Time Zones and Notifications

A Family Account Shares Notification Time

In the Family Tools app, all notifications are set to one specified time zone for all users in a family account. 

Since a notification may need to alert multiple users at the same time, the set time cannot vary for each user, even if they are in different time zones.

For example, User A and User B share a calendar event with a notification set for 7:00. However, if User B travels to a different time zone, their local 7:00 time no longer aligns. As a result, the shared notification will still alert both users at the same moment, based on the time zone set for the family.

Why Does a Family Account Share a Time Zone for Notifications?

Family members need to share a time zone because the app’s shared notifications are stored in a central location.

How Do I Adjust My Family’s Time Zone?

When you move from one time zone to another, the app will automatically ask you if you would like to adjust your notification time for the family to the new time zone. This prompt will appear on the Dashboard, where you can accept, ignore, or reject it. When you accept the time change, the app will adjust all the notification dates and times found in the app for all users on the family account.

If you have dismissed the prompt, you can also find the option in the app’s Settings. Go to the Family tab, then tap on “Change family’s time zone to current time zone” at the bottom. (Note: This will only appear if the family’s notification time and your device’s time are set to different time zones.)

When Should I Change the Family Notification Time?

We recommend updating your notification time when the entire family moves to a new time zone, such as during a vacation or relocation. Adjusting notifications to the new time zone ensures they will trigger at the correct local time, based on the time you set previously.

When Should I Not Update Notification Time?

In situations where only one family member is in a different time zone, it’s usually best not to update it because it would change notifications for everyone else. Examples include work trips, deployment, or when one family member has moved ahead of the rest. When your family members are in different time zones, we recommend that you use the time zone where most members of the family are currently located.

Updated on September 23, 2024

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