Trading in financial markets often involves being aware of specific times, whether it's for market open and close, earnings reports, or simply tracking your own trading activity. If you're using Webull, a popular trading platform, you might find that the displayed times don't always align with your local time zone. This can be a significant inconvenience and even lead to missed opportunities or misinterpretations of data.
Are you constantly scratching your head wondering why the market hours on Webull don't match your local time? Don't worry, you're not alone! Many traders encounter this initial confusion. Fortunately, Webull offers ways to adjust time settings, ensuring you have the most accurate information relative to your location. This comprehensive guide will walk you through the process step-by-step, helping you tailor your Webull experience to your specific needs.
Understanding Webull's Time Display
Before we dive into changing settings, it's important to understand how Webull typically displays time. By default, Webull often uses Eastern Time (ET) for US market hours, as this is the primary time zone for the major US stock exchanges (NYSE and Nasdaq). However, your account's general time zone or the display on charts might be set differently, leading to discrepancies.
The goal here is to ensure that the times you see – whether for market hours, chart data, or trade execution timestamps – are presented in a way that makes sense to you and your trading schedule.
Step 1: Identify Your Current Time Zone Discrepancy
The first and most crucial step is to identify where the time discrepancy is occurring. Is it in the market hours displayed? On the charts? Or perhaps in the timestamps of your order history?
Check Market Hours: Look at the displayed opening and closing times for US markets within the Webull app or desktop platform. Do they match 9:30 AM ET to 4:00 PM ET (or 9:30 AM to 1:00 PM ET for half-day trading)? Convert these to your local time.
Review Chart Timestamps: Open any stock chart. Look at the time axis. Is it displaying times that seem off by a few hours compared to your local time?
Examine Order History: If you've placed trades, check the timestamp on your order confirmations or history. Is it reflecting ET or your local time?
Understanding what specifically needs to be adjusted will guide you to the correct settings.
Step 2: Adjusting Time Zone for Your Webull Account (Primarily for Web Portal)
While Webull's mobile and desktop apps are your primary trading interfaces, some account-level settings, including time zone, might be more readily accessible or impact broader aspects of your account through the web portal.
Sub-heading 2.1: Accessing Webull via a Web Browser
Open your web browser (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge, etc.).
Navigate to the official Webull website. You'll typically find a "Login" or "Sign In" button in the top right corner.
Log in to your Webull account using your registered email/phone number and password.
Sub-heading 2.2: Locating Time Zone Settings
Once logged in, look for a "Settings" or "Account" icon, usually represented by a gear or a profile silhouette. This is often found in the top right corner or a sidebar menu.
Within the settings, search for options related to "Time," "Time Zone," "Display Settings," or "General Settings." It might be nested under "Account & Security" or similar.
Look for a "Time Clock Settings" option. This is a common place for time zone adjustments in web-based platforms.
Sub-heading 2.3: Changing Your Time Zone
Click on the "Time Zone" option.
A dropdown list of various time zones should appear. Scroll through and select your local time zone. For example, if you are in India, you would select "Asia/Kolkata" or "IST (Indian Standard Time)".
You might also see an option to "Auto-adjust for Daylight Savings". If your region observes Daylight Saving Time, it's generally a good idea to turn this on to ensure automatic adjustments. If your region does not, ensure it is turned off.
After making your selection, be sure to click "Save Settings" or a similar button to apply the changes.
Keep in mind that changes made on the web portal might take a moment to sync with your mobile or desktop app. It's a good idea to log out and log back into your app after making these changes on the web.
Step 3: Adjusting Time Settings within the Webull Desktop App
The Webull desktop application offers a more robust trading experience and often has specific display settings.
Sub-heading 3.1: Launching the Desktop App
Open the Webull Desktop application on your computer.
Log in to your account if you aren't already.
Sub-heading 3.2: Exploring General Settings for Time
Look for a "Settings" icon (often a gear) typically found in the top right corner or bottom left sidebar of the application.
Navigate through the settings menus. You might find time-related options under sections like "General," "Display," or "Preferences."
The Webull desktop app might inherit the time zone setting from your operating system. Therefore, ensure your computer's system time and time zone are correctly configured.
Sub-heading 3.3: Customizing Chart Time Display
For charts, Webull often has a specific setting to adjust the time display independent of your account's general time zone.
Open a stock chart for any symbol.
Look for a "Chart Toolbox" icon or a small gear/clover icon, usually located at the bottom right of the chart window.
Click on it to open the chart settings.
Within the chart settings, look for an option related to "Time Axis," "Time Display," or "Including Extended Hours."
You might have an option to select a specific time zone for the chart or to display data in your local time.
Crucially, ensure the "Extended Hours" or "Overnight" trading data is displayed correctly if you need it. This often has its own toggle (e.g., an "Ext." button at the bottom right of the chart). Enabling this will show pre-market and after-hours data.
Pro Tip: Sometimes, simply resetting the chart layout or reopening the app can help refresh the time display if you're experiencing stubborn issues.
Step 4: Adjusting Time Settings within the Webull Mobile App
The Webull mobile app is incredibly popular for on-the-go trading. Adjusting time here is similar but with a touch interface.
Sub-heading 4.1: Opening the Mobile App
Launch the Webull app on your smartphone or tablet.
Log in if prompted.
Sub-heading 4.2: Accessing Account and Display Settings
Tap on the "Menu" icon (often represented by three horizontal lines or your profile picture) usually found at the bottom right of the screen.
Tap on "Settings" (the gear icon).
Look for "Account & Security" or "General Settings."
While direct time zone selection for the entire app might be limited here, the app often syncs with your device's time zone. Ensure your phone's system time and time zone are correctly set.
Sub-heading 4.3: Customizing Chart Time on Mobile
Similar to the desktop app, charts on mobile also have their own time display settings.
Go to any stock's detail page and open its chart.
Tap on the "Settings" icon (a gear) or the "Toolbox" icon (often a small wrench or clover) within the chart interface.
Look for options like "Time Axis Settings," "Extended Hours," or "Overnight Data."
Ensure these are configured to display the times and data that are relevant to your trading strategy. For example, if you want to see pre-market and after-hours trading activity on your chart, make sure the "Extended Hours Chart Display" or "Overnight" option is turned on.
Important Note: Webull's default behavior for displaying market hours and certain timestamps is typically Eastern Time (ET) for US markets, regardless of your personal time zone setting. The time zone setting primarily affects how timestamps are converted for your personal view in certain areas, and potentially how some notifications are delivered. Always cross-reference with official market hours in ET if there's any doubt.
Step 5: Verifying Your Time Changes
After making any adjustments, it's crucial to verify that the changes have taken effect.
Restart the Webull application (both desktop and mobile) if you made changes.
Check market hours again.
Review charts for accurate timestamps.
Place a small paper trade (using Webull's paper trading feature) and check the timestamp on the simulated order.
If the times still appear incorrect, double-check all the settings mentioned above. Sometimes, a simple app update or a stable internet connection can also influence how settings are applied and displayed.
Troubleshooting Tips
Clear Cache (Mobile App): If you're experiencing persistent issues on the mobile app, try clearing the app's cache (usually found in your phone's app settings).
Reinstall App: As a last resort, if issues persist, you can try uninstalling and reinstalling the Webull app.
Contact Webull Support: If you've followed all the steps and are still facing problems, reach out to Webull customer support. They can provide specific guidance based on your account and device.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
How to change the time zone for my entire Webull account?
Access the Webull web portal, log in, navigate to "Settings" (often represented by a gear icon), then look for "Time Clock Settings" or "Time Zone" and select your preferred time zone, saving the changes.
How to make Webull charts display my local time?
On both desktop and mobile apps, open a chart, find the "Chart Toolbox" or "Settings" icon within the chart interface, and look for options related to "Time Axis," "Time Display," or "Extended Hours Chart Display" to adjust how time is shown.
How to see pre-market and after-hours trading times on Webull?
Within the chart settings (either desktop or mobile), ensure the "Extended Hours" or "Overnight" chart display option is enabled. This will typically show trading activity outside regular market hours.
How to confirm my Webull account's time zone setting?
Log into the Webull web portal, go to "Settings," and check the "Time Clock Settings" section. This will show the time zone currently set for your account.
How to ensure Daylight Saving Time is correctly applied in Webull?
In the Webull web portal's "Time Clock Settings," there is usually an option to "Auto-adjust for Daylight Savings." Ensure this is turned on if your region observes DST.
How to see the actual Eastern Time (ET) for US markets on Webull?
Webull generally defaults to displaying US market hours in ET. Even if your time zone is different, the stated market open/close times (e.g., 9:30 AM - 4:00 PM) usually refer to ET. You'll need to mentally convert this to your local time or adjust your display settings.
How to fix incorrect time display on Webull mobile app?
First, check your phone's system time and time zone settings. Then, within the Webull mobile app, check chart settings for time display. If issues persist, try clearing the app's cache or reinstalling it.
How to display overnight trading data on Webull charts?
Navigate to the chart settings (via the "Chart Toolbox" or gear icon on the chart) and look for an option like "Overnight" or "24 Hour Market" display to enable it.
How to synchronize Webull's time with my computer's time?
Webull's desktop app often inherits the system time zone. Ensure your computer's operating system has the correct time and time zone set.
How to get help if time settings are still not working on Webull?
If you've tried all the troubleshooting steps, the best course of action is to contact Webull's customer support directly. They can provide personalized assistance.