Clocks Fall Back Soon: Here's What Changes and What to Check

Daylight saving time is ending soon, which means an extra hour of sleep for many people and earlier sunsets for everyone. The exact date depends on where you live. In the European Union and the United Kingdom, clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, 2026, when 3:00 a.m. summer time becomes 2:00 a.m. In most of the United States, the switch happens on Sunday, November 1, when 2:00 a.m. becomes 1:00 a.m.

Phones, laptops, and most connected devices usually adjust on their own once they receive time information from the network or from their operating system's time zone settings, so for many people the change will go unnoticed. The devices that tend to need attention are the ones that keep their own clock: ovens, microwaves, car dashboards, wall clocks, and older alarm clocks. Smart home gadgets and some wearables are worth a quick check too, especially if they have been offline or have not updated recently.

Not every place changes its clocks. Most of Asia, much of Africa, and Hawaii stay on standard time all year. Within the US, Arizona does not observe daylight saving time, although the Navajo Nation does. Anyone scheduling meetings or travel across time zones should double-check bookings and calendar invites around the change, since a one-hour shift can throw off plans that were made before it.

The clock change is also a common reminder to check smoke and carbon monoxide detector batteries, a tip many fire safety groups repeat each time the clocks move. It takes only a few minutes, and it is one of the easier safety habits to keep.