightly between Android versions. On Android 11, for example, the time zone option was labeled Use network-provided time zone. To check your version, see what Android version is on your Google Pixel 4a.
Frequently Asked Questions
Will my alarms change when I switch to military time?
No. Your alarms keep their times; they’re just displayed in the 24-hour format.
Does this work on the Pixel 4a (5G)?
Yes. The Pixel 4a (5G) uses the same Settings > System > Date & time path.
Can I use military time on my other devices?
Yes. See how to switch to a 24-hour clock on Apple Watch and how to set 24-hour time on Windows 11. For changing the time itself on a PC, see how to change the date and time in Windows 11.
What else can I customize on a Pixel 4a?
If you’re adjusting how your screen looks, you might also want to turn on dark mode on the Pixel 4a.
Matthew Burleigh has been writing tech tutorials since 2008. His writing has appeared on dozens of different websites and been read hundreds of millions of times.
After receiving his Bachelor’s and Master’s degrees in Computer Science he spent several years working in IT management for small businesses. However, he now works full time writing content online and creating websites.
His main writing topics include iPhones, Microsoft Office, Google Apps, Android, and Photoshop, but he has also written about many other tech topics as well.