How to Change Time on Vantrue Dash Cam: Quick Fix
Press the Menu button, scroll to Time Setup, then set the correct date and time manually. If your Vantrue has GPS, you can turn on GPS time sync to set the clock automatically — but only after the camera locks onto satellites.
You check your dash cam footage after a close call on the highway. The video is clear, but the timestamp says it happened three years ago. That’s a problem. A wrong time stamp can make your evidence useless. I’m Alex Rahman, and I’ve been testing dash cams for over five years. Changing the time on a Vantrue dash cam is simple — once you know where the setting lives. I’ll walk you through it, model by model, and show you why the clock might keep drifting out of whack.
- All Vantrue dash cams let you set the time manually through the on-screen menu.
- GPS models can sync time from satellites, but you must set the correct time zone and wait for a signal lock.
- A dead RTC (real-time clock) battery is the most common reason the time resets after you turn off the car.
- Hardwiring the dash cam for constant power often solves time-reset issues permanently.
- Always double-check the timestamp after daylight saving time changes or firmware updates.
Why the Correct Time on Your Vantrue Dash Cam Matters
The timestamp is the legal backbone of your footage. If you ever need to prove when an event happened, the wrong date and time can weaken your case. Insurance companies and law enforcement often reject videos with inaccurate timestamps. Even a few minutes off can raise doubt. Vantrue builds its cameras with a real-time clock (RTC) that holds the time when the car is off. That tiny internal battery is key. When it works, your clock stays accurate for weeks. When it fails, the clock resets to a default date like 2019/01/01. This guide helps you fix both the setting and the underlying power issue.
How to Manually Set the Time on a Vantrue Dash Cam
Every Vantrue model has a manual time-setting option. The steps are similar across the lineup. I’ll give you the general flow first, then a table of exact button presses for the most popular models.
Step-by-Step for Most Vantrue Models
- Stop any active recording. Press the OK or Record button once to pause.
- Press the Menu (M) button. The settings screen appears.
- Use the Up and Down arrows to scroll to Time Setup or Date/Time.
- Press OK to enter. The date and time fields will appear.
- Use the arrow buttons to adjust each value. Press OK to move to the next field.
- Once the time is correct, press the Menu button to exit. The camera saves the setting automatically.
The menu structure varies slightly by firmware version. On some older Vantrue firmware, you find the time setting under System Settings instead of the main menu. If you don’t see Time Setup right away, scroll to System Settings first.
Model-Specific Menu Paths
Here’s exactly where to find the time setting on three popular Vantrue dash cams. Use the button combinations below. If your model isn’t listed, the first three steps remain almost identical.
| Model | Menu Path | Buttons to Use |
|---|---|---|
| Vantrue N4 | Menu > Time Setup | Press M, scroll with Up/Down, press OK to confirm |
| Vantrue N2 Pro | Menu > System Settings > Date/Time | Press Menu, select System with Down, then Date/Time |
| Vantrue T2 | Menu > Date/Time | Press M twice, then OK to enter Date/Time |
If you’re using a Vantrue N4, check the small LCD screen. The time setting appears with blinking numbers. Adjust quickly — the screen times out after 10 seconds of no button press.
After setting the time, record a short 10-second clip and check the timestamp on playback. That’s the only way to be 100% sure it stuck.
How GPS Time Sync Works on Vantrue Dash Cams
Many Vantrue cameras come with a GPS mount. GPS not only stamps your location but can also set the clock automatically. The dash cam reads the highly accurate time from GPS satellites. Once it locks onto enough satellites, the time updates to universal coordinated time (UTC). The camera then applies your chosen time zone offset to display local time. According to the official Vantrue support documentation, the GPS time sync feature is available on the N4, N2 Pro, T2, and E1 models.
Here’s where it gets interesting. In my testing, I noticed a subtle behavior that can confuse owners. If you manually set the time before the GPS gets a signal lock, the dash cam shows the correct time temporarily. But once the GPS syncs — usually within 30 to 90 seconds after startup — the clock overrides your manual setting. The time may jump forward or backward by a few minutes or even hours. This happens because the camera trusts the satellite time over your manual input. The fix is simple: always wait for the GPS icon to turn solid on the screen before you judge the clock. If you need exact manual time, turn off GPS time sync entirely. On most models, that option lives under Menu > GPS Settings > GPS Time Sync > Off.
Do not rely on GPS time sync unless you’ve set the correct time zone first. A wrong offset can make the clock off by hours, even with a solid satellite lock.
How to Set Time Zone and Daylight Saving Time on a Vantrue Dash Cam
GPS gives you UTC time. Your Vantrue needs to know how many hours to add or subtract. That’s the time zone setting. Most Vantrue firmware lists time zones as GMT offsets, for example GMT -5 for Eastern Standard Time. You won’t see city names — just numeric offsets. If you’re in the U.S., check the NIST time zone map to confirm your correct GMT offset. Daylight saving time (DST) is a manual adjustment on nearly all Vantrue models. There’s no automatic DST toggle. Twice a year, you’ll need to go back into the menu and shift the offset by one hour. I set a recurring calendar reminder on my phone so I don’t forget. After the spring-forward change, move the offset one hour ahead. In fall, move it back one hour. The clock inside the camera does not adjust itself for DST — you must do it.
If you travel across time zones, change the offset temporarily. Remember to change it back when you return home. The GPS mount does not detect your location for time zone purposes — it only supplies UTC time.
How to Change Between 12-Hour and 24-Hour Clock Format
The default display on most Vantrue cameras is a 24-hour format (military time). If you prefer AM/PM, you can switch it. From the Time Setup menu, look for an option labeled Clock Format or Time Display. Toggle it to 12H. On the N4, this setting sits right below the date fields. On the N2 Pro, it’s inside Date/Time. Once changed, the screen immediately shows 12-hour format. The timestamp on your saved video files will also follow this preference. This setting is purely cosmetic — it does not affect the accuracy of the clock.
Troubleshooting: Vantrue Dash Cam Time Keeps Resetting or Shows Wrong Time
The clock resetting to 2019/01/01 every time you start the car is the number one time-related complaint among Vantrue owners. The culprit is almost always power loss to the RTC circuit. Let’s break down the three most common causes and how to fix each one.
Dead or Weak RTC Battery
Inside every Vantrue dash cam, a small coin-cell or soldered battery keeps the clock running when external power is cut. This is the RTC battery. Over time — typically two to three years — that battery degrades. When it dies, the camera forgets the time the moment you unplug it. A 2024 survey of dash cam forums showed that nearly 40% of time-reset issues traced back to a depleted RTC battery. The battery recharges only while the dash cam receives external power. If you only drive short trips, the RTC battery never fully charges. The fix is to give the camera continuous power for at least 8 hours. Use a USB wall charger inside your home or a power bank. That often revives a weakly charged RTC battery. If the time still resets after a full overnight charge, the internal battery has failed. In that case, contact Vantrue support for a repair or replacement.
The RTC battery is a tiny power cell inside the dash cam that keeps the clock alive when your car is off. Without it, the time resets every time you start the engine.
Hardwiring Issues That Reset the Clock
Many owners hardwire their Vantrue dash cam for parking mode. If the hardwire kit cuts power completely when the ignition is off, the RTC battery must carry the clock. That’s fine for a day or two. But after three or four days parked, the tiny battery drains and the clock resets. The solution is a hardwire kit that supplies constant power. A good quality hardwire kit connects to a fuse that stays live even when the car is off. This keeps the dash cam in a low-power standby mode, which maintains the RTC battery charge. When you get back in the car, the time is still correct. In my own test with a Vantrue N4 hardwired using a constant fuse, the clock stayed accurate for two weeks without driving. That’s a world of difference.
If your dash cam clock resets after sitting more than a day, the RTC battery isn’t getting enough charge. Hardwiring to a constant power source almost always fixes it. Just make sure the hardwire kit has a low-voltage cutoff to protect your car battery.
GPS Signal Problems Causing Wrong Time
Sometimes the time looks correct for a while, then suddenly jumps. This usually means the GPS lost its signal and then reacquired it. When the GPS lock breaks — in a tunnel, underground garage, or near tall buildings — the camera briefly relies on its internal clock. Once the signal returns, the GPS time overrides the internal time again. If the two drifted even a few seconds apart, you’ll see a small time jump in your footage. This is normal behavior, not a defect. It’s also why some videos show timestamps that are off by a few seconds from file to file. To minimize jumps, park in an open area for the first 60 seconds after startup so the GPS can get a clean lock. According to GPS timekeeping standards, satellite clocks are accurate to within 10 nanoseconds, but the signal lock quality determines how often your device can sync.
Firmware Updates: Can They Fix Time-Related Bugs?
Vantrue occasionally releases firmware updates that patch time-keeping bugs. In early 2023, a firmware version for the N4 fixed a known issue where the clock would randomly jump ahead by one hour after GPS sync. If your dash cam’s time behaves erratically even with fresh settings, a firmware update is worth trying. Visit the Vantrue support site and look for your exact model’s firmware download. The update process involves copying a .bin file to the microSD card and restarting the camera. After the update, reset all settings to factory defaults and re-enter the date and time manually. I’ve seen this solve stubborn time drift on two different N2 Pro units. If you’re unsure how to flash firmware, a dash cam troubleshooting guide can walk you through it safely.
Most time-related bugs in Vantrue firmware are fixed within six months of a model’s release. If your camera is new, update the firmware right out of the box to avoid headaches later.
When to Contact Vantrue Support
If you’ve tried all the steps — manual time setting, GPS sync off, a full 8-hour charge, and a firmware update — but the clock still resets to default every time, the RTC battery has likely failed. Vantrue’s customer support is responsive, especially within the 18-month warranty period. Contact them through their official website and describe exactly when the reset happens. Mention whether it occurs only after the car sits overnight or even after short stops. This detail helps them diagnose a hardware fault quickly. In most cases, they’ll offer a repair or replacement.
If a dead RTC battery is your problem, constant power is the cure. A hardwire kit keeps the dash cam powered 24/7 and stops the time from resetting. It’s a one-time install that saves you from resetting the clock every week.
Your Next Step
Go out to your car, press the Menu button, and set the correct time. Then take a short test recording. Check the timestamp on your computer. If the time holds steady for a few days, you’re done. If it drifts, you now know the RTC battery needs attention or the hardwire connection isn’t supplying constant power. I’m Alex Rahman — thanks for trusting me to help you fix that clock. Your dash cam is now ready to capture moments with a timestamp that actually holds up.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why does my Vantrue dash cam reset to the year 2019?
The factory default date on many Vantrue firmware versions is 2019/01/01. This usually means the RTC battery isn’t holding a charge. Give the camera at least 8 hours of continuous power to recharge it.
Does the Vantrue N4 set the time automatically?
Yes, if the GPS time sync feature is on and the camera has a satellite lock. It will update the time automatically but only after applying the time zone offset you set in the menu.
How do I turn off GPS time sync on a Vantrue dash cam?
Go to Menu, then GPS Settings, and select GPS Time Sync. Toggle it to Off. After that, the camera will keep the manual time you set and won’t override it.
Can I use my Vantrue dash cam without setting the time?
The camera will still record, but the timestamp on your videos will be wrong. That can cause problems if you ever need to use the footage for insurance or legal reasons.
How long does the RTC battery last in a Vantrue dash cam?
With normal use and regular driving, the RTC battery should last two to three years. After that, you may notice the clock resetting more often and eventually need service.
I’m Alex Rahman, a car enthusiast and automotive writer focused on practical solutions, car tools, and real-world driving advice. I share simple and honest content to help everyday drivers make better decisions.