If Android Auto shows the right time but the dashboard clock is wrong, check the car’s own clock settings. Connecting a phone does not guarantee that every clock in the vehicle will synchronize. The phone display, infotainment system and instrument panel can use different settings.
Which clock is wrong?
| What you see | Check first |
|---|---|
| The phone itself shows the wrong time | Phone date, time and time-zone settings. |
| Android Auto is right; the car clock is wrong | The vehicle’s native time and daylight-saving settings. |
| Both displays are exactly one hour out | Time zone and daylight-saving adjustment. |
| The centre screen and instrument panel disagree | Whether the vehicle has separate clock controls or a synchronization setting. |
| The clock resets after each start | Record the behaviour and check the vehicle manual or service support. |
1. Check the phone’s time and time zone
Before changing the car, compare the phone’s time with a reliable clock. In Android settings, search for Date and time. Check automatic date/time and automatic time zone where supported. A correct time in the wrong zone can still create confusion when travelling.
Google’s date and time guide explains the available automatic and manual settings. Menus and automatic-zone support vary by device. After correcting the phone, reconnect Android Auto and compare the displays again.
2. Open the car’s native clock settings
Leave the Android Auto view and open the vehicle’s own Settings screen. Look for Clock, Time/Date or a similar entry. Check these separately:
- Automatic time: whether the system gets time from a supported source.
- Time zone: the region the vehicle is using.
- Daylight saving: whether a seasonal adjustment is automatic or manual.
- 12/24-hour display: a format preference, not a correction for a wrong time zone.
For example, Chevrolet’s infotainment setup guide describes a manual route through Settings, System, Time/Date and Set Time when automatic time is off. Use the manual for your exact model and year rather than applying that menu to every car.
3. Correct an hour’s difference without doubling the adjustment
If the clock is exactly one hour ahead or behind, check daylight saving before changing the hour manually. If you apply both a manual hour change and an automatic seasonal adjustment, the result can be wrong again later.
If automatic time keeps replacing your manual setting, check the time zone and supported clock source. A cable reconnect is not a universal fix for a vehicle’s native clock.
What about MG7, a Suburban or an aftermarket screen?
The same comparison helps, but the controls can differ. For an MG7, Chevrolet Suburban, Fiat Doblo or another model, record the model year and infotainment version, then use that system’s manual. An aftermarket Android screen may have its own Android time settings as well as a separate vehicle clock.
If it still will not keep the right time
Record which display changes, when it happens and whether it follows a restart, phone connection or time-zone change. Ask the manufacturer about updates for that exact system before trying a factory reset or disconnecting the battery.
If the connection also changes the radio sound, our Android Auto and CarPlay audio guide covers that separate issue. For navigation-app problems, see our Waze troubleshooting checks.
Updated October 15, 2026. Reviewed using the sources linked in this guide.