Ever notice your 2025 Subaru Forester’s clock drifting a few minutes off? It may be a minor detail, but in this SUV known for its smartness, something as simple as an off-sync clock can throw things off.
But if you don’t want to visit your dealership just to tweak your clock settings, you’re in the right place. In this guide, you’ll learn the quick steps on how to change clock in Subaru Forester. Because a vehicle this advanced deserves precision in every setting.
Also Read: 2025 Subaru Forester Colors Explained
Why Your Subaru Forester Clock Matters
Your dashboard clock may seem a small detail to ignore or even postpone its adjustment. But with the 2025 Subaru Forester being a connected SUV, this minor detail can affect your overall experience with each drive.
It Keeps You in Sync With Your Subaru Forester
If you’ve noticed, this particular Subaru model keeps track of more than just your mileage. With its 12.3-inch display (instrument or fully digital), you can get scheduled maintenance reminders, from tire rotations, inspection alerts, to oil changes.
Incorrect Subaru Forester clock settings would lead to unnecessary trips to the shop or worse, missed maintenance check appointments.
It Supports Accurate Navigation
Probably getting lost in the vast wilderness would scare you if missing important appointments didn’t. With the Subaru Forester relying on the STARLINK® navigation system, every second counts.
Incorrect settings can lead to delays in its GPS performance. Think inaccurate updates. Route estimates, real-time traffic pattern predictions, and time zone adjustments would be greatly affected if you didn’t adjust your clock setting in the first place.
It Keeps You On Track with Your Schedule
Apart from maintenance updates and real-time traffic info, you’ll also get reminders on important dates. Whether personal (dinner reservations) or work-related (client meetings), you wouldn’t want to miss any of them just because you’ve got your dashboard clock settings wrong.
With these three reasons, you’ll see how indispensable a correctly set Subaru Forester clock is to every driver. But don’t worry if they’re not set to your preferred time settings yet. You can always adjust it with a few taps.
How to Change Clock in Subaru Forester: Step-by-Step Guide
Your 2025 Subaru Forester may include a digital touchscreen for its infotainment system. If it does, then you’re working with Subaru’s STARLINK® Multimedia System. It’s the digital display found in the center of the dashboard.
But aside from controlling the music or navigating the road, you can also use this for something as simple as changing the clock on your Forester. And, with its sleek digital screen, adjusting the time takes only less than a minute.
1. Turn the Subaru Forester On
To do this, you can either turn the key to “ON” or “Accessory” mode or press the ignition button. You don’t have to fully turn on the engine, as you only need enough power to activate the display screen and the system.
But if the whole system is already on and you just need to adjust the clock, skip this step.
2. Tap “Time” on the screen.
You’ll find this at the top center part of the digital screen, to the right of the temperature display.
Once you tap it, the “Clock” window or menu opens.
3. Press the “Time Setting” Option.
This is the first option in the “Clock” menu.
4. Choose between “Auto” and “Manual.”
By default, your 2025 Subaru Forester’s time settings are set to “Auto.” This means that the SUV’s system automatically updates the clock based on the current location detected from its built-in GPS. This is the best setting for frequent travellers as the time adjusts with the change in time zones.
However, if you prefer to enter the time yourself, press “Manual” instead.
5. Tap on the “Up” and “Down” buttons.
You’ll find them on top of the “Date” and “Time” sections. Tap on these buttons to move the numbers up or down according to the date and time you want to appear on the screen.
You can even choose between “AM” or “PM” for the time with these buttons.
6. Exit the “Time” Menu.
Once you’re done, press the “Back” button on the upper left of the digital screen. It will take you back to the main “Time” menu.
You can also change the time format. Just head to the “Clock Format” section and press either “12H” (AM/PM format) or “24H” (for those who prefer military time format).
You can also set the “Daylight Saving Time” option to “Auto” so you don’t have to manually turn this on in spring and off in the fall in areas observing DST.
7. Tap the red “X” button.
Once you’re done adjusting the clock in your Subaru Forester 2025, press the “X” button. The time settings you just made are automatically saved.
You can now see the corrected time displayed on the clock of your infotainment screen.
Syncing the Clock with GPS or Automatic Time Zones
Frequent travellers should have a clock in their 2025 Subaru Forester that tells the time correctly, including the time zones. For the newer Foresters, this isn’t an issue as the time automatically updates through GPS. Once enabled, the clock will adjust based on your location.
On the “Clock” menu, the “Time Zone” is set to “Auto.”
But, on the off chance that this feature isn’t activated yet, do the following:
1. Tap the “Time” on the screen.
2. Press on the “Time Zone” option.
This is the second option in the “Clock” menu after “Time Setting.”
3. Select “Auto” or “GPS Sync.”
This means that the time on your infotainment screen updates based on the time of the detected location.
But if you notice that it doesn’t sync automatically, especially when you’re in low-signal areas, switch to “Manual” mode temporarily.
Clock Issues in the 2025 Subaru Forester
Changing the clock in the 2025 Subaru Forester is simple and straightforward. But if this feature doesn’t work well despite following the correct steps, you can do simple troubleshooting first.
Here are some of the most common clock-related problems and how to resolve them:
Time Won’t Save After Setting It
On previous models of the Subaru Forester, you have to confirm the changes you’ve made to the clock settings for it to take effect. If you forgot to do this final step, the clock reverts to the old time setting used.
To fix it, make sure you check for a confirmation button before you exit the menu. In some models, there is a separate “Save Changes” option available. Make sure to press it.
Once you have saved the new clock settings, restart your Forester to confirm that the time has been saved properly.
Clock Resetting Every Time After You Turn Off The SUV
The clock resetting every after you turn off the Forester means the infotainment system isn’t receiving consistent power to retain custom settings. It could be that the battery is aging, there’s a problem with the internal memory, or with the infotainment system itself.
Before you decide to have it checked at the shop, you can try the following:
- Check other Forester settings (radio presets) if they’re also resetting. If they do, then it’s a power issue.
- Let the technician do a battery check.
- Have the technician run a diagnostic test on the Forester’s electronics if the battery is in good condition.
Unresponsive Touchscreen
The Subaru Forester’s digital screen works similarly to a smartphone or tablet. With just a few taps, you can access different apps or functionalities. But the STARLINK® infotainment system occasionally freezes or becomes unresponsive, preventing you from accessing the “Settings” menu.
If this happens, do the following:
- Turn the Forester off, making sure to open the driver’s door. This will fully reset the SUV.
- Restart the engine.
- Hold the volume knob for 10 seconds. The volume knob usually doubles as a reset button in some models.
- Make sure the system is up-to-date. Outdated software can cause glitches to happen.
If you have tried all these steps and the screen is still not working, visit Rimrock Subaru.
Wrong Time Zone (GPS Sync Enabled)
Ideally, once the clock has been set to “Auto,” the time will update automatically through GPS. This means that the time shown on the screen depends on your current location’s time zone.
But in case the signal isn’t strong in the area you’re travelling to, the time won’t update properly. Do the following if this happens:
- Give the Forester’s system a few minutes to refresh when it crosses a state line or when there’s a daylight saving change.
- Move to an open area or restart the system to make sure the GPS signal stays strong.
- Manually override the time zone in the “Clock” settings. Do this either by looking for the “Time Zone” option or by switching temporarily to “Manual Mode.”
After all these you’ve done and still your clock isn’t showing the correct time, it might mean deeper electrical or software issues. This time, it’s best you leave it to the experts and have the Rimrock Subaru team help you get your Forester back in sync.
Get Your 2025 Subaru Forester’s Clock Synced Like A Pro
Setting your 2025 Subaru Forester’s clock is a minor yet vital adjustment that helps you stay in control of your drive. From planning your trips to safety alerts, something as simple as an accurate clock plays a role in keeping your every drive stress-free and smooth.
If you’re ready to experience this SUV’s smart features, visit Rimrock Subaru in Billings today and reserve your Forester for a test drive. Let our expert team guide you through every smart feature this SUV offers, from bold performance to intuitive tech.
