The first time you connect your iPod nano to iTunes, it will automatically be configured to the date, time, and time zone as your computer (Mac or PC). But, without needing access iTunes, you can customize these settings by changing the date, manually changing the time, updating your time zone (useful if you are traveling), display military time on your iPod (24-hour clock), and optionally displaying the clock in the title of all screens (by default, the time is only visible while you play a song, audiobook, etc.) This tutorial explains how to quickly and easily customize all your iPod nano's date and time settings.
- In this iPod nano tutorial:
- Change the date
- Change the time
- Update time zone
- Display military time (24-hour clock)
- Show time in title
Change the date on your iPod nano
To change the date on your iPod nano, start by going to your home screen (Main Menu), and from there:
- Scroll down and select Settings
- Click on the Date & Time settings
- Click on Date, the firs option
Your iPod nano will display a calendar with three fields: rotate your Click Wheel to change each of the date values, clockwise to increase the number, and counter clockwise to decrease it. Use the Left and Right buttons to navigate back and forth between Month, Day, and Year. To accept the new date you entered, and apply the date change to your iPod nano, click on the Center button until you get back to the Date & Time settings screen. You just change your iPod's date, in just a few clicks!
Change the time on your iPod nano
To manually change the time on your iPod nano, return if needed to the home screen (Main Menu), to access your iPod's settings.
- From the Main Menu, scroll down to Settings, and click on the Center button
- Scroll to and select the Date & Time settings
- Select Time, the second option listed
Your iPod nano displays a big clock icon, and three numeric fields: use the Left or Right buttons on your Click Wheel to change hours, minutes, or seconds. To apply the new time to your iPod, click on the Center button until you are brought back to the general Date & Time screen you came from. That's all it takes to change the clock's time on your iPod nano!
Change time zone on iPod nano
If you are traveling, you may want to change your iPod nano's time zone, to keep accurate track of the local time:
- Go to the Main Menu, on the home screen
- Scroll down to Settings, and click on the Center button
- Select the Date & Time settings
- Select Time Zone
Your iPod nano displays a world map, with at the bottom the name of a city that corresponds to your time zone: use your Click Wheel to "scroll" through all the time zones available on your iPod, until you (1) find the correct time zone, or (2) find the closest city to you in the proper time zone (since only major cities are listed). When you are done, and have found the best city / time zone combination, click on the Center button to return to the Date & Time settings. You are done, and your nano now displays the time zone of your choice.
Display military time (24-hour clock) on your iPod nano
By default, your iPod nano displays time in the 12-hour clock format (AM / PM), but it is possible to use the 24-hour time format as well, ("military time"). To make the clock show military time on your iPod, follow these steps:
- Go to the home screen (Main Menu), and go to Settings
- Scroll down and select the Date & Time options
- Scroll down to 24 Hour Clock, which by default read "24 Hour Clock - Off"
- Hit the Center button of the Click Wheel to toggle to "On" - your iPod now shows "24 Hour Clock - On"
Your iPod nano now shows military time (24-hour time format) in the clock; the clock is always visible while you play audio content, but the next option explains how to make the clock appear at the top of the screen (in the title) for all screens.
Show time in title (at the top of all screens)
To show the clock at the top of the screen (title bar), not just when you play audio content, but all the time, start by navigating back to the main menu (home screen) of your iPod nano to access your clock settings:
- Select Settings from the Main Menu
- Scroll down and select the "Date & Time" settings
- Scroll all the way to the bottom, to "Time in Title - Off" (the default)
- Click on this option with the Center button of your Click Wheel to toggle to "Time in Title - On"
You are done! Your iPod nano will from now show the time in all screens, not just the audio playback ones. The clock is visible when you are not scrolling through the menus; by default, your iPod nano shows the "parent category" in which you are.
For example, if you are scrolling through the options relating to date and time, your iPod will show "Date & Time" in the title, indicating that you are currently looking at the Date & Time settings; with the "Show clock in title" option now turned on, the time will be displayed whenever you are not scrolling inside menus!