Wall Clock Care: Changing the Time, Swapping Batteries, and Fixing a Clock That Stops

Twice a year, every clock in the house without a radio signal or an internet connection has to be set by hand. The UK and the European Union turn their clocks back on Sunday, October 25, and the United States follows on Sunday, November 1. Knowing how to change the time on a wall clock properly takes about a minute, and it is also the moment to check the battery, the hands and the hanging, which is when most clock problems come to light.

To change the time on a wall clock, lift it off the wall, find the small setting knob on the back of the quartz movement, and turn that knob until the hands show the right time. Never push the hands themselves. If the knob will not turn backward, go forward eleven hours instead of back one, then rehang the clock and check that it is level.

When the Clocks Change This Autumn

Daylight saving dates are set by governments, and they are not the same everywhere. For 2026, the official sources agree on the following. GOV.UK’s clock-change page gives October 25 for the UK, when clocks go back one hour at 2 a.m. to Greenwich Mean Time. The European Commission’s summertime page explains that EU member states switch back to standard time on the last Sunday of October, which falls on the same date. In the US, NIST’s daylight saving time page lists November 1 at 2 a.m. local time as the end of daylight saving time.

For readers in New Zealand and south-eastern Australia, the spring change has already happened. Any wall clock still showing standard time is an hour behind, and the method below works in either direction.

How to Change the Time on a Quartz Wall Clock

Almost every modern battery wall clock runs on a quartz movement: a small plastic box on the back of the dial that holds the battery, the gears and a setting knob. The hands sit on a shaft that comes through the dial from that box. Setting the time is about turning the gears through the knob, so that the hour, minute and second hands stay in step.

1. Take the clock off the wall. Setting a clock in place means reaching behind it at an angle, and it is easy to knock it off its hook or turn the knob the wrong way. Lay it face down on a towel.
2. Find the setting knob. It is a small ridged wheel or disc on the back of the movement, usually beside or below the battery compartment. Some movements have an arrow showing the direction to turn.
3. Turn the knob slowly. Turn the clock over now and then to check progress. When the minute hand reaches 12, the hour hand should point exactly at an hour; if it sits noticeably off, it has slipped on its shaft, which is covered further down.
4. Set the minute exactly. For accuracy, take the battery out as the second hand reaches 12, set the hour and minute to a minute ahead of the real time, and put the battery back as that minute arrives.
5. Rehang and level it. Hang the clock on its nail or hook and check that 12 sits straight above 6.

The one thing never to do is push or pull the hands directly. The hands are press-fitted onto the shaft, and forcing them either bends them, which later makes them catch on each other, or slips the hour hand on its shaft, so the clock runs perfectly but shows the wrong hour.

Going Back an Hour Without Forcing the Movement

Autumn is the change that causes trouble, because it means going backward. Many quartz movements let the knob turn either way. Some are built to go forward only, and on those the knob stiffens or clicks when turned backward. Forcing it can damage the small plastic gears.

The simple answer is arithmetic. Going back one hour gives the same result as going forward eleven. It takes longer to turn, but it is always safe. If the knob turns easily both ways, going back is fine.

Clocks with a silent sweep movement, where the second hand glides rather than ticks, are set in exactly the same way. The only difference is that there is no tick to tell you the movement is running once you have finished, so watch the second hand for a full turn before hanging the clock back up. How those two types of movement differ is explained in our guide to silent sweep versus ticking movements.

None of the three Warm Shelf clocks in this article describe radio control or automatic time-setting in their listings, so they all need setting by hand twice a year, like most quartz wall clocks.

Swapping the Battery the Right Way

The time change is a sensible moment to put in a fresh battery, because a clock that has just been set is about to be left alone for months. Most quartz wall clocks take a single AA cell. The Nordic wood wall clock and the wood lotus wall clock each take one AA battery, which is not included. The Nordic clock’s listing says to replace the battery when the timekeeping slows, and its maker recommends a regular zinc-carbon cell rather than alkaline. The listing for the square brushed metal wall clock does not state which battery it takes.

• Use a fresh, non-rechargeable cell of the type the maker recommends. Standard AA alkaline and zinc-carbon batteries are 1.5 volts. Rechargeable AA cells run at about 1.2 volts, and some clock movements run slowly or stop on them.
• Check the direction. The flat end goes against the spring. A battery put in backward simply will not run the clock.
• Look at the contacts. White or green crust on the contacts means a battery has leaked. Remove it, wipe the contacts with a dry cotton swab, and check the clock runs before rehanging it.
• Do not leave a dead battery in place. Old batteries are the ones most likely to leak, so a clock that is going into storage should go without its battery.

Silent sweep movements move the second hand continuously, and they are generally reported to use more power than ticking movements, so they tend to need batteries more often. If a clock keeps running slow a few months after a battery change, that is the usual reason. The wider trade-offs between battery and plug-in clocks are covered in battery-operated vs. plug-in wall clocks.

All three clocks here are sold as quiet clocks: the two wood clocks have non-ticking movements, and the metal clock’s maker describes it as silent. The Nordic wood clock has a non-ticking quartz movement and a dark walnut-look wood-grain veneer on MDF, with glow-in-the-dark numerals and no glass cover. The 30 cm (12 in) clock, 29.7 cm (11.7 in) across, costs $83.99–$87.99 depending on the dial style.

Why a Wall Clock Stops or Loses Time

A quartz clock is a simple machine, and when it stops, the cause is almost always one of a short list. Work through them in order, cheapest first.

1. A weak battery. The first sign is often not a stop but a slowdown: the clock loses a few minutes a week, or the second hand stalls between 7 and 9, where it has to climb against gravity, and then recovers. A fresh battery fixes both.
2. Hands touching. If the second hand catches the minute hand, or the minute hand rubs the hour hand, the movement stalls at the same point every hour. See the next section.
3. Hands touching the glass. On a clock with a glass face, a hand bent slightly forward can rub the inside of the glass. Listen for a faint scrape and look side-on.
4. A slipped hour hand. The clock runs, but always shows the wrong hour. The hour hand has turned on its shaft, usually after someone pushed it.
5. Cold or damp. Batteries give less power in the cold, and damp can corrode the contacts. A clock on an outside wall or in a steamy room may stop more often.
6. A worn movement. If a fresh battery and free-moving hands do not fix it, the movement may simply have reached the end of its life.

Hanging a clock crooked does not stop a quartz movement, which runs at any angle. Levelness matters for pendulum clocks, which need to swing evenly to keep going. On a quartz clock, a crooked hang is a matter of looks, though a clock that hangs tilted against the wall can end up with its setting knob or battery cover rubbing the wall.

Hands That Touch, Slip or Stick

Most hand problems can be fixed at home with patience and clean fingers.

• Hands catching each other. Look at the clock from the side. The three hands should sit on separate levels with a small gap between each. If two touch, press the lower one very gently toward the dial at its tip, a fraction of a millimeter at a time, then turn the setting knob through a full hour to check they pass cleanly.
• An hour hand pointing to the wrong hour. Turn the knob until the minute hand is exactly on 12. Then ease the hour hand around on its shaft until it points exactly at an hour. It is a push-fit, so it moves with firm, even pressure near the center, not at the tip.
• A loose minute hand. Many movements hold the minute hand with a small nut or cap on the end of the shaft. If it has worked loose, the minute hand slips. Tighten it by hand only.
• A second hand that stops at the same spot. If the battery is fresh, check whether the hand is out of balance or rubbing something at that position.

If a hand breaks or the movement fails, it can be replaced, but it is worth checking with the seller first. A replacement movement has to match the shaft length to the thickness of the dial and the hand fittings to the shaft, and the wrong one will not fit.

Hanging, Heat and Humidity

Where a clock hangs affects how it runs and how it lasts. The Nordic wood clock’s listing asks for it to be kept away from heat sources and damp rooms. The lotus clock’s listing asks for it to be kept out of prolonged direct sunlight and away from steam or damp. Those cautions apply to most clocks with a wood face.

• Above radiators and fireplaces. Rising warm air dries wood, can warp a thin face, and shortens battery life. Hang a wooden clock to the side, not directly above.
• Kitchens and bathrooms. Steam and splashes suit metal and glass better than raw wood. The square metal clock’s listing suggests it for kitchens.
• Outside walls. In winter, an uninsulated outside wall can be noticeably colder than the room, which does batteries no favors.
• Direct sun. Strong sun fades wood and printed dials over time and warms the movement. A wall that gets afternoon sun is better for a metal clock than a wooden one.

Use a proper picture hook or a screw into a wall plug rather than a bare nail in plaster, and make sure the hook sits fully in the hanger slot on the back. A clock that slips off its hook is an easy way to break a glass face. For the right height and position in the busiest room for clocks, see our guide to wall clock placement in the kitchen.

Cleaning a Wall Clock by Material

Take the clock down to clean it, for the same reason as when setting it: it is easier to do carefully on a table. Never spray cleaner directly onto a clock, because liquid can run through the center hole into the movement. Apply it to the cloth instead, and only if the material allows it.

The lotus wall clock ($49.99) is cut from wood in an open-petal shape about 30 × 30 cm (11.8 × 11.8 in). Its listing is specific: dust it gently with a soft, dry cloth and avoid damp cloths and cleaning sprays, which can mark the wood. The cut-out petals collect dust, so a soft, dry brush reaches between them better than a cloth.

The lotus clock’s silent, non-ticking movement suits a bedroom wall. Its open petals are the part that needs regular dusting, and it should stay dry.

The Nordic wood clock’s listing is just as simple: dust the face with a soft, dry cloth. It is MDF with a wood-grain veneer and has no glass cover, so there is no glass to clean. The square brushed metal wall clock ($141.99) has a brushed silver metal face, which the maker lists as stainless steel, with slim black hands and no numerals or hour markers. Its listing recommends wiping it with a soft, dry microfiber cloth. Wipe in the direction of the brushing, never across it.

The brushed finish on the square metal clock hides light fingerprints better than polished metal, but it still shows them if handled, so hold it by the edges when setting the time. More clocks in wood, metal and glass are in the wall clocks and mirrors collection.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you change the time on a battery wall clock?

Take the clock off the wall and find the small plastic setting knob on the back of the movement, next to the battery compartment. Turn the knob, not the hands, until the time is right, then rehang the clock. Pushing the hands directly can bend them or strip the gears inside.

Can you turn a wall clock backward to change the time?

Many quartz movements allow the knob to turn in either direction, but some are designed to go forward only. If the knob resists when turned backward, do not force it. Going back one hour is the same as going forward eleven, so turn it forward instead.

When do the clocks go back in 2026?

In the UK and the European Union, clocks go back on Sunday, October 25, 2026. In the United States they go back at 2 a.m. on Sunday, November 1, 2026, and most of Canada changes the same day, although British Columbia now stays on year-round time.

Why does my wall clock keep stopping?

The most common cause is a weak battery, even a fairly new one. After that, check whether the hands are touching each other or the glass, whether the hour hand has slipped on its shaft, and whether the battery contacts are clean. If a fresh battery and free hands do not fix it, the movement itself may be worn out.

What battery does a wall clock take?

Most quartz wall clocks take a single AA battery, and both wood clocks in this guide do, with the battery not included. A fresh non-rechargeable cell is the usual choice, because rechargeable AA cells run at a lower voltage that some movements do not handle well, and the Nordic wood clock’s maker recommends zinc-carbon rather than alkaline. Always check the listing or the back of the movement.

How do you clean a wooden wall clock?

Dust the frame and face with a soft, dry cloth, and wipe the glass with a microfiber cloth. Avoid spraying any cleaner onto the clock, because liquid can seep into the movement or mark the wood. Follow the care note for the specific clock, since some wood finishes should not be wiped with a damp cloth at all.

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