How to Change the WordPress Timezone

If you run a WordPress site, you might like to display the correct time and date according to your region. This is especially important if you schedule posts ahead of time. However, this means that you’ll need to change the WordPress timezone.

Fortunately, it’s very easy to change your timezone settings. Additionally, you can adjust the date format, select a new time format, and choose the day that begins the week in your region. 😎

In this post, we’ll take a closer look at the timezone 🗺️ settings and discuss whether you should change it. Then, we’ll guide you through the steps to alter the timezone. Let’s get started!

📚 Table of contents:

• What are WordPress timezone settings?
• Should you change the WordPress timezone?
• How to change your WordPress timezone

What are WordPress timezone settings?

When you get set up with WordPress, there is a time and date displayed on your website. WordPress uses UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) as the default timezone.

However, you might want to change the timezone to match the one on your computer. For example, if you post content ahead of time, it’s important to change the timezone so that your posts are published when you expect.

Should you change the timezone?

You don’t have to change the timezone, but for some websites, it’s a good idea. For example, if you run a blog, the timezone will affect publication times and revisions stamps. It can also have an influence on other aspects of the website, such as scheduled posts, automated tasks, and third-party plugin functionality.

What’s more, if you schedule posts ahead of time, you might need to change the timezone so that the content is published at the time you expect. This is especially important if you automate other tasks associated with your blog.

For example, you might use a social media auto-poster to publish social posts that promote your blog. However, if the timezone is incorrect, your social posts may get published without the content.

It’s also good to consider changing the timezone if you use a WordPress plugin that has its own configured timer. For instance, you might use a countdown timer or a calendar plugin. If the WordPress timezone and the plugin’s time are different, your visitors may be confused.

How to change your WordPress timezone

Now that you know why you should change the timezone, let’s take a look at how to do this on your site. First off, navigate to Settings → General in your WordPress dashboard. Then, scroll down to the Timezone section:

Now, use the dropdown menu to select the timezone you want to use. Timezones are organized by region such as Europe and Asia. So, simply select the city that’s nearest to you.

If there are no cities near you, it’s best to opt for the UTC according to your region. Next, scroll to the Date Format section.

👉 Here, you’ll find five different ways to display the date on your site:

Make your selection. Then, move on to the Time Format. Here, you can choose the exact way you want the time to appear. Or, you can configure a custom option.

Lastly, use the Week Starts On dropdown menu to select the day that begins the week in your region. Then, click on Save Changes and preview your screen on the frontend to see the results. If you don’t see any changes on your site – clear the cache on your website.

Conclusion 🧐

That way, you can ensure consistency across your site. Plus, it means that your posts will publish at the time you expect. Furthermore, the importance of selecting the correct timezone is also to avoid confusion for visitors and to ensure accurate time and date display throughout the website.

Fortunately, you can change the WordPress timezone in the General Settings. Here, you can adjust the exact timezone according to your region. Plus, there is a possibility to change the way the time and date display across your site. Meanwhile, you can even define the day that begins the week in your area. 🗺️

Do you have any questions about how to change the WordPress timezone? Let us know in the comments below!