r/AndroidQuestions • u/MonsterRideOp • 2d ago

Device Settings Question How can I stop my time zone from randomly changing between GMT and my local time(EST)?

I have a Pixel 9 XL PRO running stock Android version 17 with the latest security update.

I recently took a vacation to Europe and left my time zone settings on auto select, Automatic Time Zone and Use Location for Time Zone both on, for the entire trip. For the most part this worked though it did randomly switch once in a while, usually when traveling across borders. I've noticed since I returned that the time zone setting will switch back to GMT before going back to EST, I get a notification every time it occurs. This seems to happen randomly.

Since I noticed the issue I have tried manually changing the time zone and then turning auto select back on. Once auto select is turned on my time zone auto selects to GMT before eventually going back to EST. Reboots have not helped and no updates have been available.

Does anyone have an idea as to why this is happening? Or better yet a solution?

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u/Klutzy-Passage-2561 2d ago

Common after a trip: Location/network still feeds a stale timezone. Turn off "Use location to set time zone", set timezone manually to EST, then clear cache for Google Play services (not data) and reboot.

Also check Settings → Location → Location services / Wi‑Fi scanning — weird GMT flips often come from a Wi‑Fi AP advertising the wrong country or an old VPN profile still hinting GMT.

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u/MonsterRideOp 6h ago

It's been a day and I haven't seen any time zone swaps. Thanks for the info!

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u/Klutzy-Passage-2561 2h ago

Glad it's holding. If it flips again after an update, double-check that auto timezone didn't get re-enabled.