2

I've noticed on an old iPhone 3G I keep around for testing that the Set Automatically option in Date & Time doesn't work. This iPhone has a SIM card, but it has been deactivated by the carrier after upgrading to a newer model which uses a different size card.

I assumed it would work using Network Time Protocol (NTP), which means it should be able to sync the time over WiFi. But I haven't find any documentation on this.

I keep this iPhone around for testing, so it only comes out of the drawer every few months. Keeping it fully charged isn't a realistic option.

This phone is running the final version available for it, iOS 4.2.1 (8C148).

My question, then: Can I make this work? Failing that, is there documentation available that says once and for all that it can't be made to work?

Improve this question

2 Answers 2

Reset to default
2

"Set Automatically" takes the time from the cellular network. If you remove the SIM card (or just keep the phone in airplane mode with Wi-Fi enable), the time will never get updated.

From the iPhone User Guide (available in iTunes):

If iPhone is set to update the time automatically, it gets the correct time over the cellular network and updates it for the time zone you’re in.

Some carriers don’t support network time in all areas. If you’re traveling, iPhone may not be able to automatically set the local time.

Improve this answer
1
  • Perfect. Thank you. For posterity: I checked and I was wrong. I actually do have a SIM card, it just is an old one. Same problem.
    – Steven Fisher
    Jul 9, 2012 at 17:32
-1

You can also turn off 3G Cellular and set manually.

Improve this answer

You must log in to answer this question.

Not the answer you're looking for? Browse other questions tagged .