How to Change the Time and Date on Business Phone Systems

Business Phone System Time Change Instructions by Brand

Reviewed and Updated: September 22, 2026

Use these instructions to change the time and date on Avaya, Comdial, NEC, Nortel, Mitel, Panasonic, Toshiba, Vodavi, and other business phone systems. Select your manufacturer below for model-specific directions.

Older PBX systems may not update automatically when daylight saving time begins or ends. In some installations, the telephone system and voicemail system use separate clocks, so both may need to be updated.

Before changing the clock: Confirm the PBX manufacturer, system model, and whether the displayed time is controlled by the main phone system, a separate voicemail server, or both. If the change affects after-hours routing, auto-attendant greetings, reports, or message timestamps, make a programming backup first where practical.

Choose Your Phone System Brand

Manufacturer Supported systems Time-change instructions
Avaya Partner, Magix, IP Office Avaya Partner and Magix
Avaya IP Office
Comdial / Vertical DSU, DXP, DX-80, DX-120 Comdial time-change instructions
NEC Electra, IPK, DSX NEC Electra and IPK
NEC DSX
AT&T / Lucent Legend AT&T/Lucent Legend time-change instructions
Inter-Tel Encore, Axxent, GXP Inter-Tel Encore, Axxent, and GXP time-change instructions
Iwatsu ADIX Iwatsu ADIX time-change instructions
Mitel SX-50, SX-200, SX-200ML, SX-200 EL, 200 ICP Mitel time-change instructions
Nortel Norstar, Meridian Nortel Norstar and Meridian time-change instructions
Panasonic KX series PBX systems Panasonic KX time-change instructions
Samsung OfficeServ, iDCS Samsung OfficeServ time-change instructions
Samsung iDCS time-change instructions
Siemens Hicom Siemens Hicom time-change instructions
Toshiba Strata, CTX Toshiba Strata and CTX time-change instructions
Vodavi Vodavi business phone systems Vodavi time-change instructions

Avaya Telephone Instruction

Here are quick easy-to-follow instructions to change the time on older legacy Avaya Partner and Magix PBX systems and the Avaya IP Office.

Avaya Partner & Magix Systems
Avaya IP Office Time Change Directions

Comdial Systems

These instructions to change the time are here for Comdial DSU, DXP, and Comdial/Vertical DX-120 and DX-80 PBX Systems.

Comdial Time Change Instructions

AT&T/Lucent Legend

Step by step instructions for changing the time on the Lucent (AT&T) Legend Phone systems.

Lucent Legend- changing date and time.

Intertel Encore, Axxent and GXP

Instructions for changing the time and date on Inter-Tel telephones including the Encore, Axxent and GXP systems.

Change Date & Time on Inter-Tel

Iwatsu

Here are the quick instructions for changing the time on Iwatsu Adix Telephones.

Change the time on the Iwatsu Adix

Mitel Systems

Fast instructions to change the time and date on Mitel SX-50, SX-200 and the SX-200ML & EL and 200 ICP systems.

Change Time on Mitel phone systems

Nortel Norstar and Meridian

Steps for the Nortel Norstar and Meridian systems to change the time and date.

Changing Time Instruction on Norstar

NEC Electra, IPK & DSX

Change Time on NEC DSX & DS
Change Time on NEC Electra and IPK

Panasonic KX Series

How to change Time on Panasonic KX Series PBXs

Samsung Systems

Change Time on Samsung OfficeServ Systems

Change Time on Samsung iDCS Phones

Siemens Hicom

Step by Step instructions to change the time for the Siemens Hicom business PBX with an optiPoint telephone picture.

Siemens Hicom Time Change Instructions

Toshiba Strata & CTX

Change Time on Toshiba Telephones

Vodavi Systems

Change Time on Vodavi Phones

Business Phone System Time Change FAQ

Why is the time wrong on every phone in my office?

When every phone shows the wrong time, the clock is usually controlled by the PBX or main phone system rather than by each individual telephone. Update the time in system programming using instructions for the exact manufacturer and model.

Do I need to change the time on voicemail too?

Possibly. Some legacy systems use a separate voicemail server or module with its own clock. After updating the PBX, place a test call and leave a test voicemail to confirm that greetings, message timestamps, and after-hours routing show the correct time.

Why does the time change affect after-hours call routing?

Many PBX systems use the internal clock for day, night, holiday, and auto-attendant schedules. An incorrect clock can send callers to the wrong greeting, operator, hunt group, or voicemail destination.

Should I restart the phone system after changing the time?

Usually no. Follow the exact procedure for the installed system and avoid restarting or initializing a production PBX unless the manufacturer documentation or a qualified telephone-system technician specifically calls for it.