Ask Different (Apple)
Q&A for power users of Apple hardware and software
Latest Questions
2
votes
1
answers
56
views
How can I change the preset timer settings in iOS?
When I tap + to add a new timer in iOS 18.5 I see the following presets: [![timer presets][1]][1] **How can I change them?** ---------- These presets are only visible if there’s already a timer running and one clicks the [+] to add an additional one. [![screenshot: plus to add new timer][2]][2] [1]:...
When I tap + to add a new timer in iOS 18.5 I see the following presets:
**How can I change them?**
----------
These presets are only visible if there’s already a timer running and one clicks the [+] to add an additional one.
**How can I change them?**
----------
These presets are only visible if there’s already a timer running and one clicks the [+] to add an additional one.
PetaspeedBeaver
(127 rep)
Jun 21, 2025, 10:54 AM
• Last activity: Jun 22, 2025, 09:10 PM
6
votes
1
answers
4800
views
MacOS timed won't keep accurate time
My MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports, 16GB) running Big Sur 11.1 won't keep accurate time. It's regularly up to a minute off. I verified this using: * https://time.gov * Comparison with my iPhone * `sudo sntp -d time.apple.com` I've tried `sntp -sS time.apple.com`, and it doesn't...
My MacBook Pro (13-inch, 2016, Four Thunderbolt 3 Ports, 16GB) running Big Sur 11.1 won't keep accurate time. It's regularly up to a minute off. I verified this using:
* https://time.gov
* Comparison with my iPhone
*
sudo sntp -d time.apple.com
I've tried sntp -sS time.apple.com, and it doesn't adjust the time. I'd expect it to step to the right time, given we're (way!) more than 50ms off.
I've tried turning off automatic time sync in the system preferences, then setting the time right by hand, then turning automatic sync back on and _it puts the clock back to the wrong time!_
I've tried killing timed - it's restarted and the time remains wrong.
I've tried removing /var/db/timed/com.apple.timed.plist and then restarting timed. It recreates the file and the time remains wrong.
Reading this question , I checked the contents of the plist file, but mine doesn't appear to have any store of the current offset:
# plutil -p com.apple.timed.plist
{
"BootUUID" => ""
"HostUUID" => ""
"RTCResetCount" => 0
"TMLastNtpFetchAttempt" => 5331203.310338818
"TMLastRtcTime" => 5331203.336288487
"TMSystemTimeSet" => 0
"TMTimeSynthesizer" => {length = 499, bytes = 0x62706c69 73743030 d4010203 04050607 ... 00000000 00000179 }
"TMVersionKey" => 17
}TMLastSystemTime or TMTimeError.
I'm at my wits end with this. It's a real problem because it often prevents me using 1Password-generated TOTP codes because the drift is so bad.
Any ideas, please?
dty
(371 rep)
Feb 20, 2021, 12:53 PM
• Last activity: May 27, 2025, 03:29 AM
2
votes
3
answers
1608
views
How do I schedule a one-time alarm for a specific day?
I want to set a one-time alarm to go off on a specific date on my iPhone. On Android there was a "Schedule alarm" button in the clock app but I can't find an equivalent option on iOS. The reminders app doesn't work for this because I want the alarm to keep going off until I wake up and disable it. I...
I want to set a one-time alarm to go off on a specific date on my iPhone. On Android there was a "Schedule alarm" button in the clock app but I can't find an equivalent option on iOS. The reminders app doesn't work for this because I want the alarm to keep going off until I wake up and disable it. I'm willing to purchase a third party app to accomplish this.
How do I schedule a one-time alarm for a specific day in iOS?
Scheduling an alarm on Android
Scheduling an alarm on Android
Stevoisiak
(1723 rep)
Dec 5, 2024, 08:07 PM
• Last activity: Apr 12, 2025, 09:03 AM
1
votes
1
answers
451
views
macOS Ventura - How do I set a timer in Clock.app from command line?
I want to set timers (see screenshot below) in Clock.app from command line on macOS Ventura, How do I do that? [![enter image description here][1]][1] [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/UJ2Zn.png
I want to set timers (see screenshot below) in Clock.app from command line on macOS Ventura,
How do I do that?
Teddy C
(1884 rep)
Jan 26, 2023, 02:00 AM
• Last activity: Feb 3, 2025, 06:48 PM
13
votes
6
answers
545242
views
iPhone alarm through headphones only?
By default the iPhone alarm sounds both through the headphones and speakers (understandably), is there a setting somewhere to set the alarm to only go through the headphones? (The use case is I want to wake up with the alarm but not wake everyone else in the house)
By default the iPhone alarm sounds both through the headphones and speakers (understandably), is there a setting somewhere to set the alarm to only go through the headphones?
(The use case is I want to wake up with the alarm but not wake everyone else in the house)
Jonathan.
(4267 rep)
Mar 20, 2012, 09:02 PM
• Last activity: Dec 22, 2024, 05:30 PM
2
votes
0
answers
49
views
Can the Clock on iPhone tell me the day of week?
The following screenshot is the Clock app on iPhone with iOS 18.1. It is not very useful to tell me the time is "Current" and in Cupertino it is "Yesterday". Is there a way to make it say, Sunday for Taipei, and Saturday for Cupertino? [![enter image description here][1]][1] [1]: https://i.sstatic.n...
The following screenshot is the Clock app on iPhone with iOS 18.1.
It is not very useful to tell me the time is "Current" and in Cupertino it is "Yesterday".
Is there a way to make it say, Sunday for Taipei, and Saturday for Cupertino?
Stefanie Gauss
(207 rep)
Nov 30, 2024, 09:10 PM
• Last activity: Dec 3, 2024, 04:58 AM
1
votes
1
answers
927
views
iOS: Force clock to be displayed at all times
Is there a way to make the iPhone always display the current time, even in full-screen apps? (Or maybe a way to at least force it to while in specified apps?) I understand why some people would want to forget what time it is and allow themselves to become absorbed in their game or video or whatever....
Is there a way to make the iPhone always display the current time, even in full-screen apps?
(Or maybe a way to at least force it to while in specified apps?)
I understand why some people would want to forget what time it is and allow themselves to become absorbed in their game or video or whatever. I also understand why some developers might want people to forget about everything else and just continue using their app. "Engagement metrics are up! Hooray!"
But there are times when I still need to keep an eye on the time, and... oops!
And exiting to the home screen to check the time, only to find that you didn't need stop what you were doing because you've still got a few minutes - that's annoying too. That then leads to a reluctance to leave the app, and imprecisely guessing what time it is instead.
Yes, the alarm feature is helpful for some cases, but not all. I'm not always trying to alert *everybody*.
Sucks to be late a few minutes despite carrying a "clock" at all times, because sometimes it won't show the time.
Mentalist
(1360 rep)
Sep 25, 2024, 06:38 AM
• Last activity: Sep 25, 2024, 11:57 AM
0
votes
1
answers
461
views
Mac OS shows wrong date and time
My Mac mini M1 mit Sonoma 14.3.1 **shows wrong date and time**: - 10th of April [correct date: 13th of April] - 22:52 [correct time: 00:24] System set do auto time settings with correct time Zone. Restart didn't change anything. Time server set to default. If I switch to Manual, the system uses the...
My Mac mini M1 mit Sonoma 14.3.1 **shows wrong date and time**:
- 10th of April [correct date: 13th of April]
- 22:52 [correct time: 00:24]
System set do auto time settings with correct time Zone. Restart didn't change anything. Time server set to default.
If I switch to Manual, the system uses the new date/time.
As soon as I switch back to auto, the system immediatly shows the wrong date and time.
**Any hints?**
Additionally,I right now remember, that the system shows for some weeks (?) **0:00 on the login screen** just after system boot.
SteAp
(91 rep)
Apr 12, 2024, 10:26 PM
• Last activity: Sep 11, 2024, 11:02 PM
5
votes
5
answers
3195
views
Time in GMT or Missing Time Zones in systemsetup
## The problem MacBook Pro (Catalina `10.15.7`) decided to start showing GMT in the status bar and system preferences last week. It is physically in Pacific time (PST) and I'd like it to show that time instead. ## Troubleshooting thus far Following [Apple instructions][1] * System Preferences > Date...
## The problem
MacBook Pro (Catalina
10.15.7) decided to start showing GMT in the status bar and system preferences last week. It is physically in Pacific time (PST) and I'd like it to show that time instead.
## Troubleshooting thus far
Following Apple instructions
* System Preferences > Date & Time:
* "Set date and time automatically" is turned on using Apple Americas/U.S. (time.apple.com.) (problem persists with all servers)
* "Set time zone automatically using current location` is turned on
* Time Zone correctly locates me in PST
* Time Zone listing is empty
* Privacy settings are turned on to allow location services for Time Zone & System Customizations
* Computer has been restarted several times
* PRAM has been reset several times
* Computer is connected to wifi
Following this post :
* localtime is correct as are link to database and permissions
* Accessibility has been reset
* ntpdate has been run
## Current situation
(Really, more of "The Problem" but with a lot of the basic troubleshooting out of the way. Maybe this is "where it gets good".)
* date returns the correct (local) time
* systemsetup gettimezone returns GMT
* systemsetup listtimezones returns Time Zones: and nothing else
* systemsetup settimezone America/Los_Angeles returns America/Los_Angeles is not a valid timezone
Did the timezone list somehow go missing? Can I add it manually? Is there an update I can run to re-link this somehow?
I'd like to resolve this without an OS re-install if I can. Help me Ask Different, you're my only hope.
justmydisplayname
(61 rep)
Nov 4, 2020, 12:48 AM
• Last activity: Feb 5, 2024, 07:44 PM
5
votes
1
answers
1017
views
Customising the system locale’s date format in recent macOS versions
It used to be possible to freely customize the system date format in Mac OS preferences up to some 10.x version with a nice and flexible editor. [![screenshot old OS version][1]][1] In current Ventura, there’s only a selection of predefined formats and only for the short version. [
In current Ventura, there’s only a selection of predefined formats and only for the short version.
In Shortcuts, for instance, (almost) all placeholders from UTS #35 can be used, so internal support is there, of course.
Is there some hidden way to still customize the formats? For instance, I want to include the calendar week as in ISO 8601’s
In current Ventura, there’s only a selection of predefined formats and only for the short version.
In Shortcuts, for instance, (almost) all placeholders from UTS #35 can be used, so internal support is there, of course.
Is there some hidden way to still customize the formats? For instance, I want to include the calendar week as in ISO 8601’s yyyy-'W'ww-d.
Extra points if this format then can be used in the system clock.
Crissov
(894 rep)
Sep 4, 2023, 02:14 PM
• Last activity: Feb 3, 2024, 03:07 PM
2
votes
0
answers
146
views
How to make iPhone timer ring only one time?
I would like the timer to ring once when it hits 0, but then turn itself off instead of requiring me to press a button on the phone's screen (so that I don't have to clean my hands or lose time while cooking)
I would like the timer to ring once when it hits 0, but then turn itself off instead of requiring me to press a button on the phone's screen (so that I don't have to clean my hands or lose time while cooking)
user150109
Feb 2, 2024, 03:23 PM
-1
votes
1
answers
203
views
Clock announcing time when it shouldn't
Years ago, I turned on "announce time on the hour," but when it turned out to be stupid (for US locale, instead of "Ten o'clock" it says "it's ten hours") I turned it off. Three days ago, when I wasn't even near the laptop, it started announcing time again. I knew I hadn't changed it, but I looked a...
Years ago, I turned on "announce time on the hour," but when it turned out to be stupid (for US locale, instead of "Ten o'clock" it says "it's ten hours") I turned it off.
Three days ago, when I wasn't even near the laptop, it started announcing time again. I knew I hadn't changed it, but I looked and it was still Unchecked. There have been no recent updates to the system to explain the change in behavior.
I tried turning it on and back off, but it continues to announce. Before I turned it off again, I also changed "on the hour" to "every quarter hour" but it is still only doing it on the hour (when it shouldn't do it at all).
Why? and How to fix?
I moved
Library/Preferences/com.apple.menuextra.clock.plist to /tmp but that changed nothing (and changing the setting did not recreate it). I opened that file in Xcode, and it contains only two of the eight time preferences.
WGroleau
(5370 rep)
May 16, 2020, 07:33 PM
• Last activity: Dec 25, 2023, 11:01 PM
5
votes
0
answers
349
views
Change the Date format in the menu bar
Specifically, I would like to include the year for the menu bar date display and, even better, if I could change it to the iso format like YYYY-MM-DD. I was able to change how it is displayed in the finder windows and other places, but the menu bar doesn't seem to care about that setting. Is there a...
Specifically, I would like to include the year for the menu bar date display and, even better, if I could change it to the iso format like YYYY-MM-DD.
I was able to change how it is displayed in the finder windows and other places, but the menu bar doesn't seem to care about that setting.
Is there a way to change the format of the menu bar date in macOS Ventura?
saaaaaaaarahhhh
(106 rep)
Aug 26, 2023, 11:05 PM
• Last activity: Aug 27, 2023, 07:29 AM
0
votes
0
answers
235
views
'o' in macOS date format for menu bar clock
I have a problem with clock in menu bar date format. I'd like to show my clock with weekday, and 24 hour. For some reason, I see `Niedz. 13.08 o 19:19` (pl_PL locale). While trying to figure out what is going, I found that the date format in defaults `com.apple.menuextra.clock` set to `"EEE d.MM 'o'...
I have a problem with clock in menu bar date format. I'd like to show my clock with weekday, and 24 hour. For some reason, I see
Niedz. 13.08 o 19:19 (pl_PL locale). While trying to figure out what is going, I found that the date format in defaults com.apple.menuextra.clock set to "EEE d.MM 'o' HH:mm".
Could you help me to explain this 'o' and how to change the date format to the just "EEE d.MM HH:mm" (without this o)?
I've tried to write defaults and kill SystemUIServer, Dock, com.apple.dock.extra without any luck
Eir Nym
(1570 rep)
Aug 13, 2023, 05:34 PM
• Last activity: Aug 27, 2023, 07:21 AM
5
votes
1
answers
3489
views
Is it possible to set an alarm so it will only ring once?
I like to have an alarm go off hourly to help me stay focused, and I’ve set my phone up to play church bell sounds for each hour. This works well, except that the alarms will keep playing forever (or for a long time in any case) unless I stop it. I don’t want to have to do anything, especially pick...
I like to have an alarm go off hourly to help me stay focused, and I’ve set my phone up to play church bell sounds for each hour. This works well, except that the alarms will keep playing forever (or for a long time in any case) unless I stop it. I don’t want to have to do anything, especially pick up my phone. I just want it to play once and stop on its own. Is this possible?
Jen Rego
(51 rep)
Jul 13, 2023, 05:17 AM
• Last activity: Jul 13, 2023, 09:32 AM
2
votes
1
answers
5871
views
How to create a shortcut for a timer with different value and duration every time?
I would like to create a shortcut that will start a timer. A timer shouldn't be with a specific value and duration. Instead, I would like to set the value and duration every time. I tried to use the built-it shortcut action and set the value to the "Ask each time". When I launch the shortcut, it ask...
I would like to create a shortcut that will start a timer. A timer shouldn't be with a specific value and duration. Instead, I would like to set the value and duration every time.
I tried to use the built-it shortcut action and set the value to the "Ask each time". When I launch the shortcut, it asks for my input twice. But then it fails with the error message — "Please provide a message for the timer."
Could anyone please share a way how to create a shortcut for a timer with different duration each time?
Vitali Plagov
(121 rep)
Jun 25, 2023, 12:56 PM
• Last activity: Jul 4, 2023, 08:23 AM
27
votes
7
answers
84977
views
How do I get two status-bar clocks with different timezones?
I'd like to have one clock in my status bar set to the same timezone as my servers. I've found three applications that will allow me to add another clock: * [Day-O](http://shauninman.com/archive/2011/10/20/day_o_mac_menu_bar_clock) * [MenuCalendarClock](http://www.objectpark.net/mcc.html) * [iClock]...
I'd like to have one clock in my status bar set to the same timezone as my servers. I've found three applications that will allow me to add another clock:
* [Day-O](http://shauninman.com/archive/2011/10/20/day_o_mac_menu_bar_clock)
* [MenuCalendarClock](http://www.objectpark.net/mcc.html)
* [iClock](http://plumamazing.com/mac/iclock)
but they all use the system time (which I'd like to keep as-is). Are there any applications that allow timezone-munging inside the app, or will I need to write this myself?
Xiong Chiamiov
(425 rep)
Aug 6, 2012, 09:29 PM
• Last activity: May 24, 2023, 10:34 AM
11
votes
4
answers
90141
views
Display seconds in addition to hours and minutes on the Clock
How would I go about getting the clock on my iPhone to display the seconds beside the minutes? I have looked at *Settings → General → Date & Time*, but it only allows me to choose a Time Zone, Set the clock automatically or toggle 24-Hour Time. Is there anything I can do to cause the clock...
How would I go about getting the clock on my iPhone to display the seconds beside the minutes?
I have looked at *Settings → General → Date & Time*, but it only allows me to choose a Time Zone, Set the clock automatically or toggle 24-Hour Time.
Is there anything I can do to cause the clock to display seconds in addition to minutes and hours?
user40661
Aug 19, 2013, 11:13 AM
• Last activity: Apr 9, 2023, 10:31 PM
0
votes
1
answers
592
views
How to put the timer at the top of the screen?
I am looking to show the timer going down (not the clock symbol) at the top of my screen (somewhere in the space in red). [![enter image description here][1]][1] I do not know if this is possible, but if it is, how? [1]: https://i.sstatic.net/gVl33.jpg
I am looking to show the timer going down (not the clock symbol) at the top of my screen (somewhere in the space in red).
I do not know if this is possible, but if it is, how?
I do not know if this is possible, but if it is, how?
Thinkr
(4062 rep)
Mar 12, 2023, 09:39 AM
• Last activity: Mar 12, 2023, 09:52 AM
4
votes
3
answers
8957
views
How to disable vibration for Timer alerts?
In `iOS Settings / Notifications`, I can control whether alerts use vibration or sound or vibration-and-sound for Calendar, FaceTime, Mail, Messages, Phone, and Reminders apps. In `Clock App / Alarm / Edit or Add Alarm / Sound`, I control whether alarm-clock alerts use vibration or sound or vibratio...
In
iOS Settings / Notifications, I can control whether alerts use vibration or sound or vibration-and-sound for Calendar, FaceTime, Mail, Messages, Phone, and Reminders apps.
In Clock App / Alarm / Edit or Add Alarm / Sound, I control whether alarm-clock alerts use vibration or sound or vibration-and-sound.
But I can't seem to have timer alerts (from Clock App / Timer) that are sound-only (no vibrate), without killing vibration for all apps.
Or am I mistaken?
5260452
(2188 rep)
May 4, 2016, 03:41 AM
• Last activity: Feb 17, 2023, 02:56 AM
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