Your iPhone Keeps Switching to Edmonton Time — Here’s the Fix

Some iPhone owners in BC are having their phones randomly switch time zones, such as jumping from Vancouver to Edmonton and then back again, sometimes within minutes.

The problem seems to have gotten worse after the iOS 26.4.2 update, and it’s hitting multiple iPhone models including the latest iPhone 17. iPhone in Canada readers have flagged the issue, with one noting it kept happening even after turning off their VPN.

Nobody knows exactly what’s causing it, but one theory points to BC’s switch to permanent Daylight Saving Time in March 2026. The province now stays on UTC-7 year-round, and some iOS systems may not have gotten the memo. A few Rogers and Telus users have also noticed it happening specifically on 5G Standalone towers, which could mean some network equipment is broadcasting outdated time zone data, though that’s not confirmed.

How to Fix the Switching Time Zone Issue on iPhone

There’s an easy fix for this issue, but it will disable the automatic time zone switching if you travel. On your iPhone, head to Settings > General > Date & Time, turn off “Set Automatically,” and manually set your time zone to Vancouver. That stops your phone from checking with cell towers for the time and should sort it out until Apple pushes a fix.

For longtime iPhone users, time zone glitches have become a frustrating rite of passage, echoing similar issues we’ve seen crop up repeatedly over the past decade and longer.