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# Setting the PHP time zone in an .htaccess file

> Discover how to set the PHP time zone using the date.timezone directive in .htaccess with step-by-step instructions and code snippets.

This article describes how to change the PHP time zone setting by using the **date.timezone** directive in an *.htaccess* file.

<Warning>
  **Important**

  The information in this article only applies to certain types of hosting accounts. To determine whether or not the information below applies to your account, please see [this article](/docs/changing-php-settings-and-versions).

  📘 Note

  This article assumes that you have already set up a custom *.htaccess* file. If you have not already set up a custom *.htaccess* file, please read [this article](/docs/custom-htaccess-files-for-php-settings) first.
</Warning>

## Using the date.timezone directive

By default, hosting.com servers are set to use the US Eastern Standard Time zone. You can change the time zone that PHP uses for your scripts by setting the **date.timezone** directive in an *.htaccess* file.

<Note>
  For a complete list of supported time zones in PHP, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/timezones.php](http://www.php.net/manual/en/timezones.php).
</Note>

To set the time zone, follow these steps:

1. Log in to your account [using SSH](/docs/using-ssh-secure-shell).

2. Use a text editor to add the following line to the *.htaccess* file. Replace *Region/Zone* with your own time zone:

   ```
   php_value date.timezone 'Region/Zone'
   ```

3. Save the changes to the *.htaccess* file and exit the text editor.

4. To verify that the new setting is active, create a PHP test file that contains the following code in the same directory where the *.htaccess* file is located:

   ```
   <?php phpinfo(); ?>
   ```

5. Load the test file in your web browser, and then search for the name of the directive. The **Local Value** column should display the new setting that you specified in the *.htaccess* file.

## More information

* To view a complete list of PHP directives, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php](http://www.php.net/manual/en/ini.list.php).

* For more information about the **date.timezone** directive, please visit [http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.configuration.php#ini.date.timezone](http://www.php.net/manual/en/datetime.configuration.php#ini.date.timezone).

## Related articles

* [Custom .htaccess files for PHP settings](/docs/custom-htaccess-files-for-php-settings)

* [Using PHP directives in custom .htaccess files](/docs/using-php-directives-in-custom-htaccess-files)

* [Changing the time zone on a managed hosting account](/docs/changing-the-time-zone-on-a-managed-hosting-account)