Why Does My Radio Clock Keep Changing? Causes & Fixes ExplainedUpdated 4 months ago

Written by: Julia N. - Big Jeff Audio CSR 

Why Does the Time Keep Changing on My Radio?

Have you ever been driving and all of a sudden the time on your radio randomly changes to some other time zone? Or have you ever adjusted your clock and bam, it changes to another time?

Head units have a Radio Data System, also known as RDS. This allows FM radio stations to send information to your unit, like station names, traffic updates, programs, and more.

Why Does This Happen?

Typically, RDS is in place so when you cross time zones, your clock will adjust automatically. But that’s not always the case.

In some situations, signals can be picked up from your Radio Data System via towers or other broadcasters, which might change your clock to a completely different time zone than the one you’re currently in. Sounds kind of crazy, right?

How to Fix It

If you find yourself having this issue, try turning your RDS setting to OFF. On most units, you can find this setting by locating your Menu, then navigating to Radio, and within there, you should find RDS. Keep in mind, not all units are the same, so if you can’t find it, refer to your user manual or consider calling the manufacturer’s tech support line for assistance.